Manchester United vs Stoke City
Barclays Premier League – Saturday 26th October, 2013 (15:00 KO BST) – Old Trafford, Manchester
The Teams
United
David Moyes on Premier League games: “We don’t want to lose many more if we can help it.”
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Robin van Persie should return to the side after missing the midweek win over Real Sociedad.
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“Robin has a good chance. He’s had problems with his toes and a little bit with his groin as well, but I think he should be OK,” Moyes said.
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Not such good news regarding Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, both of whom will almost certainly miss out.
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“The only one who’s a doubt at the moment is Danny Welbeck, who has some fluid on his knee… Tom Cleverley is still recovering from his calf,” the manager revealed.
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After sitting out the match on Wednesday, Marouane Fellaini could return to the side against the notoriously physical Stoke.
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Regarding Fellaini’s protective bandage on his wrist injury, Moyes said, “It can be awkward… But he is fine, he’s getting used to it now and hopefully he can play even in the condition he’s in.”
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Adnan Januzaj could come back into the side. “Adnan is a great lad. He wants to learn. He wants to get better. He wants to improve,” said Ryan Giggs of the 18-year-old this week.
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Rested entirely for the Real Sociedad game, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will likely return to the side.
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However, after very good performances against Southampton and Sociedad, Jonny Evans and Phil Jones will hope to retain their places.
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If van Persie returns, despite impressing on Wednesday night, Shinji Kagawa will likely drop back to the bench.
Predicted line-up: De Gea, Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Carrick, Fellaini, Valencia, Januzaj, Rooney, van Persie
Home record: P4 W1 D2 L1 F4 A3 Pts5
Home form: D W L D
Home record vs Stoke: P48 W25 D16 L7 F89 A39
Stoke
Ex-United striker Mark Hughes on his former employers: “They can’t afford any more slip-ups, but invariably when people question Manchester United they come back with the answers.”
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Captain and ex-United defender Ryan Shawcross is rated as doubtful after falling ill in the week.
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“We sent him home again this morning to give him an extra day, and hopefully he will turn back up tomorrow raring to get going again,” Hughes said on Thursday.
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Geoff Cameron should return to the side after injury ensuring Mark Hughes has a fully-fit squad to chose from.
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Six players have started every Premier League match so far this term.
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Ryan Shawcross, Robert Huth, Erik Pieters, Asmir Begovic, Steven N’Zonzi and Jonathan Walters are the ever-presents.
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They have scored just four league goals, with no striker yet to find the back of the net.
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“It is a worry, you want to be creating and scoring goals, and it’s something we need to address,” Peter Crouch said this week.
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A win, however, would see Stoke join United on eleven Premier League points.
Predicted line-up: Begovic, Cameron, Huth, Shawcross, Pieters, N’Zonzi, Adam, Wilson, Etherington, Walters, Crouch
Away record: P4 W1 D0 L3 F2 A5 Pts3
Away form: L W L L
Recent meetings at Old Trafford
United 4-2 Stoke (20-10-12)
United 2-0 Stoke (31-01-12)
United 2-1 Stoke (04-01-11)
United 4-0 Stoke (09-05-10)
United 5-0 Stoke (15-11-08)
Officials
Referee: Lee Mason.
The 41-year-old official has taken charge of five Premier League matches so far this season, showing sixteen yellow cards and a single red card. He has awarded one penalty. Was last at Old Trafford for United’s 1-0 win over Reading back in March.
Assistants: J Collin, D Eaton.
Fourth Official: Mike Dean.
Notes
Should he feature, Ryan Giggs will make a 950th appearance for Manchester United.
Robin van Persie has scored eight goals in seven Premier League games against Stoke – only against Blackburn (11) has he scored more.
United have won their last nine home league games against Stoke, scoring 26 goals in the process.
Stoke have only taken two points from their last five matches, scoring one goal during that time.
The last time United failed to win three games in a row at Old Trafford within a single season was in October 2005.
Stoke have lost more Premier League matches against United than versus any other side (9).
A win for Stoke will mark manager Mark Hughes’ 100th Premier League victory.
Stoke have scored the fewest goals in the Premier League this season (four) and gone three games without a league goal.
United have won only three of the last eight Premier League matches at Old Trafford (W3, D2, L3).
It is 20 years since United last lost to Stoke in any competition.
Score prediction: United 3-0 Stoke
One reply on “MATCH PREVIEW: Manchester United vs Stoke City”
I don’t care only i want is kagawa played behind striker or in central midfield with carrick. Otherwise i suggest him to leave united. There are talented left player who willing and working hard in hope to get the left winger i mean januzaj. Why spoil his effort. Kagawa shine in central played him behind striker or with carrick in central midfield. Rather playing giggs with him.