English Premier League - Preview: Manchester United versus Stoke City
Ahead of this midweek fixture at Old Trafford on 4th January, BBC’s match preview states that "If winning when not playing well really is the hallmark of champions, then little wonder Manchester United are the bookies' favourites to win a record
19th league title this season". Sir Alex Ferguson’s team have been on top of the Premier League table since November and it is no surprise that the Red Devils have been tipped to end the season in precisely that position, having not lost a single league game
so far in their campaign. United managed to defeat West Brom at the Hawthorns on Saturday, a win that has been described as mediocre by critics but gifted all three vital points to the visitors who now host Stoke City.
The previous two times that Roy Pulis’ side have met Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Potters have been thrashed in dismal manner, in fixtures ending with a 5-0 and 4-0 score line. Pulis’ team have shown greater substance when hosting the Red Devils
this season, as Stoke could have drawn against the current table toppers had it not been for Javier Hernandez’s 86th minute winner. Stoke City managed a win over Everton in their first fixture of this year and a win over Sir Alex’s side will see
them climb into the sixth spot in the league.
Manchester United have so far played nineteen games this season compared to Stoke City’s twenty. The Red Devils have gained forty one points against City’s twenty seven. Sir Alex’s team have been undefeated this season, winning eleven games and drawing eight.
In contrast, the Potters have won eight games, lost one more than that and drawn three. They have scored twenty five goals and conceded one less this season. The Red Devils have scored forty one goals and conceded eighteen so far in their campaign.
The last time Stoke City won over Manchester United was in 1984 on Boxing Day. The victory was recorded at the Old http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Victoria-c40883 Ground and the previous time they won against United at Old Trafford was in April 1976, a fixture which ended 0-1. Manchester United
have the undisputed upper hand against the Potters in recent times, as Sir Alex’s men have defeated them in the last thirteen Premier League games between both sides without Stoke finding the net even once. The last time Sir Alex’s men hosted Stoke was on
the last day of the previous season, with the game ending 4-0 in United’s favour.
The Red Devils are in an exceptionally good form, having secured eleven out of their previous twelve league fixtures at home. As mentioned previously, they have not seen defeat even once in their nineteen league matches and have lost a single game out of
twenty eight from all their competitions that they have played so far this season. Stoke must be wary of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitar-Berbatov-c11254, as the Bulgarian is currently in roaring form, having hit home eight times in the previous four league matches. If Sir Alex fields Michael
Carrick, it will be the player’s 300th appearance for his club.
Statistics show that Stoke City have not lost a match when they have scored the opening goal this season; they have won six of those matches and drawn one. The Stoke player, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonathan-c18993 Walters may make his 250th club career start, as reported by
the BBC.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Darron-Gibson-c10368 may not face the Potters as both players are also reported to be slightly injured
after the West Brom game. Stoke City have good news as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mamady-Sidibe-c23298 is Roy Pulis’ only other injury concern.
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