Manchester United star Ryan Giggs has warned Manchester City that his side’s derby triumph will provide the perfect springboard to wrestle the title away from Eastlands.
United moved six points clear of second-placed City after an explosive 3-2 win over their bitter rivals in the Manchester derby last Sunday and Alex Ferguson’s team have a golden opportunity to extend their lead this weekend.
While spluttering champions City have a tricky assignment at Newcastle, United host lowly Sunderland on the back of four successive league victories and confidence sky high following Robin van Persie’s stoppage-time winner at Eastlands.
Giggs has seen 12 previous title-winning teams take shape during his United career and is beginning to sense another dominant side forming at Old Trafford.
Asked if the win over City would provide a major boost, Giggs said: “It should do, purely because of the way we performed.
“We accept that we are letting too many goals in and we’ve had to come from behind too often, but the signs are there that this could be a very good season for us.
“The wins against Chelsea, Newcastle and City away have been our three best performances and you probably can’t get three bigger challenges.”
City are facing a fight to salvage their campaign. Roberto Mancini’s side have already crashed out of the Champions League and another setback at Newcastle would deal a hammer blow to hopes of retaining their title.
The loss to United exposed City’s flaws in defence and attack as they were beaten at home for the first time in the league since December 2010.
United defender Patrice Evra rubbed salt into the wounds by claiming they have the mental edge, but defiant City captain Vincent Kompany remains convinced the title race isn’t over.
“I don’t know anything about psychological blows,” he said. “Losing on Sunday changes nothing. We lost and we move on to the next game.
“For me there are so many positives that can happen if we win that (Newcastle) game. I can’t think of the other side of that coin.”
Elsewhere, the spotlight will be on Arsene Wenger on Monday when Arsenal travel to Reading hoping to erase the painful memory of their humiliating League Cup quarter-final defeat at Bradford.
Wenger suffered the most embarrassing loss of his 16-year reign as League Two minnows Bradford won 3-2 on penalties and he has come under heavy fire this week.
Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson described Wenger as a dictator, while many reports claimed the Gunners’ boss has fallen out with assistant Steve Bould.
Wenger, whose side are seventh, can ill afford for Arsenal to lose to second-last Reading, who have won just one of 16 matches.
“I always feel under pressure to deliver, always,” Wenger said.
In other matches, Liverpool host Aston Villa, Norwich are at home to Wigan, Fulham travel to QPR, Stoke take on Everton, Tottenham play Swansea and West Brom are up against West Ham.
