With both Man City and Man United both knocked out of the Champions League, the title race has taken on added importance.

Both teams suffered the relative humiliation of going out of Europe’s premier competition in the group stage following an underwhelming first round of games. Now their focus will turn to the Premier League and the Europa League where both teams look like near joint favourites to succeed. Money will pour in for both sides on the Europa League.

Man City started the Premier League campaign with purpose and style. They play a brand of football similar to that played on the continent with a set of small but creative forwards interchanging passes in a Total Football style. They score more freely than any team in the Premier League’s history and look like genuine contenders to Man United’s crown.

The Premier League has been ruled by Alex Ferguson’s various teams since 1992, and although he has been beaten to the title before, he’s always fought his way back to supremacy. Arsenal were England’s star side for a couple of years but did eventually succumb to Man United, as were Chelsea.

Man City looks to be a different prospect. They have the financial backing, a stable manager and most importantly, they have amassed a host of the world’s most exciting players in one squad. Chelsea compete from a similar standpoint but their team appears to be in transition – the old guard is under pressure to give way to a more fluid European style and a new set of younger players.

The fact that City are United’s local rivals adds a poignant spice to the battle for supremacy. United don’t appear to have as string a team as in recent years, but their winning psychology and battle hardened outlook give them a vital edge.

This Premier League season threatens to be the most significant in the league’s history with Man City in the ascendancy and Man United looking short of personnel – especially in midfield. If players like Michael Carrick and the impressive Phil Jones can rise to the challenge, their battle on the European and domestic fronts will be completely absorbing.