Manchester United host their second game in three days as former-Red Mark Hughes' Stoke City side visit Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
A 4th consecutive victory is possible for Louis van Gaal's rejuvenated Manchester United side, who have won all 3 of their games since defeat on Derby Day to 2nd placed Manchester City.
Stoke's season has been contrasting to Manchester United's, 13 games in. The Potters have suffered back-to-back defeats against Burnley and Liverpool and have only won 1 of their last 5 games, leaving them in 12th place. Former Manchester United striker Mame Biram Diouf did, however, earn Stoke a victory away from home a Manchester City. A first for any side in years was followed by an impressive victory over Tottenham Hotspur a few weeks later. But it is only those two majoy scalps which bare any positive on a miserable start to a season predicted to be Stoke's best in decades.
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United
The home side may sit in 4th position, a Champions League spot, but their prominent misfortunes in the injury department throughout the season continue. Angel Di Maria pulled up early on in United's emphatic 3-0 win over Hull on Saturday with a hamstring injury. Van Gaal is yet to learn the full extent of what could potentially be a serious injury but it is expected that the Argentine will be able to return to training after Tuesday night's match.
Phil Jones, Luke Shaw and Daley Blind will not feature in the squad, all suffering from long term injuries while Jonny Evans played in the U21 side versus Southampton on Monday night as the Northern Irishman makes his way back from a long term injury.
Rafael Da Silva declared himself that he was 'ready to help' after being out for over a month but a return from the Brazilian for this midweek game is unlikely, van Gaal will stick with Antonio Valencia who has, surprisingly, put in some stellar performances at right-back, not his usual position.
“He [Falcao] was not fit to play 90 minutes, but for 20 minutes okay. I can use him because now he has trained for a full week with the first team. He needs match rhythm.” - van Gaal
James Wilson has been reported to have picked up an injury in training but the club have released no news regarding the rumours. Even if the news is false, he would be unlikely to feature given Robin van Persie's return to the scoring charts and the return of Radamel Falcao, who came off the bench for 20 minutes against Hull on Saturday. Wayne Rooney was feared to be unavailable after he limped heavily off the pitch at the end of Saturday's 3PM kick-off. But the Manchester United and England Captain has recovered from a knock on his knee and will start once more for United, having already featured for 900 minutes this season even with a 3 match suspension for a sending off.
It is unknown whether Radamel Falcao will make his first start in over a month or whether Robin van Persie will play once more having just returned to scoring ways. Juan Mata, despite bringing a calmer passing play to the team, could be dropped in favour of Falcao as Rooney drops behind the Colombian and Robin van Persie in a 4-1-2-1-2.
Stoke City
Steve Sidwell sustained a knee ligament injury in Stoke's loss versus Liverpool at the weekend so will look from the sidelines for 6 weeks. His replacement that day was Glenn Whelan and he also picked up an injury after coming on. He strained his calf muscle so will also be out of action for an extended period of time.
Victor Moses remains out with a thigh injury while Robert Huth and Peter Odemwingie extend Stoke's injury list with a calf and knee injury respectively. Dionatan Teixeira has a broken foot so will also not feature. Phil Bardsley does return, however, having missed Saturday's game through illness.
Perhaps one of the most haunting experiences for the Manchester United fans last season under David Moyes was the end to the powerful control in the enounters between these two sides. The Reds kept up their home record against the Potters, 11 wins in the last 11 games at Old Trafford, but days after a midweek clash with Cardiff which led the United fans to believe a Champions League spot was possible and days after Juan Mata was signed for a club record fee, they fell at the hands of Charlie Adam. The Scotsman scored twice to give Hughes a 2-1 win over his former club and end a run of 4 wins at the Brittania since Stoke's promotion in 2008 with 8 goals scored and only two conceded.
Louis van Gaal will be hoping to save the impressive record previously established as he guides his side to the possibility of 4 consecutive wins for the first time in 2014.
Louis van Gaal: “Winning, for a top club like Manchester United, is the most important thing in a week, or in a day. Especially when we are in fourth position in the league table you have to win, otherwise others shall overcome you. Of course I had hoped that we would win on Saturday but we have to win also against Stoke City.
“But in the Premier League nothing is easy. When you see Liverpool struggling against Stoke City – [scoring in the] 85th minute – that shows. You see Arsenal struggling against West Bromwich Albion – they could also have lost.
“Every game is difficult. That is why the Premier League is exciting, because you never know. There is an atmosphere in the stadiums [that is] fantastic and the fans are always supporting their club, until the end. That is fantastic. That is why I want to work in the Premier League, because of that, the atmosphere.”
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Stoke won the most recent encounter 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium in February, ending a run of five successive wins for Manchester United in this fixture (in all competitions).
It was Stoke's first league victory against the Red Devils since 1984.
Manchester United have won their last 11 home games against Stoke in league and cup (including 10 top-flight games).
The Potters' last win at Old Trafford was a 1-0 victory on 21 April 1976, when Alan Bloor got the only goal.
Manchester United
Manchester United have the opportunity to win four consecutive Premier League games for only the second time since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson (after four wins in Dec 2013).
Wayne Rooney has scored in nine of his last 13 matches for England and Manchester United combined (10 goals).
Robin van Persie has netted one goal in each of his four Premier League games against the Potters in a Manchester United shirt. Overall, van Persie has scored 10 goals in nine Premier League appearances against Stoke.
Stoke City
Stoke have lost three of their last five Premier League matches, including the last two.
Former Man Utd player Mark Hughes has already won a Premier League game as opposition manager at Old Trafford, when his Blackburn side defeated the Red Devils 2-1 in September 2005 (D1, L7 of the other eight trips there).
Peter Crouch's goal at Old Trafford last season was his first in nine Premier League games at the venue.