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Title is in Man Utd's hands - Brian Kidd
The Premier League title is Manchester United's to lose especially given their track record, according to Manchester City assistant manager Brian Kidd.
The sides head into 2011 locked on 38 points but with United top, ahead of City by the virtue of goal difference.
Kidd, a former assistant to United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, said: "It's theirs to lose, it's in their hands. You can't get away from that. "They have been round the block and know how to win league titles."
City are second in the table, two points clear of third-place Arsenal, with Chelsea a further two points off the pace in fourth.
United have played 18 games in comparison to City's 20, with Arsenal and Chelsea having each played 19 matches.
Despite a recent run of poor form, which produced just one win in seven league games, Kidd said he regarded Chelsea as the other main contenders for the ultimate prize.
"It's the same with Chelsea," Kidd commented.
"Not so much so with Arsenal as it's been five years since they were in the mix - but they [Chelsea] know how to go on and win it."
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher dismissed Kidd's claims.
"It is just a bit of kidology," Scotland captain Fletcher responded.
"It is still early stages and lot of teams will feel they are capable of winning the league. We are one of them."
"We are in a good position. We are top of the league with games in hand. But it is easy counting the points. You have to win your matches and your games in hand," he added.
"This is the important part of the season when you really need to kick-on. After January, when all the big games come on the title run-in, that is when it is important to be playing well and winning games."
City could deal a heavy blow to Arsenal's title chances next week when they travel to the Emirates Stadium on 5 January.
Victory for City could allow defending champions Chelsea an opening to get back into the top three.
And despite the west Londoners' recent run of poor results which came to an end with a 1-0 win over Bolton on Wednesday, Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti said he was just looking at what his men were doing and not making calculations based on anyone else's form.
"We don't have to look at United," Ancelotti reflected.
"This is a very difficult championship because every game can have a difficulty.
"It's a Premier League with a lot of balance, so nothing is decided now."
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