Premier League

United looked to be in a real battle with Chelsea for last season’s Premier League title but the Blues’ mid-season slump meant further glory to the red half of Manchester as they claimed the trophy by nine points.

City hung around the title race for a while but were unable to sustain a challenge, finishing third to secure Champions League football, but they did manage to win the FA Cup.

And so the two north-west rivals will welcome in the new campaign in north London and showcase some of the fresh talent they have acquired over the summer months.

Roberto Mancini has strengthened his ranks with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Stefan Savic and Gael Clichy, with at least one other player expected to arrive at Eastlands before the end of August.

Sir Alex Ferguson has also dipped into the club’s coffers, with Ashley Young, Phil Jones and goalkeeper David De Gea all on board.

Fergie has already made it clear that he feels United’s ‘noisy neighbours’ will challenge for the title this year and believes that is could be a a six-way race for the top-four places, with Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs all expected to feature at the business end (United 7/4 – Premier League Outright).

While Sunday’s clash means little in terms of what might happen over the course of the next nine months, there is always the Manchester bragging rights to think of and the fact that both clubs will want to put down a marker for the start of the season.

United are the ultimate professional club and will see the match as an opportunity to let everyone at the City of Manchester Stadium know that they are still the top dogs, while Roberto Mancini would love to get the season under way with a victory, just to confirm what Ferguson thinks – that they are here to stay.

It is arguable that City might still not yet be a settled enough squad to win the title and question marks remain about the strikers, with likes of Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko yet to fulfil their potential and the future of Carlos Tevez up in the air.

But Aguero could be a star for the Blues and he will be a popular scorer among the City faithful should he net on his debut – probably from the bench.

United can no longer call on the services of Paul Scholes in midfield, while Edwin van der Sar has hung up his gloves and so De Gea will be looking to impress on his Red Devils’ bow.

Jones will add steel to an already strong defence and, with Rio Ferdinand hopefully over his injury problems, the United rearguard looks in good shape.

The attacking side of Ferguson’s outfit has been boosted by the arrival of Young from Aston Villa and, if Wayne Rooney can avoid last season’s controversies, then things look rosy, with Dimitar Berbatov still very much part of the club’s plans despite rumours of a summer exit.

Javier Hernandez will play no part this weekend as he continues to recover from concussion but the Mexican looks set to light up England’s top division once again this season.

The 2011/12 Premier League season has been tipped to be one of the most exciting and open for years. The hope is that Sunday’s encounter at headquarters can be a forerunner of things to come.

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