Man Utd new favourites to be crowned league champions

Manchester City’s slip up in Swansea allowed Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to return to the Premier League’s summit and with their noses in front at this late hour United will take some stopping.

While City have lead for much of the way, getting over the line was always likely to prove difficult.

United of course have been here so many times before, while their neighbours are learning the hard way as they struggle to cope with the pressure of front-running.

And their respective run-ins do not make pleasant reading for the blue half of Manchester.

While United’s trip to Eastlands at the end of April is their only meeting with a top-six side, City have plenty of sizeable objects in their way between now and May.

They entertain Chelsea next weekend, have to negotiate a trip to a rejuvenated Arsenal and face Newcastle away from home on the penultimate weekend of the season.

They can ill afford to drop further points before United come calling at the Etihad.

Meanwhile, in Wayne Rooney the leaders have the league’s man in form. Rooney has nine goals in his last six starts, including yesterday’s brace against the Baggies.

However, if this week is anything to go by, the goals are beginning to dry up for City.

Mancini’s men failed to score against Sporting Lisbon on Thursday and drew blanks once again at the Liberty Stadium yesterday.

So it’s with good reason that United are now favourites to retain the title at 7/4, whereas City have drifted to 5/4.

Elsewhere, with just a point separating the sides at this stage, goal difference could yet decide where the title is headed for the very first time in Premier League history.

It’s 7/2 for the Manchester clubs to end the season level on points, while it’s 1/6 for there to be clear daylight between the sides.