Ruud van Nistelrooy: Manchester City are favourites

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has said that United's rivals Manchester City have overtaken them as favourites for the Premier League title.

The Citizens thrashed United 6-1 last weekend to move five points clear at the Premier League's summit and Van Nistelrooy, who currently plays for Malaga, believes Roberto Mancini's men now have the edge.

"I think at the moment definitely [Manchester City are favourites] because they are up there and with the run of form they are having lately. The win at Old Trafford obviously makes them the favourites for the title this year," the 35-year-old told talkSPORT.

"Clubs like Chelsea and definitely United will be hanging in there until the end and we will have to see what happens because it is a new team [at City] and obviously, as an ex-United player, I hope that in the end, in [Ferguson's] 25th year as a manager, he will win another league."

Since leaving United, Van Nistelrooy had spells at Real Madrid and Hamburg before moving to the new-look Malaga in the summer.