Wes Brown: 'Title race still open if Manchester City win derby'

Ex-Manchester United defender Wes Brown has said that he believes the Premier League race will still be open even if Manchester City defeat rivals Manchester United in Sunday's derby.

United welcome City to Old Trafford trailing the league leaders by eight points in a game considered by many as a must-win for Jose Mourinho's side if they are to have any chance of catching their noisy neighbours.

A win for City would give them an 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League after just 16 games, but Wes Brown - who made 357 appearances and won five Premier League titles with the Red Devils - does not believe that it would mean the end of the title race.

"If United lose I wouldn't say the title race is over but it does give City a great chance to push on," Brown told 888sport.

"As we've seen so many times in the past the Christmas period is interesting in itself and anything can happen there. I want United to win anyway but I also hope they win because it would make the league interesting."

The home side will be without star midfielder Paul Pogba, after he saw red in the 3-1 victory against Arsenal last weekend, while City playmaker David Silva may miss Sunday's highly-anticipated clash due to injury.