Manchester derby date changed - and it could have huge impact on title race

Manchester City's Premier League visit to Manchester United has had to be rearranged following City's qualification for the FA Cup quarter-finals, and it could impact the title race.  Pep Guardiola's side beat League Two's Newport County 4-1 on Saturday evening to advance into the last eight of the cup, which will take place on the weekend of Saturday March 16.  The Manchester derby between United and City at Old Trafford had been due to take place on that date, with kick-off at 12.30pm.  But that fixture has now had to be rearranged, with the options for when to play it looking fairly limited due to other commitments.   Earlier this month City were able to bring their fixture at Everton forward by 18 days after reaching the Carabao Cup final.  But that isn't possible now due to the lack of midweek slots available, with either City, United or both playing Premier League or Champions League fixtures in all midweeks between now and mid-March.  After that there is an international break which starts the week beginning March 18, meaning that the earliest possible date for the fixture would be the week beginning April 1.   If that is when the match falls, and Liverpool have won all six of their Premier League fixtures between now and then - a tough ask given that they include games with Manchester United and Tottenham - then City could go to Old Trafford under huge pressure in the title race.  Presuming that they've won all of their four league games leading up to facing their rivals, they could end the match six points behind Liverpool with six games to play.  It has yet to be confirmed whether or not the match will take place on the week of April 1, but that looks to be the most likely option given that the following two midweeks will be unavailable should one of the Manchester pair - more likely to be City following United's 2-0 loss to PSG - reach the last eight of the Champions League.  That would leave the week beginning April 22 as the next available slot.  City host title rivals Tottenham on the weekend of April 20, and as it stands will have just three fixtures remaining after that.

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