Key Battles

             

Events have not panned out as expected and City head into this game trailing United by 15 points with eight games remaining.Toure turns 30 in May, but recently inked a new long term deal with the current Premier League champions and there is little doubt this was a smart move by Roberto Mancini. The athletic African is an integral part of how City work under the Italian - cautious but lethal when push comes to shove. Far from being a title decider for both teams, City simply must win to put United's coronation on hold for another week.When the Barclays Premier League fixture list first came out at the start of the season, Monday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford was pencilled in as a definite title decider between the two best teams in England.Still, when local bragging rights are up for grabs, it's never a dull game and the last time these two teams met it produced a five goal thriller at the Etihad which United only just edged with the last kick of the game.On the other hand you have Vincent Kompany, who after a season blighted by injury looks set to make up for lost time. The Manchester City skipper was immense last weekend, helping himself to a goal and a clean sheet in City's 4-0 destruction of Newcastle.Carrick will have his work cut out trying to impose himself in the centre of the park and, as has happened in the past, any stray balls by the United midfielder will invite Toure to rampage forward and nick a goal.Here we take a look at three key battles which could provide the slim margin of victory in Monday's clash.