Monday 15 January 2018

Can Manchester United edge closer to leaders Manchester City with victory over Stoke City?


The final Premier League fixture of gameweek 23 sees Manchester United take on Stoke City at Old Trafford.
How is Monday night's game expected to pan out? Football Manics takes a closer look.
Standings
Man United sit second in the table with 47 points from 22 games and, thanks to a very interesting development on Sunday (Manchester City losing at Liverpool), can narrow the gap to 12 points with victory against the Potters.
United have lost only two of their 47 home matches in all competitions under Jose Mourinho, with both defeats coming against Manchester City, but after a run of eight consecutive league wins at home, they have won just one of their last four at Old Trafford.
Stoke are languishing in 18th place with a mere 20 points from 22 games and look in real danger of having a survival fight on their hands. They're still on the lookout for a new manager, with Martin O'Neill having reportedly rejected them, and Eddie Niedzwiecki remains in caretaker charge.
The Potters have won only three of their 57 Premier League away matches against the clubs that finished in the top six last season, conceding 140 goals, and their three games this term have yielded the following defeats: 7-2 at Manchester City, 5-1 at Tottenham and 5-0 at Chelsea.
Head to head
Stoke earned a Premier League point at Old Trafford for the first time last season, having lost on their eight previous visits in the division.
The Potters are winless in 17 away trips against Manchester United in all competitions since a 1-0 victory in April 1976 - and of these 17, 15 have been defeats.
The last three league meetings have been drawn, and the Red Devils have not drawn four consecutive league games against the same opponent since a five-match streak against Leeds United between 1982 and 1991.
Coach quotes (BBC Sport)
Jose Mourinho: "From the outside, I think [Mark Hughes] is a guy with great qualities to do the job for them. I don't think for the players it's a difficult situation - probably they train the same way and it's not a dramatic change that isn't good in this period of the season."
Kevin Russell, Stoke youth coach: "Usually when managers go, everyone has got to look at their self. Not only the players, but staff from bottom to the top. Could we have done more? Could we have done better? So I'm sure the players are in that frame of mind and think they've got a point to prove. I'm sure they will be eager to try and impress."
Team news
Eric Bailly and Zlatan Ibrahimovic remain absent through injury, while Ashley Young will be missing due to suspension.
Michael Carrick and Antonio Valencia took part in United's warm-weather training camp in Dubai last week and the pair could be involved.
Stoke hope to have defenders Erik Pieters and Bruno Martins Indi available after respective hamstring and groin injuries respectively.
Ryan Shawcross, recently sidelined by a calf problem, may also feature, along with new signing Moritz Bauer.
Prediction
Man United come into this game on the back of a five-game unbeaten run and will be fully confident in their ability to see off the struggling Potters.
Add to that the psychological boost of knowing that Man City have finally been defeated and the Red Devils will not want to miss the opportunity to narrow the gap to 12 points.
After all, Newcastle United were 12 points ahead of United in January 1996 and we all know how that turned out - so for me it'll be a routine win against a side that won't be able to cope.
Score prediction: 3-1

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Adhekoyibo Precious Oreva is a native of Delta State. She graduated from the University of Benin, where she studied mass communication.