Forget about form – this is personal

TELLI STAR ... Balotelli tears a strip off United

CITY are three points ahead of United in the title race. What bearing will that have on tomorrow's tie?

TV: They say league form goes out of the window in cup games and that is probably even more so for this clash.

This is not about the positions in the table, it is arguably not even about the FA Cup. This is personal. The only thing that will matter for both clubs tomorrow is putting one over the other.

WE all know what happened the last time these two teams met — City thrashed United 6-1. How will that affect the way United approach this encounter?

TV: Obviously, United will not want to be on the end of a scoreline like that again so you can bet they will be looking to keep it tight early on. After suffering that incredible defeat at Old Trafford in October, United went back to basics defensively and kept five successive clean sheets.

Boss Alex Ferguson would settle for that again tomorrow, but he knows you can't just park the bus at the Etihad or else you are asking for trouble.

And he will be looking for his team to pose City a few problems once they have weathered the storm.

UNITED have lost their last two matches against Blackburn and Newcastle. Why?

TV: They were without a number of their key stars in both matches and too many players did not look confident doing the jobs they were asked to do.

Nobody in the United camp proved capable of stepping up and taking either game by the scruff of the neck.

WAS Alex Ferguson right to drop Wayne Rooney for the Blackburn game for going on a night out?

TV: I do not know the full story but it did appear a strange decision. Fergie must have thought his squad were capable of beating Rovers without Rooney, but unfortunately for United it turned out not to be the case.

WHAT are the biggest differences between United and City this season?

TV: Confidence, consistency, luck with injuries and strength in depth are major differences but the biggest one is leadership. I do not mean in the dugout, I mean on the pitch.

When Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic are not playing, United look rudderless.

But City have leaders all over the park. Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Joleon Lescott, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy, Gareth Barry, Yaya Toure, Nigel de Jong and James Milner would all be captaincy candidates were they at other clubs.

How many captains do United have now?

HAS Roberto Mancini's squad now got more depth and strength than United's?

TV: Of course. Don't be misguided, United still have a strong squad... when everybody is fit.

But City's is simply unrivalled. When Darren Fletcher or Michael Carrick gets injured for United, they have to play Darron Gibson, Ryan Giggs or even Rooney in the centre of midfield.

When Yaya Toure is out, City bring in World Cup finalist De Jong.

While Carlos Tevez's absence has not affected the team at all.

DOES Ferguson need to buy his way out of this slide — and realistically can he get anyone good enough in January?

TV: This season has shown the United manager needs to buybut, like he said yesterday, he is unlikely to get anybody in this month who is of the required standard. But there is certainly food for thought for him come the summer.

HOW deep are United's problems and has the balance of power now shifted in Manchester?

TV: United's problems are not that deep. Many thought they would not be able to challenge City this season and yet they are doing so.

And, but for a couple of shock defeats, the Red Devils could have been level or even ahead of Mancini's men at the top of the Premier League table.

The balance of power may have shifted slightly, but only a fool would write off United, who have seen challengers to their crown come and go in the last decade or so.

WHO do you think will win?

TV: I'm going for City, but it could be tight. I just think they have their tails up at the moment, whereas United are in a mini slump.

WHAT effect will the outcome of this match have on the Premier League title race?

TV: If City win, it could give them the impetus to kick on. If United win, they will feel they can go on to overtake their rivals in the title race.

Ironically, the losers may end up with the advantage in the title race as they will have fewer games to play.