Manchester United could be about to face the ultimate humiliation of getting a first hand view of Manchester City winning the title.
United’s defeat to Newcastle on Sunday, combined with City’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Leicester on Saturday, leaves the Red Devils 16 points behind their ‘noisy neighbours’ in the race for the title.
United have the chance to claw three points back on City when the sides meet on the 7th April at the Etihad stadium. Between now and then though, both sides have five Premier League games to play.
However, in a cruel twist of fate, City’s points advantage now means that if both sides win all their games between now and the Manchester Derby, anything less than a victory in that game for United will see City crowned as Champions on Derby day!
Alternatively, if United drop any points between now and then, which is not an unlikely prospect given they have Chelsea and Liverpool to play in that period, then United could have to give Manchester City a guard of honour. The ultimate humiliation.
However, United will be hoping that the league leaders drop points too during that period, with games against Arsenal, Chelsea and Everton all to come.
It would not be the first time that fate has had this cruel twist, with United having to give Chelsea a guard of honour in 2005 at Old Trafford. Roles were reversed in 2007 when United where honoured at Stamford Bridge after the Red Devils claimed the title.
Fate also ensured that Robin van Persie would receive a guard of honour on his first return to the Emirates having already wrapped up the Premier League title in 2013, just one year after leaving the Gunners.
Manchester City’s next six fixtures:
Arsenal (A), Chelsea (H), Stoke (A), Brighton (H), Everton (A), Man Utd (H)
Manchester United’s next six fixtures:
Chelsea (H), Crystal Palace (A), Liverpool (H), West Ham (A), Swansea (H), Man City (A)
