Can Manchester City still win the Premier League?

Saturday’s 3-1 reverse at Southampton left Man City trailing city rivals United by 12 points, but can City claw that deficit back and successfully retain their Premier League crown?

Past experience tells us there may still be a chance, there have been several instances where teams have been able to claw their way back from brink to seal title glory come May.  Only last season, City themselves reversed an 8 point deficit with just 6 matches remaining, culminating in the most dramatic final day in Premier League history and Sergio Aguero’s historic late strike against QPR.

However, City will need to improve in a number of different areas if they are to re-create their heroics of last season, at the back in particular.  City had one of the meanest back lines in the league last term but constant tinkering with both formation and personnel by manager Roberto Mancini has led to gaping holes in the City defence, neither has it done the previously almost unbeatable Joe Hart any favours in goal.  The England has keeper, although still one of the best young stoppers in the world has desperately struggled for form this season.

Looking across the city, Man United are a far greater proposition than they were last season thanks mainly to the acquisition of Robin van Persie.  The Dutchman has added even more goals to a United frontline that has repeatedly been relied upon to out-score the opposition because of defensive leakage on an equal scale to City.

It is clear that with equal defensive inadequacies so far this season, RVP has been the difference between the two teams, particularly with City strikers Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez failing to replicate their form during their title winning season.

It will take a monumental effort for City to retain their title, not only do they have their own problems throughout their team but they will also need to rely on a second consecutive collapse from their nearest rivals, but it has happened before and it could happen again.  Bookmakers showed themselves up last season by paying out early on a United title win, they would be ill advised to do the same just yet.

Aaron SharpFollow @ajs26061988