While much was said about Paul Pogba’s performance in particular against the old enemy, United will be looking for a much improved display from the one which saw them scrambling to record a late 1-1 draw last time out. And while the fixture list is set to become more hectic in the weeks to come, Jose Mourinho is likely to call upon his favoured players for the trip to the bet365 Stadium.
Man Utd top Madrid in Money League
Morgan Schneiderlin’s exit to Everton has been followed by an agreement to sell Memphis Depay to Lyon, clearing up the two most distracting pieces of transfer business this January, and United have no reason not to go into the clash with Mark Hughes’ side with a clear head and a determined air.
MAN UTD INJURIES
Marcos Rojo came through his first game back after a muscle injury with no complaints last week, meaning United should have few injury doubts hanging over their players this weekend. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s return after illness was marked with a goal against Liverpool and he is expected to again feature.
Michael Carrick was withdrawn at the break against the Merseysiders, but that was believed to be an entirely tactical move with the former England midfielder free to play again in Staffordshire. While Luke Shaw has not featured for over seven weeks, the full-back is fully fit and should play some part in at least one of the next three fixtures. However, he is unlikely to feature against Stoke.
‘Ibra can play for another five years’
Eric Bailly is United’s only unavailable player due to his involvement in Cote d’Ivoire’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, with the defender set to feature in Friday’s second group game against DR Congo.
MAN UTD SUSPENSIONS
With the season’s first amnesty on yellow cards having passed at the turn of the year, only Watford’s Jose Holebas in the entire Premier League is even close to picking up a suspension.
As such United are free from such worries, with Paul Pogba - who has collected more yellows than any other United player this season (seven) - still three cards away from being banned.
MAN UTD POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP
With six days having passed since United’s last fixture and another five before they face Hull City in the EFL Cup semi-final second leg, Mourinho is unlikely to make wholesale changes on Saturday.
Juan Mata may well be recalled, while Marouane Fellaini could be pushing for consideration after he extended his impressive recent run with a telling appearance as a late substitute against Liverpool. Anthony Martial may find himself open to being left out after failing to get at young debutant Trent Alexander-Arnold more regularly against Liverpool, with Marcus Rashford among the possible replacements.
‘CR7 swapped showmanship for goals’
The clash with Stoke marks the final game before a significantly congested spell in United’s fixture schedule. With Hull and Wigan Athletic both to come in cup competitions, another match with Marco Silva’s Tigers following that and a trip to champions Leicester also ahead in the next fortnight, Mourinho is set to shuffle his pack in the coming weeks.
STOKE CITY DOSSIER
Stoke have used 2016-17 so far to strengthen their reputation for being a solid if unspectacular mid-table Premier League outfit, with Mark Hughes beginning his fifth season at the bet365 Stadium much as the rest have panned out. Currently sat in ninth spot, they represent a tricky but beatable opposition as ever.
United may well have lost the corresponding fixture last term, but it came at a time when the club were experiencing injury issues aplenty, manager Louis van Gaal was under pressure after the sacking at Chelsea of Jose Mourinho, and the recent Champions League elimination had hit everyone at Old Trafford hard.
Martial: Ronaldo was my idol
Stoke have, of course, already taken a point off United this season thanks to Lee Grant’s extensive heroics and Joe Allen’s late David de Gea-assisted equaliser in the 1-1 draw at the Theatre of Dreams, and so the Reds will head south down the M6 with some caution.
One thing Hughes’ side do currently miss is a nailed-on goal threat, with nobody having chalked up more than three goals for the Potters this season, meaning their defence has come under more pressure to come through this term. That said, the likes of Marko Arnuatovic remain a threat despite the loss of Bojan Krkic to a hip injury.
Long-term casualties Stephen Ireland and Jack Butland remain unavailable, while Jonathan Walters is also expected to be out. Geoff Cameron could return following illness and injury.
BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS
Stoke are unbeaten in their last three home league games against Man Utd (W2 D1), after a run of five without a win against them (D1 L4). The Red Devils haven’t gone four league games without a win at Stoke since a run of six in April 1964. Manchester United have only failed to score in one of their last 21 league games against Stoke, though it was in this exact fixture last season (0-2). Jose Mourinho has lost two of his three Premier League visits to the Bet365 Stadium (W1), his joint-highest loss percentage at any Premier League ground (67%, level with the Riverside Stadium). Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League fixtures (W7 D5), their best league run since March 2013 (18 without defeat). Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 14 league goals have won Manchester United 11 points this season; no player has won more for this side (level with Diego Costa). Only Ruud van Nistelrooy and Dwight Yorke (15 each) scored more goals in their first 20 Premier League games for United than the Swedish striker has managed (14).
TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME
For once, United have been handed a Saturday 3pm kick-off, meaning the game is not being televised in the UK. Mark Clattenburg takes charge of proceedings at the bet365 Stadium.
STOKE V MAN UTD LIVE COMMENTARY
Follow the game in real time, with live match commentary and instant goal alerts, from the Goal Live Scores App!
title: “Man Utd Team News Injuries Suspensions And Line Up Vs Stoke City” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-26” author: “Nathan Shelton”
United head for Stoke on Saturday a very different team to the one which lost to Manchester City, Feyenoord and Watford a year ago though, with the increased pace, power and organisation added to the squad this year having contributed to three convincing victories thus far. And with Marcus Rashford having stood out for England in midweek too, Mourinho has plenty of reasons to be hopeful of continued good form in the weeks to come.
United 6/1 to beat Stoke 2-0
The game at the bet365 Stadium presents a crucial league fixture just three days before United return to Champions League action for the first time in almost two years against Basel at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
MAN UTD INJURIES
Luke Shaw has made two appearance for United’s under-23 side in recent weeks as he returns from a foot ligament injury. Following a 58-minute appearance in a 1-1 draw with Swansea in Leigh, he turned in a full 90-minute showing against Tottenham at Stevenage which saw United’s second string lose 3-1.
Ashley Young also played in the first of those games, and he is another player who could add to Jose Mourinho’s stocks as United look to use the full depth of their squad with games coming up thick and fast.
Marcos Rojo is due out until the end of the year with an ACL knee injury, although he is now back in light training alongside the first team so could step up his rehabilitation in the coming weeks, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is another who could be out for a period of some months still despite having been named in United’s Champions League group stage squad.
MAN UTD SUSPENSIONS
United will not have anyone suspended for this league encounter, with the European bans to be served by Phil Jones and Eric Bailly in midweek their only pending concerns.
MAN UTD POTENTIAL STARTING LINE-UP
Jose Mourinho has made only one change so far this season, with Anthony Martial replacing Marcus Rashford for the 2-0 win over Leicester City last time out. Rashford could well receive a recall for the trip to Stoke after starring in England’s 2-1 win over Slovakia at Wembley on Monday, but there could also be other minor changes made by the United boss.
With the Champions League visit of Basel three days away, Mourinho could revert to type by making subtle alterations to his team in order to save the legs of some of those he has in mind for a starting berth on Tuesday.
There will be no changes at the heart of defence though, with Eric Bailly and Phil Jones starting against Mark Hughes’ side ahead of their enforced lay-offs in midweek. Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof have already been slated to start against Basel and will sit out this game in preparation.
STOKE CITY TEAM NEWS
Stoke have had the ultimate mixed start to the Premier League season, with their opening-day loss to Everton at Goodison Park having been followed up with a narrow victory against Arsenal thanks to Jese Rodriguez’s debut goal. Last time out they ended West Brom’s 100 per cent start with a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns.
Jese’s impact has been one of the high points of the Potters’ campaign so far, while the form of former United midfielder Darren Fletcher following his move from West Brom has also given them a huge boost. However, the Scot was forced to withdraw from his national side’s fixtures against Lithuania and Malta due to a knee injury last week. He is back in training with Stoke but could be touch-and-go to return on Saturday.
Summer signing Eric Choupo-Moting is expected to be fit enough to at least take a place on the bench after missing Cameroon’s World Cup qualifiers this week with a hamstring problem.
BEST OPTA MATCH FACTS
Stoke are unbeaten in their last four home Premier League games against Manchester United (W2 D2) since losing four of their first five between 2008-09 and 2012-13. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United’s win percentage in the Premier League against Stoke was 90% (won nine out of 10) – since he left in May 2013, they’ve won three out of eight; a win ratio of 37. 5%. Coming in to this matchday, Manchester United will have ended 27 days at the top of the Premier League table this season – more than the total of the previous four seasons combined (16 days). The Red Devils have scored four goals from substitutes so far this season; more than any other Premier League team (Martial x2, Rashford and Fellaini). In 2016-17, they only scored six goals through subs in 38 games. Mourinho has lost his fourth league match of the season in four of the last five seasons (W1), with his first defeat as Manchester United boss coming on the fourth Premier League matchday against Man City last season. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has provided five assists in his first three Premier League games this season. Only two players have provided six assists in their first four Premier League apps of the season – Thierry Henry in 2004-05 and Cesc Fabregas in 2014-15. Saido Berahino hasn’t scored a Premier League goal since 27th February 2016, with his current drought extending to 1823 minutes (over 30 hours of action).
TV COVERAGE & KICK-OFF TIME
The match is being televised live on BT Sport 1 in the UK and kicks off at 17:30BST, with TV coverage beginning 30 minutes prior.
