Manchester United 4-2 Stoke City: 6 Things We Learned

Manchester United claimed a somewhat one-sided 4-2 victory over Stoke City Saturday, to keep pace with league leaders Chelsea at the top of the Premier League standings.

A Wayne Rooney own-goal and a Michael Kightly strike caused jitters for the Old Trafford faithful, but a Rooney brace at the right end of the park added to clinical Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck finishes to keep a valuable three points in Manchester.

Here are six things we learned from the enthralling goal-fest.

David De Gea Gets a Surprise Nod, Has a Mixed Day

With Stoke's jolly green giants coming to town Saturday, many expected Anders Lindegaard to start between the sticks for United.

But in an admirable show of faith in his keeper, Sir Alex plucked for the somewhat erratic David de Gea to keep goal against the Potters.

The Spaniard had an up-and-down game, though, impressing and frustrating in equal measure.

He was partly to blame for Stoke's opener, showing indecision when a curling Charlie Adam free-kick flashed across his goal.

But a couple of fine saves, one from Adam and another from Jonathan Walters, showed he is still the Red Devils' best hope in the position going forward.

Jonny Evans Keeps a Lid on Big Man Peter Crouch

Before the game, the lanky Peter Crouch was pegged by many as Stoke's danger man, and one for United to be most wary of Saturday.

But Northern Irish stud Jonny Evans revelled in his role in central defence, preventing the striker from having the kind of impact he has had in previous games this season.

Long balls were well contested in the air by Evans, who was never afraid to mix it in the face of some overwhelming pressure.

His, and the improving Patrice Evra's fortunes contrasted with the fast expiring...

Rio Ferdinand's Form Continues to Deteriorate

Most of the pregame hubbub surrounded Rio Ferdinand, who controversially decided to refuse to wear the "Kick Racism Out of Football" t-shirts worn by just about every other player around the country, Saturday.

On the pitch, Rio was unable to evade the spotlight—his fast deteriorating pace and surprisingly questionable positioning letting him down several times.

The central defender has had to increasingly rely on his tactical nous in recent years, as age has begun to rob him of his physical attributes.

But against Stoke, he often looked a little lost, given the run around by Michael Kightly in a similar manner to how Gareth Bale breezed past him a couple of weeks ago.

Unless Rio can drastically improve, it will be Evans who will partner Nemanja Vidic at the back when the Serbian finally makes his return from injury.

Stoke Surrender the Midfield to Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick

For the third game running, United got the best of a midfield battle, this time conquering the likes of Dean Whitehead and Charlie Adam to well and truly dictate the flow of the game.

But to use the term "battle" is perhaps exaggerating the nature of Saturday's match.

In truth, Stoke were all over the place, unable to maintain a regular structure when in possession, instead preferring to lump the ball forward to Peter Crouch in attack whenever possible.

This will have come as a relief to United, who decided to revert back to the 4-2-3-1 formation that hadn't been entirely successful when used earlier in the season.

In assessing the success of the team's tactics Saturday, credit must be given to the effervescent...

Wayne Rooney Leads a Devastating United Attack

United's front four—Rooney, Robin van Persie, Danny Welbeck and Antonio Valencia—all combined excellently against Stoke, looking capable of scoring at will.

With van Persie and Welbeck often shunted out into wide positions, the onus was on the more central Rooney to link-up with those around him and drive into the Stoke penalty area whenever possible.

His finishing when presented with two golden chances showed a striker's touch, but it was the Englishman's tireless work in all areas of the pitch that was most important to United's success.

On another positive note—who knew Danny Welbeck could actually finish?

Bigger Tests Lie Ahead, Are Even More Goals Coming?

In the grand scheme of things, Saturday's clash will likely prove only an appetiser for United's highly anticipated match with Chelsea next weekend.

First and second will meet at Stamford Bridge a week from Sunday in an encounter that looks like carrying a huge bearing in the Premier League title race.

But with both sides currently firing on all cylinders in attack, with goals being conceded at the back, it wouldn't take a genius to suppose that the net will bulge on more than a few occasions when the two teams meet.

United fans will just have to hope that their side emerges the least bruised from the impending shootout.

What did you make of United's win over Stoke? What are the prevailing positives and negatives from the clash?

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