May memories drive United on

Manchester United 1 Reading 0

An admittedly unconvincing victory over Reading, short hours after City lost at Everton, allowed Manchester United to open a 15-point gap at the top of the Premier League and move an emphatic step closer a 20th English league title. Now, the prospect of United winning the title by the largest margin in the history of the Premier League — or any other top flight league — is very much on the agenda. In 2000, Ferguson saw United romp to the championship by a colossal 18-point margin over Arsenal but, with City still to visit Old Trafford at the start of next month, the possibility of the veteran manager bettering that mark grows by the week.

What a contrast to last season when City pipped United to the title in the closing minutes of the campaign with Sergio Aguero’s goal against QPR. Quite literally, the hardest-fought Premier League title race in history may be about to be followed by the easiest.