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Monday night Manchester City and Manchester United will go head-to-head in what has been billed as one of the biggest Premier League games ever.

City had been eight points behind United only a few weeks ago but a defeat to Wigan and a 4-4 draw against Everton last weekend means that Manchester City are back in the title race.

Manchester United are now only three points clear of City with three games remaining, tomorrow night the two clubs will meet in what probably will be the game that decides who will be Premier League Champions at the end of the season.

Team News

Man City: Mario Balotelli is available again having served a three-match ban and Micah Richards is fit again following a hamstring injury.

Man United: The visitors are definitely without Darren Fletcher, Paul Pogba, Anderson and Nemanja Vidic. There has been rumours that Jonny Evans and Luis Nani are out but nothing has been confirmed.

Most Recent Meeting

The two clubs met back on the 8th January in the FA Cup. Wayne Rooney opened up the scoring on the 10th minute, only two minutes later Vincent Kompany was sent off for the hosts following a straight red card. The visitors went 2-0 up on the half hour mark after a goal from Danny Welbeck. Rooney scored his second of the game five minutes before half time to give United a 3-0 lead.

The second half saw Aleksandar Kolarov pull a goal back for City only three minutes in and Sergio Aguero scored another for the hosts 65 minutes in but it was Man United who progressed to the next round of the FA Cup.

Head-To-Head

Manchester United and Manchester City have played each other three times so far this season, which have seen United win two and lose one.

The two clubs have played each other a total of 161 times, which have seen 67 Man United wins, 44 United losses and 50 draws.

Quotes

City manager Roberto Mancini: “Now we have this small chance but I think it is important that after Arsenal we just continue to play football.

“We have only one chance because they lost a point against Everton, but I think it will be difficult.

“They have one difficult game against us, then they have two easy games. They will probably get six points.

“It is clear if we have a chance – we want to take that chance – but I don’t know.”

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson: “I just know what we want to do in the game. We’ve got enough experience and pace in the team, enough good footballers and determination.

I think we’ll be alright in that respect. The game could be decided by anything, I hope it’s not by a bad decision, that’s for sure.”

Referee

Andre Marriner

The referee from the West Midland’s has been issued to take charge of Monday nights game. Marriner has refereed 25 games this season, showing 83 yellow cards and five red cards.

Marriner has officiated three games involving Man United this season; the 5-0 win over Bolton, the 1-1 draw against Liverpool and the 2-1 win over Norwich.

Marriner is yet to referee a match involving Manchester City this season.