Manchester United fans may have been revelling in another Liverpool defeat last night as their fiercest rivals were dumped out of the FA Cup at the hands of Wolves, but with their Merseyside rivals chasing the Premier League title, the Reds could benefit from their early exit.
In fact, it is looking likely that this season’s Premier League title race could go right to the wire between Jurgen Klopp’s men and Manchester City. As it turns out, Manchester United could play a huge part in deciding who wins the title in May.
With Manchester City given a relatively easy draw in the next round, Burnley at home and United also going well in the competition, it looks like at least one of the Manchester sides will feature in the later rounds of the competition and here is where the issue arises.
On the weekend of the 16th March, Manchester City are scheduled to travel to Old Trafford and take on United in a hotly-anticipated Premier League derby. This is a game that will have huge ramifications on the title race but there is one issue.
That weekend in March is also when the FA Cup quarter-finals will take place. That means, in the likely scenario that either side is involved in the last eight, the Manchester derby will be rescheduled, with the rearranged fixture likely to be played near the end of the campaign.
This could leave Manchester United fans with a nightmare scenario at the end of the season. Do they beat Manchester City at Old Trafford and hand bitter rivals Liverpool their first Premier League title, or do they let their ‘noisy neighbours’ win the Premier League title in their own backyard.
This is a scenario that is sure to give United fans sleepless nights with both possibilities becoming increasingly likely. City winning the title at Old Trafford would be unforgettable but is it worse for United than Liverpool winning their first Premier League? Tough call for the Red Devils to mull over.