30th April 2012 will be the biggest and best day of the Premier League season, and as Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson says, the "biggest derby" he has ever been in.

For so long this game has been a one off game that hasn't had a big effect on the destination of the title. It was Man City's most important game of the season, and their chance to get one over their rivals whose shadow they'd been in for so long. And, as it stands, they still are.

But recently, that has been changing. In the 2007-08 season, the last one before the sensational takeover of City that changed the landscape of English football massively, City came mid-table in 9th place.

The first season after the takeover was no better, with a 10th placed finish. But the next 3 seasons up until now have been constant improvement:

a 5th placed finish, just outside the Champions League spots, in 2009-10. a 3rd placed finish, narrowly behind Chelsea and United, in 2010-11. This season, currently sitting 3 points behind Man United, which is where this game becomes so important.

Because now this clash of city rivals is not just a chance to get one over your neighbours but actually a crucial game in deciding the destination on the title.