Stoke City vs. Manchester United: Complete Premier League Preview

Premier League: Stoke City vs. Manchester United, Britannia Stadium (April 14, 9 a.m. ET)

Manchester United make the relatively short trip south to Stoke-on-Trent this Sunday to take on Tony Pulis' Potters.

The Red Devils have been in stuttering form these past few weeks but know it would take a collapse of monumental proportions to not claim Premier League glory this season.

Stoke City currently sit perilously close to relegation danger in 15th and will need to pick up vital points in the season's run-in.

Here is a preview of the clash, complete with injury updates, projected lineups and match facts.

Injuries and Suspensions

Manchester United currently have a number of players doubtful for Sunday.

Nemanja Vidic, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Paul Scholes missed out earlier this week in the loss to Manchester City, while Ashley Young was subbed off due to injury in that game.

Stoke City only have a couple of key players on the sidelines—namely Marc Wilson and Glenn Whelan.

Otherwise, Tony Pulis has a full squad of players to choose from.

Stoke City

Marc Wilson: hamstring injury (doubtful)

Glenn Whelan: back injury (doubtful)

Manchester United

Nemanja Vidic: knock (probable)

Chris Smalling: knock (probable)

Jonny Evans: hamstring injury (doubtful)

Paul Scholes: knee injury (doubtful)

Ashley Young: ankle injury (doubtful)

(All info via Fantasy Football Scout).

Projected Lineups

It is getting increasingly difficult to predict the lineup Sir Alex Ferguson will deploy every week.

The Manchester United boss has rotated players in and out of his team with a terrific regularity in recent games, often tweaking the side's tactics.

Javier Hernandez, Tom Cleverley and Shinji Kagawa are three such players who could return to the first XI to face Stoke.

Tony Pulis is likely to avoid making many changes for Sunday, keeping faith in a team that has struggled in recent games.

Kenwyne Jones, a striker who has had some success against the Red Devils in his career, is likely to start up front.

Stoke City

Asmir Begovic, Geoff Cameron, Robert Huth, Ryan Shawcross, Andy Wilkinson, Steven N'zonzi, Dean Whitehead, Jonathan Walters, Matthew Etherington, Ryan Shotton, Kenwyne Jones.

Manchester United

David de Gea, Rafael, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Shinji Kagawa, Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia, Javier Hernandez.

Form Guide

Stoke City: LLDLL

Manchester United: DWWLL

Stoke City are currently going through their worst period of form of the season.

The Potters have only picked up a single point in their last six Premier League games, losing to the likes of Fulham, West Ham, Newcastle United and Everton.

Their most recent defeat came at home to Aston Villa, where they fell 3-1 after two late goals from their opponents.

Manchester United too are in a poor run of form...well, poor by their standards.

The Red Devils have lost two big games in a row—an FA Cup exit at the hands of Chelsea and a home defeat to rivals Manchester City.

Prior to that latter loss, Sir Alex's side had won seven straight league games.

Key Players

Stoke City: Ryan Shawcross

For all their troubles scoring goals, Stoke City actually have one of the strongest defences in the Premier League.

Plenty of credit must go to Ryan Shawcross—a graduate of Manchester United's youth academy.

The 25-year-old has formed a formidable partnership with Robert Huth, an equally physical and uncompromising player at the heart of the back line.

Manchester United: Wayne Rooney

This past week saw a quite fantastical transfer rumour emerge linking Manchester United with a summer move for prolific Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao (via Marca).

While such a report is doubtful in its accuracy, the spotlight will nevertheless be on Wayne Rooney to deliver down the season's final stretch.

Some claim his future at Old Trafford is on the line (via ESPN).

Match Facts

Stoke City

The Potters have scored the fewest goals in the Premier League this season with 28.

Saying this, only United, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Everton have conceded fewer goals than Tony Pulis' side.

The last time Stoke met the Red Devils, they lost 4-2 at Old Trafford. Wayne Rooney bagged a brace and an own-goal too in that game.

Stoke have the second-worst pass completion percentage in Britain's top division (70.4) (via WhoScored.com).

Manchester United

Before Manchester City, the last team to beat United in the Premier League was Norwich City back in November.

The Red Devils are one of the worst teams in England in aerial duels won per game with 14.5, fewer than Queens Park Rangers, Southampton and Reading.

Sir Alex's side has committed the second-fewest fouls per game with 10.1.

Wayne Rooney has the joint-second highest number of assists this season with nine. Only Juan Mata has more.

What do you predict will be the outcome of Sunday's game?

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