Monday January 15
Manchester United v Stoke City
Team news
Antonio Valencia could return for Manchester United's home clash with Stoke on Monday night.
The right-back has been out for almost a month with a hamstring injury but trained with Jose Mourinho's team in Dubai this week along with Michael Carrick, who has not played since September having undergone a procedure to treat an irregular heart rhythm.
Ashley Young still has one match left to serve on his suspension while Eric Bailly (ankle) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee) are missing once again.
Stoke could have Erik Pieters and Bruno Martins Indi available again.
The Dutch pair have stepped up their recoveries from hamstring and groin injuries respectively, returning to training this week. It was hoped skipper and fellow defender Ryan Shawcross, recently sidelined by a calf problem, would also be involved in training ahead of the game.
There may be a debut for right-back Moritz Bauer after his switch from Rubin Kazan to the Potters, who have had first-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki in temporary charge since the sacking of boss Mark Hughes last weekend.
Manchester United (from): Romero, De Gea, Pereira, Tuanzebe, Darmian, Jones, Smalling, Valencia, Lindelof, Rojo, Shaw, Blind, McTominay, Pogba, Herrera, Matic, Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard, Martial, Rashford, Lukaku, Mata, Mkhitaryan.
Stoke (from): Butland, Grant, Zouma, Wimmer, Cameron, Martins Indi, Souttar, Bauer, Pieters, Edwards, Tymon, Fletcher, Allen, Adam, Ireland, Afellay, Shaqiri, Diouf, Choupo-Moting, Sobhi, Crouch, Berahino, Ngoy.
Opta statistics
- Manchester United have won 25 of a possible 27 points in Premier League home games against Stoke, with the only points dropped coming in this exact fixture last season (1-1).
- Stoke are winless in their last 17 away trips against Manchester United in all competitions (D2 L15), since a 1-0 win in April 1976.
- The last three league games between these sides have ended level – the last side Man Utd drew four consecutive league games against was Leeds United, a run of five between 1982 and 1991.
- After a run of eight consecutive league wins at Old Trafford, Manchester United have won just one of their last four at home (W1 D2 L1).
- Only two of the 10 previous clubs who conceded 47+ goals after 22 Premier League games have survived relegation at the end of the season – Swansea in 2016-17 (51 goals) and Wigan in 2009-10 (47 goals).
- The Potters have never lost a Premier League away game on a Monday before, winning three and drawing five of their eight games. Their last top-flight away defeat on a Monday was in May 1985 (1-5 vs Ipswich).
- However, Manchester United have lost just one of their 29 Premier League home games played on a Monday (W21 D7 L1), against Man City in April 2013 (1-2).
- Nine previous managers (including caretakers) have taken charge of their first ever Premier League game at a single club against Manchester United at Old Trafford – the only one not to lose was Claudio Ranieri with Chelsea in September 2000 (3-3).
- Anthony Martial has had a hand in three goals in his two home Premier League appearances against Stoke (2 goals, 1 assist), scoring in both games.
- Jesse Lingard has scored 11 and assisted a further five goals in all competitions for Manchester United this season. He’s averaging a goal or assist every 88 minutes, the best ratio of any Manchester United player.
Related links
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