Monday night will see the most highly-anticipated Manchester derby in decades, as City and United go head-to-head in a match that is likely to decide the destination of the Premier League title this season (City 6/5, draw 12/5, United 12/5).

For some time now it has been a two-horse race for the crown and as the battle between these two giants has ebbed and flowed, we have now arrived at the biggest game of the campaign and, possibly, of the past few seasons.

City (7/4 Premier League outright) were clearly not comfortable holding the frontrunners tag and, having enjoyed a healthy lead over United, the Blues started to slip up as the pressure of closing in on their first Premier League title clearly started to get to them.

However, the Red Devils, who have been in this position so many times before as they go in search of their 20th league title, have also found life difficult at the top in recent weeks.

United at one stage held an eight-point lead at the top of the table but a defeat to Wigan Athletic and a thrilling 4-4 draw with Everton at Old Trafford in their last outing, has left them with just a three-point advantage ahead of the clash at the Etihad Stadium.

Manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes City would go on to win the Premier League title if they were to collect all three points on home soil and has insisted his players will be going all out for a win.

This is really a match City must win and you can expect their boss Roberto Mancini to go with an attacking line-up for the derby.

Argentine duo Sergio Aguero (11/2 first goalscorer) and the prodigal son Carlos Tevez have looked extremely dangerous in attack in recent weeks and the question has been asked whether this game would have as much riding on it if Tevez had not done his disappearing act to South America?

Another controversial figure Mario Balotelli, who scored in City’s astonishing 6-1 victory over United at Old Trafford earlier this season, could feature in this high pressure encounter.

Mancini has insisted he trusts his fellow Italian to keep his cool, although questions must still be raised over the former Inter Milan star’s temperament.

It would be hard to break up the Aguero-Tevez partnership but Mancini may well bring in Balotelli and use Tevez (6/1 first goalscorer) as an impact player in the second-half, with the striker looking to get one over his former club.

As for United (4/7 Premier League outright), they will be concerned with the ease in which Everton scored four at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ and Ferguson will be determined to tighten up that defence.

England striker Wayne Rooney (11/2 first goalscorer) has looked dangerous up front recently and City will, of course, be more than aware of what the 26-year-old is capable of.

Nani, Danny Welbeck and Ashley Young, meanwhile, have been causing teams problems all season, so there will be plenty to think about for the Blues defence.

However, on home soil and with the momentum behind the chasers, City might just edge this all-important derby to set up a very exciting end to the 2011/2012 Premier League season.

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