The Manchester clubs lead the way in the Premier League after six games.
Heading into the weekend with identical points and goals for and against tallies, a 5-0 win for City over struggling Crystal Palace saw them finish Saturday with a superior goal difference to United, who were made to work hard for their 1-0 victory at Southampton.
Predictably, talk of which of the two clubs will finish the season as champions has long since begun. The latest to offer their thoughts on the matter is Joey Barton, who started his career at City. Speaking on talkSPORT, Barton was asked if he fancied United to finish ahead of their title.
“I do,” Barton replied. “I do mainly because the manager is a serial winner. He knows how to win.”
Although some might point out that Pep Guardiola’s managerial record hasn’t been too shabby down the years, there’s little wrong with suggesting JoseMourinho might have an edge.
Joey wasn’t done, however…
“Also I think when the cold weather comes and the fixture congestion comes, I think Manchester United have got the physicality to deal with it.
“If you remember last year City started like a house on fire and then the cold snap comes in.
“Them South Americans, I’m not too sure they like it when it gets cold here.”
City did indeed start last season well, eventually losing their first league match to Tottenham in October. They lost three more times in December and again away at Everton in January. From then on, their only defeat came to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
