Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany believes the title race is far from over and that his side are capable of catching Manchester United.
The 19-time Premier League winners are currently seven points clear of their cross-town rivals, who have struggled to consistently replicate their form of last season.
City only drew five games in the top-flight last term, however, this season they have already been held on six occasions at this halfway stage.
However, the Belgian defender believes his team are stronger than they were when they pipped United to the title on a dramatic last day during the 2011/2012 campaign, and feels they are capable of defending their crown.
Kompany said: "A couple of years ago, if we had fallen seven points behind, we would have said it would be very difficult.
"We have proved what we can do and everybody is very calm. That's the advantage you get when you win it once."
The Citizens have had a stop-start campaign this time around and being knocked out of the Champions League means they can focus all their attentions on the league.
City boss Roberto Mancini will be without key players this month as Yaya Toure, Kolo Toure will both be representing Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations, while joint top goal scorer Sergio Aguero is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.
But Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta wants his team-mates to step up in the absence of Toure, who has been a key figure in Mancini's line-up.
"Yaya has been a regular player for a long time. We know how important Yaya is to the team but there are other players who can do the same job."
Last season City dropped points in January, losing twice in five games in the league. They were also knocked out of the FA Cup, all in the absence of the Ivorian midfielder.
"Last season, January and February was when we dropped points and we need to try to make sure that doesn't happen again," he concluded.
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