Manchester City’s tilt at Champions League football next season, their community work and expanding fan base point to a long and prosperous future says ex-manager Kevin Keegan, who knows how hard keeping the league title is.

A bizarre James Collins own goal and speedy counter-attacking move finished by Sergio Aguero gave Manchester City all three points against a disconsolate West Ham team, a welcome comeback from defeats to Manchester United and Crystal Palace as they stayed fourth by seven points from Liverpool and Tottenham.

After Borussia Dortmund manager Juergen Klopp announced he would be leaving the German club on Wednesday, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini answered the inevitable questions about his own future.

Manuel Pellegrini is now a 4/6 favourite to be the next Premier League manager to leave his post with Man City’s title bid well and truly fading, completing a disastrous season for the Chilean.

With Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao added to Manchester United’s existing attacking roster of Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Juan Mata over the summer, Louis van Gaal’s side was high on towering ego, and low on on-the-pitch cohesion before the Dutch manager worked his magic.

Once Manchester United got into top gear en route to a 4-2 derby defeat of Manchester City, Manuel Pellegrini’s men were unable to cope, the manager shouldering the blame for their humiliating loss.

Manchester was painted red on Sunday as, courtesy of goals from Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata and Chris Smalling, United silenced their traditionally neighbours 4-2 at Old Trafford.

While Manchester City target an unprecedented five straight wins over United on Sunday, equally the Red Devils have never lost five straight league games against their fierce rivals as history beckons at Old Trafford.

Man City defeated West Brom 3-0 at The Etihad on Saturday to keep pressure on the league leaders, only for Jose Mourinho’s men to beat Hull City 3-2 on Sunday.

City lie six points behind leaders Chelsea, who also have a game in hand, and with both sides crashing out of the Champions League each team will be entirely focused on the league title race.

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini says he’s not worried about his own job despite his side limping out of the Champions League against Barcelona.