This weekend sees the final Premier League matches of the year and the first of 2012.
United host Blackburn; City go to Sunderland; Bolton host Wolves
It will be a New Year and a new start for a lot of teams at the wrong end of the Premier League, but both Manchester clubs will hope for more of the same in 2012.
They are currently level at the summit with 45 points apiece and United host rock-bottom Blackburn on Saturday while City travel to Sunderland the following day.
Tottenham are just seven points behind the Mancunian pace-setters with a game in hand and will look to keep the pressure on against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.
Elsewhere, Chelsea and Arsenal both have home games while Bolton and Wolves lock horns in a relegation battle.
The action on New Year's Eve kicks off at Old Trafford on Saturday lunchtime with
Manchester United hoping to build on their demolition of Wigan against struggling
Blackburn Rovers. Steve Kean revealed in midweek that Sir Alex Ferguson gave him words of support following the abuse from a large section of Blackburn fans, with the club bottom of the Premier League and five points adrift of safety. But rest assured there will be no favours dished out when the two sides take to the pitch as United have the chance to go top of the table, at least temporarily. Despite all the talk of doom and gloom a few weeks back, they have gone from strength to strength and you would bank on a home victory in this one. However, Rovers showed heart at Liverpool last time out and are fighting for their lives.
Credentials test
City will no doubt be keeping one eye on that result ahead of their clash at
Sunderland, live on
Sky Sports 1 and
HD1 from 3pm on Sunday. Roberto Mancini's men were held at West Brom on Boxing Day and a tricky trip to a rejuvenated Sunderland will test their title credentials further. Martin O'Neill has restored some confidence at the Stadium of Light since his arrival as manager, and following two victories, a draw and a creditable defeat at Spurs, his players will be motivated to keep moving forward against their big-spending opponents. Stephane Sessegnon, in particular, is in a rich vein of form but will have to be at his best to test City's strong backline.
Tottenham will finish the year in third place whatever the results at the weekend, a remarkable achievement considering where they were at the beginning of the campaign and many are tipping them to remain close challengers for the Premier League crown. Harry Redknapp's charges have a difficult match at
Swansea to contend with, though, with the Welsh outfit searching for their first win in four attempts. They have only lost one of those games but after an impressive start to life in the top-flight, Brendan Rodgers may be looking nervously at the bottom half of the table with a tricky run of fixtures to come.
Speculation surrounds the return of Thierry Henry to
Arsenal, with the New York Red Bulls forward to be offered the chance to put on the red and white jersey once again during a two-month loan spell. If he does complete a comeback to North London he may provide some much-needed help to Robin van Persie up front, who despite a fantastic season so far was frustrated by Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey during their recent 1-1 draw. Arsenal have done well to claw themselves back into the top five and finishing in the Champions League places come May must be a priority for Arsene
