Manchester United, the 13-time Premier League champions, sit one point and one place above last season’s winners and will be looking to avenge their 1-0 defeat at City earlier in the season to all but secure a Champions League berth next season.

While Manchester City target an unprecedented five straight wins over United on Sunday, equally the Red Devils have never lost five straight league games against their fierce rivals as history beckons at Old Trafford.

Man City have not won in the capital this season, having drawn Premier League fixtures at Chelsea, Arsenal and QPR as well as losing at West Ham.

United dispatched relegation-threatened Aston Villa in confident fashion at Old Trafford, with a Ander Herrera double and a sublime Wayne Rooney strike sealing a 3-1 triumph to lift Van Gaal’s team into third.

England duo Phil Jones and Chris Smalling have impressed in United’s last two Premier League fixtures – victories over Tottenham and Liverpool respectively – that have put Champions League qualification well within their grasp.

Juan Mata notched either side of half time to put the Manchester United into a commanding lead at Anfield, though ten-man Liverpool – who had substitute Steven Gerrard sent off in the first minute of the second half – did pull one back through Daniel Sturridge.

City lie six points behind leaders Chelsea, who also have a game in hand, and with both sides crashing out of the Champions League each team will be entirely focused on the league title race.

Manchester United’s 3-0 battering of Tottenham has led coach Louis van Gaal to say he believes the Red Devils are capable of overtaking local rivals Manchester City.

Manchester United face an almighty battle to stay in the top four as they face five of the current top seven in their final 10 games.

Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard singled out the threat of England hopeful Danny Ings ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Burnley.

With Falcao having turned 29 last month, anything near the quoted £43 million price that Manchester United could pay in the summer for his permanent services would undeniably represent a monumental gamble on the club’s part.