Our Manchester United fans here in the Transfer Tavern are hoping to roll back the years in 2018, and launch an old-school Fergie style attack at rivals Man City’s Premier League title campaign.

The Red Devils were notorious under Sir Alex Ferguson for hunting down teams as the season turned into the home straight after the Christmas fixtures. Indeed, while Jose Mourinho has never won a title being so far behind and will be hoping to rectify this stat come May.

However, our regulars in the back room of the bar think it will take some doing to swing a 12 point deficit in the Red Devils favour.

United have invested well in the winter window with the addition of Alexis Sanchez and, will be hoping that the move can be an ‘Eric Cantona’ moment for this United team. Looking forward to the next three months of the season is our landlord, who is checking out what two fixtures could play a huge part in what would be the greatest comeback in the Premier League era…

April 7th: Away v Manchester City

If Mourinho can haul back some of the deficit by the end of March, this Manchester Derby could be a bigger one than normal. Three points off their main rivals would inch them closer and, depending what the gap may be at that point, it could set up a fantastic final few weeks of the season.

Having lost against them in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Mourinho will be desperate to get one over on City.

February 25th: Home v Chelsea

The Red Devils have a potentially season-defining week in the middle of February, they play away in the FA Cup last 16, followed by the first leg at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium against Sevilla in the Champions League with a home game to finish the seven days off against top-four rivals Chelsea.

Mourinho will look to gain one over on Antonio Conte and his old team, while creating a greater gap between themselves and a fellow Champions League place rival. If United come out of the week unbeaten this could build some serious momentum going forward.