Manchester United legend Gary Neville fears for his old club if they're knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City.

Neville wrote in the Mail on Sunday: "It is more than 10 years since Manchester United lost three consecutive games - and that only happened the last time in 2001 after the club had already won the league title that season.

"So Sunday's derby against Manchester City has assumed much more importance than you would usually expect for an FA Cup third-round tie.

"Apart from the local pride at stake, with both teams battling it out for the title - even though Tottenham refuse to let them have it all their own way - the result could have a big psychological impact on the rest of the season.

"It's not so much going out of the FA Cup which will disappoint either team - though that would be bad enough - it will be that sense of losing the initiative to their closest rivals.

"And, having lost 6-1 to City at Old Trafford, and having now lost their last two games, Manchester United have to react."