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Manchester United hang on to their place in the Premier League’s top four with a 2-1 win against Stoke City at Old Trafford.
Stoke sit in 12th on the ladder, and need to back up this fixture with another tough match against Arsenal on the weekend.
FINAL SCORE:
Manchester United 2
Stoke City 1
Manchester United will look for their resurgence in form to continue when Stoke City visit the Theatre of Dreams. Join The Roar from 6:45am (AEDT) for live commentary from this English Premier League game.
Ten games into the new season, and Manchester United’s campaign was already confounded to the doom and gloom of the previous year: absent from the echelon of European elitism.
Louis van Gaal’s team had opened their season with their worst points haul since 1986/87, with whispers of the Dutchman heading for a swift exit after talk of him being the saviour at Old Trafford.
Three games and three wins later, as well as a style resonating the United of old, and the foundations of a solid yet unspectacular season. Fourth place after their catastrophic opening is quite an achievement. Champions League football next season is a must.
Stoke, meanwhile, currently reside in 12th place, four points clear of Queens Park Rangers and the dreaded relegation zone. The bottom three may not seem like an immediate danger for Mark Hughes and his side, but a surprise home defeat to Burnley followed by a loss at Liverpool has left the next four games – which include Arsenal and Chelsea as well as United – more significant than they would have liked.
The Potters have picked up just four points from their last five games, with goals far from being a regularity.
Some stats do favour the visitors though, with all four of their Premier League victories to date coming against teams currently in the top nine, whilst also claiming three points over the Red Devils last season. Man United have won the last nine encounters at Old Trafford however.
Angel di Maria is the latest addition to the Old Trafford treatment table, hobbling off during Saturday’s victory over Hull City, ruling him out of what would have been his tenth game for the Manchester club. Skipper Wayne Rooney will wait on a fitness test as to whether he will play a part in the clash.
Stoke have injury worries of their own, with Glenn Whelan out with a calf strain and Steve Sidwell missing the whole of the Christmas and New Year period with knee ligament damage – two lusty blows to Mark Hughes’ midfield. Phil Bardsley is set to return though.
Can Stoke come away with the points, or are the devils too red-hot to handle? Join The Roar for live updates from 6:45am, and don’t forget to have your say in the comments.
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