Manuel Pellegrini on brink as Man United rout noisy neighbours

Man United 4 Man City 2: Manchester City’s hopes of retaining their Premier League title have long since gone but to be so ruthlessly exposed as fading champions at the home of their biggest rivals represented the ultimate fall from grace.

From a position level with Chelsea at the top of the Premier League at the turn of the year, City have tossed away points like confetti and after a fourth successive away defeat — for the first time since 2006 — they must now be looking anxiously over their shoulders at the chasing pack as they scramble to hold onto fourth place and Champions League qualification.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini may also be on the lookout for a new job come the summer with his hold on the post looking increasingly untenable. The Chilean against stressed after this Old Trafford humiliation that he is not talking about his position. “It’s not important,” he said.