It doesn’t happen often but Man United fans will be supporting City this weekend

Manchester City returned to the top of the table on Wednesday for the first time since December 15th.

Considering Liverpool looked to have a firm grasp on the league – they were five points clear just a week ago – the pressure is now on for the Anfield outfit.  The fact they are attempting to end their twenty-nine year wait for a title will be difficult enough and will only be intensified by the number of times they came close but let it slip.

They can return to the top on Saturday when they face Bournemouth before City host Chelsea at the Etihad on Sunday afternoon.  Having drawn their last two games, Liverpool will be eager to get a victory under their belt as they then travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Prior to the sacking of Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp’s outfit would most likely have relished the chance to visit Old Trafford to play a side who were regularly underperforming.  But  after United named club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as caretaker manager for the remainder of the season, their fortunes have turned around and they are now chasing a top four position.

This season has shown just how strange football can be. On Wednesday night, you could have found both United and Everton fans wanting City to win and Liverpool fans wanting Everton to win.

When City take on Chelsea on Sunday, United fans could be hoping for a City win as they now find themselves just two points behind Chelsea. If United beat Fulham on Saturday and City beat Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, the Reds will go fourth.

Then on February 24th, City fans could well be hoping for a United victory when they host Liverpool. A victory for United could give them the opportunity to put a dent in one of their fiercest rivals’ title hopes – albeit by handing an advantage to another rival.

And then there is the issue of the Manchester Derby in March which could well have a huge impact on the top four yet.

There have been many title races that have swung back and forth, especially over the last few months of the season. Back in 2012, City and United traded places at the top of the table prior to City finally winning the title on the final day.

And who could forget the infamous Kevin Keegan rant as he began to feel the enormous pressure of going head to head with Manchester United for the title, having seen his Newcastle team squander a twelve point advantage from January to March in the 1995-96 season.