And so it has come to this.

Given the title race has been the sole preserve of Manchester for much of the season it seems somewhat fitting that it should be decided by a face-off between United and City. Conveniently, their next encounter comes a week today, and while both clubs will still have two fixtures left after that, the derby has come to represent a cardinal battle for the Barclays Premier League trophy.

United would not appear to be in the greatest health going into the match, at least not by their standards. A defeat by Wigan Athletic last week was followed by a dramatic draw with Everton yesterday. Dramatic because the Old Trafford side architected a 4-2 lead with 20 minutes to go; dramatic because it ended up 4-4.

It was a result which, coupled to City's win over Wolves, narrowed the gap at the top of the table to three points. A win at the Etihad Stadium next week may well render this draw something of an irrelevance, but it has also had the effect of making that trip all the more daunting.

"Yes, definitely," said Sir Alex Ferguson, when asked if it was the most important derby he has known. "We've given them [City] the initiative, there is no doubt about that.

"It makes the game at the Etihad a really important game. A decider, really. There has been an expectancy from City that it could be their decider, but it's ours, too."

The United manager may grow to revel in the gravity of the fixture, yet there was little indication of that yesterday. His words were typically cutting of a United defence which surrendered a strong lead, with former Rangers striker Nikica Jelavic scoring twice.

It was the Croat that gave Everton the lead when he cushioned a header into the far corner. United, less than convincing in the first half, responded as Wayne Rooney scored with his own header, planting his forehead on to an adroit cross from Nani. The Portuguese then set up Danny Welbeck for a sumptuous second – the United striker sidestepping Johnny Heitinga to curl a shot into the top corner.

Nani then scored a third minutes later; chipping over Tim Howard after a neat exchange with Welbeck, with Old Trafford purring its approval. Not even a smart finish from Merouane Fellaini seemed enough to upset the United support.

Rooney duly added a fourth and the three points seemed secured, over to you City. Not so; Jelavic clipped in a delicate volley to cut the deficit before Steven Pienaar salvaged a point with a low drive just five minutes from the end.

"There were defensive lapses," said Ferguson. "Their goals were really soft. It was a real shock for us to defend like that.

"It was a travesty of a result in some ways. We've thrown a game away that we should be coasting. But we didn't, so we have given ourselves a difficult task."

Not that such an assertion should serve to belittle the performance from Everton. Having lost to rivals Liverpool in an FA Cup semi-final last week questions had been raised about their character. They seemed unfounded yesterday, though.

"I am really disappointed people would question their character," said David Moyes, whose Everton side also survived a late volley from Rio Ferdinand. "It is a bit insulting because I would hate to think people either wouldn't understand me or the culture of Everton FC."