Manchester United switch off to turn title race back on

Roll on April 30. Get ready for a manic Monday in Manchester next week: City versus United, noisy neighbours versus the champions, Carlos Tevez versus Wayne Rooney at an all-ticket, all-chanting Etihad. And tell the lady who does not like getting on the scales to stop practising her scales. It is not over yet. Far from it. This title race is back on, thrillingly so, after an astonishing twist on Sunday.

All eyes were first on Old Trafford for the 12.30pm kick-off. The Theatre of Dreams has been the stage for many great comebacks but rarely one that saw the script rewritten as spectacularly and significantly as this. Trailing 4-2 with seven minutes remaining, Everton were inspired by the immense Marouane Fellaini, hair and shoulders above everyone else, to hit back, take a point and shred the nerves of United fans.

The final whistle sounded like a starting gun for the last stretch of the title race. Attention then turned to Molineux for the 4pm kick-off. When Roberto Mancini's side duly defeated Wolves 2-0, United's lead was down to three points. City, boasting a +6 goal difference advantage over their rivals, go top if they win at the Etihad.

Mancini's mind games are paying off. The man from the land of Machiavelli kept saying that the race was run, that United were unmatchable, so cleverly taking the pressure off his own players, who relaxed and refound their early-season brio. You will win nothing with kidology? Mancini aims to prove otherwise.

All of a sky-blue persuasion will be indebted to those in royal blue yesterday. Fellaini particularly deserved huge praise for an unstinting 90-minute shift, including a splendid volleyed goal and clever movement that constantly deceived Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans. By the end, Ferdinand and Evans were drawn inexorably to Fellaini like lovelorn moths to an old flame, suffering real pain.

This was a tale of United defensive weaknesses as well as Everton defiance. A back line containing Ferdinand, Evans and Patrice Evra should not be guilty of naivety but they were, so wasting the superb work of their forwards, Danny Welbeck and Rooney. How they missed Nemanja Vidic.

Some of United's attacking had been sublime, the ball flying between receptive feet as Welbeck struck once and Rooney scored twice, taking his United tally to 180 goals from 362 games and taking him ahead of George Best and Dennis Viollet into fourth in the club's all-time scoring list. Jack Rowley (211), Denis Law (237) and Sir Bobby Charlton (249) lie ahead.

Rooney's former club started stronger. David Moyes's tactics bemused United, the Everton manager fielding Fellaini in a more advanced position just behind Nikica Jelavic. After 33 minutes, Fellaini linked with Steven Pienaar, who found Darron Gibson. On the move went, Gibson working the ball to the excellent Tony Hibbert, whose cross was masterful. Jelavic had lost Ferdinand and Evans, peeling away to the far post, where only little Rafael was in attendance. No contest. Jelavic, jumping confidently, directed a looping header back across David de Gea: 0-1.

The fuse was lit on a firecracker of a match, one of the best of the Premier League season. United were affronted, storming back and equalising. Michael Carrick hooked a loose ball wide to Evra, who invited Nani to cross. Phil Neville failed to track Rooney, who had a split second to reach Nani's excellent delivery and glance a header past Tim Howard: 1-1.

Controversy briefly entered this marvellous match after 57 minutes. When Pienaar fell injured, clutching his knee, Mike Jones waved play on and United seized full advantage. Nani set up Welbeck, who feinted twice to open up a yard of space on the edge of the area before curling a shot past the diving Phil Jagielka and Howard: 2-1.

Moyes was furious, remonstrating with the fourth official about why United were allowed to play on when they had given the ball back at an unhelpful moment in the first half. Frustration briefly coursed through blue veins. Neville dived in on Welbeck.

The England striker recovered quickly, soon involved in a wonderful flowing move that led to Nani's goal on the hour. When Nani rolled the ball back to Carrick, there were streaks of red flying forward everywhere. Carrick slid the ball in to Welbeck, who immediately turned it round the corner to Nani and he beat Howard with a neat lifted finish: 3-1.

An enthralling game was now turning into a classic. Hibbert whipped in another cross to Fellaini, whose timing and technique were marvellous, the ball volleyed expertly past De Gea: 3-2. United responded. Rooney's understanding with Welbeck was seen again. A quick one-two and Rooney was through, sidefooting in: 4-2.

All seemed well at Old Trafford. The Stretford End chanted: "Fergie, Fergie gives us a wave." United's manager responded with a clenched fist. The points seemed safe. United could have killed off the game, running down the clock, but it is in their DNA to keep attacking. With nine minutes left, both full-backs were high up the pitch, Rafael crossing to Evra, who headed against the post.

Everton refused to go quietly, inflicting the sort of late punishment on United that the champions have done so often to others. Neville lifted the ball into the box where Fellaini caused chaos. The ball bounced free and Jelavic pounced: 4-3.

The roller-coaster had one final twist. Everton hunted a point, a riposte to the criticism after losing that FA Cup semi-final to Liverpool. Fellaini, inevitably, was the catalyst. Having turned Evans, Fellaini rolled the ball in for Pienaar to score at the near post: 4-4. Pienaar celebrated his divine intervention by revealing a T-shirt declaring that "God is Great".

Even then defended like lions. Fellaini headed clear a Nani free-kick. Jagielka, bristling with determination, was first to a Rooney cross. Then Howard tipped over Ferdinand's volley. Game over.

Title race on.