Red-tinged Premier League

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The 2011-12 season's English Premier League saw a two-way battle for the title between the Manchester rivals United and City. Defending champions Manchester United arguably the best team in English football and the big pretenders, big spenders Manchester City.
Since 2006 the Red Devils have won four out of five Premier League titles with three consecutive victories. On the other hand City became the number one challengers to United's supremacy taking the number two spot with the decline of Chelsea and Arsenal as genuine contenders for this season.
The title race burst into life in October when Manchester City inflicted Manchester United's worst home defeat since 1955 as they thrashed the champions (6-1) in ruthless fashion to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
This huge City win was portrayed as a measure of their progress against the 19-time champions. And Roberto Mancini's men could not have delivered a more emphatic statement as Sir Alex Ferguson's side were humiliated.
But United's stature is such that one result doesn't mean a shift in the balance of power in Manchester. Ferguson must have been reflecting on the extent of the challenge now facing him from the club he once branded "noisy neighbours".
Fergie rose up to the challenge and masterminded United's comeback, despite losing some key players like Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher through injury. Paul Scholes came out of retirement in January to help the team on their way. At that time this was painted as a desperate move by Sir Alex, but in hindsight it is one that has paid rich dividends.
Staying in second place closely behind Manchester City, the Red Devils were able to close the gap and eventually overtake them. In March, City crumbled under the constant pressure and United overhauled the longtime leaders in the Premier League.
The holders are now the frontrunners for the title. With only four matches remaining, United currently enjoy a five-point lead over City whose manager Roberto Mancini has already written off his side's hopes of a first English title since 1968.
This has been an incredible turnaround for Fergie's men after their humiliating defeat at the hands of their City rivals. That defeat did not go down well with the faithful but United showed hunger and determination to be in the position that they are in.
All United need to do now is to win their next two games, the second of which is against City, and they retain their crown. And what a fitting end it would be for Manchester United to clinch their 20th Premiership title silencing their noisy neighbours at the Etihad.