Man City fans do not need to worry about backing Manchester United vs Liverpool FC

In recent years Man City fans have had to ask themselves a deeply moral question - can I really bring myself to back United?

Last season there would have been many a Blues fan racked with guilt as they wondered whether they could bring themselves to celebrate their arch rivals taking points off Liverpool. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on which way you look at it, City supporters did not have to worry about that as Jurgen Klopp's side trounced United 4-0 at Anfield to help increase the tension ahead of the title run-in.

Looking back with the power of hindsight, City did not have to rely on Ralf Rangnick's side doing them a favour as Ilkay Gundogan's heroics rescued the Premier League crown for Pep Guardiola's team. But had the unthinkable happened and the title returned to Merseyside, would supporters have pointed the blame at their neighbours across the city? I am not so sure they would.

ALSO READ: Klopp tells Liverpool how to react after City gap emerges

One of the key strengths of Guardiola's management style is that he is able to ensure that his players focus entirely on themselves and not what other teams, mainly Liverpool, are doing. That must be easier said than done when the battle at the top is decided by a point here or there.

City supporters who tune into Monday Night Football next week will be able to watch the proceedings against their two biggest rivals without falling into the quandary that hung over last season's encounter. The first reason for this is rather simple - it is still early days.

This is only matchday three of a 38 game season. Nobody will be looking back at what happened at Old Trafford when City come out to face Brentford on Sunday, May 28.

Plenty more twists and turns are still to