Stoke City vs. Manchester United: Team News, Preview, Live-Stream and TV Info
Manchester United are chasing a 17th successive game without defeat on Saturday, when they travel to face Stoke City, an opponent they've failed to beat on their last three Premier League trips.
Former Red Devil and current Potters manager Mark Hughes has had success against his old club in recent meetings, but United make their way to the bet365 Stadium hopeful of establishing a new equilibrium in Week 22.
The Old Trafford side is making noticeable strides under manager Jose Mourinho, and while United may still sit sixth in the table, Sunday's 1-1 draw against Liverpool was another sign of their ability to contend against the elite.
Stoke have recovered well from a poor start to the campaign and can move up to eighth with a win over their guests on Saturday, having recently secured back-to-back Premier League wins for the third time this season.
Read on for a match preview of Saturday's meeting at the bet365 Stadium, complete with all the latest team news and viewing information to ensure you don't miss out on the action.
Date: Saturday, January 21
Time: 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET
Venue: Bet365 Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, England
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.)
TV Info: NBCSN (U.S.)
| Sunderland 1-3 Stoke City | Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool |
| Stoke City 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers | Manchester United 2-0 Hull City |
| Stoke City 2-0 Watford | Manchester United 4-0 Reading |
| Chelsea 4-2 Stoke City | West Ham United 0-2 Manchester United |
| Liverpool 4-1 Stoke City | Manchester United 2-1 Middlesbrough |
Team News
Manchester United's squad is just about the healthiest it's looked all season coming into the clash with Stoke, with Eric Bailly—away with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations—the only notable first-team absence.
One prominent piece of team news heading into the clash, however, comes in the shape of Luke Shaw, who hasn't played a Premier League game since October but could start on Saturday, per the Press Association:
Matteo Darmian and Daley Blind have both been gifted time at left-back during Shaw's injury-enforced absence in recent months, although Mourinho could be ready to grant the 21-year-old defender another chance in the starting XI.
Stoke's biggest injury issue is that of goalkeeper Jack Butland, who could be missing for some months, according to ESPN FC's Ben Dinnery:
The Potters announced via their official website that the England stopper had suffered a setback in his plans to come back from a long-term ankle injury in December, having not featured for his club since March 2016.
Jonathan Walters is a concern for Hughes after suffering inflammation in his knee following the 4-1 defeat at Liverpool on December 27. Speaking to the Stoke Sentinel (h/t the Irish Independent), the Potters chief noted the attacker will undergo minor surgery.
"We are missing Jonny Walters unfortunately, who is suffering a problem with his knee," Hughes said. "As a consequence of that, he is going to be missing for a little bit, so that leaves us short up front to be perfectly honest."
While United have one player away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Stoke have three in attacking trio Wilfried Bony (Ivory Coast), Ramadan Sobhi (Egypt) and Mame Biram Diouf (Senegal).
Predicted Stoke City XI (4-2-3-1): Lee Grant; Glen Johnson, Erik Pieters, Ryan Shawcross, Bruno Martins Indi; Charlie Adam, Glenn Whelan; Joe Allen, Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri; Peter Crouch.
Predicted Manchester United XI (4-3-3): David De Gea; Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo; Michael Carrick, Ander Herrera, Paul Pogba; Anthony Martial, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Preview
Saturday's head-to-head at the bet365 Stadium could see two giants of different statures duel for goal honours, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading United's line and Peter Crouch likely doing the same for Stoke.
Of the two, Ibrahimovic is without doubt the man in form, having scored 13 goals in his last 13 games and recording four assists in that space of time. Statman Dave heralded the United frontman's tally:
Crouch has enjoyed a resurgence of late and has three goals to his name in his last three outings. He's assisted another two goals in the starts he's had while Walters has been in and out of the team.
The former England striker netted his 50th goal for Stoke in the recent 3-1 win over Sunderland, and he told #pottersmag (h/t the club's official website) he may revive his robot celebration if he bags his 100th career Premier League goal against United:
"I have had so many people asking me whether it will come back out when I get my 100th goal. They are telling me that I have to do it and to be fair, the pressure is taking its toll - maybe it will come out, we will see.
"
People still talk about it now but at the time it was just a bit of fun, and all of a sudden 10 years on, people are still talking about it.
I only actually ever did it twice for England and people seemed to enjoy it so I’m sure I’ll dust it off at some stage.
Crouch sits on 99 Premier League goals.
Ibrahimovic might be the more likely of the two to make a significant impact, but taking into account United's recent record of three trips to Stoke without a win, there may yet be a surprising turn of events.
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