Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher believes that defeating Manchester City next weekend could prove vital in the Premier League title race.

The Red Devils were forced to relinquish the title last season to their fierce rivals, who secured a double over the red half of Manchester over the course of the campaign.

"Last season we lost twice against City and we lost the league so that was a major factor in that," the Manchester Evening News quotes Fletcher as saying. "We don't want to give them any advantage by beating us. It is about time we got a result against them."

United currently sit three points ahead of City at the top of the table.