United Can Cement Europe Stake With Stoke Win

Manchester United seem to have overcome their opening turbulent period and will be looking to cement their position in fourth at home to mid-table Stoke City tonight (2nd December, 19:45).

Louis van Gaal`s United are unbeaten in their last six at home and are on a three game unbeaten streak in the Premier League. This has seen the Old Trafford outfit installed as the strong 1/2 (william hill) favourites for their Stoke clash despite a litany of defensive injuries.

Both of United`s first-choice wing-backs, Luke Shaw and Rafael, miss out through injury. The world`s most expensive teenager Shaw picked up an ankle problem during their 2-1 win over Arsenal and is expected to be out for the next month. Meanwhile, Rafael returned to training yesterday and whilst he may be fit enough to take on Southampton on Saturday, the Brazilian defender will surely miss out against Stoke tonight.

It is thought that Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia will continue to replace the pair.

Centre-backs Jonny Evans and Phil Jones are also sidelined. Like Rafael, Northern Irishman Evans is close to a return to the first-team after finding himself out for 10 weeks following an ankle injury. Phil Jones, however, is still a way off full fitness, the 22-year-old still struggling with his problem shin.

So far van Gaal`s men have coped relatively well with these absences, having conceded only one in their loss away to arch rivals Manchester City and with a trio of wins against Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Hull City.

Goals have come from numerous personnel too with midfielder Juan Mata scoring his team`s only goal at home to Palace. The on-target strike was the Spaniard`s third of the season.

An own-goal from Kieran Gibbs put United 1-0 up against Arsenal before talismanic captain Wayne Rooney made it two with five minutes remaining. Olivier Giroud halved the deficit in injury time though a comeback was not forth-coming.

Rooney was on song again, scoring in the 3-0 triumph over Hull. Strike partner Robin van Persie grabbed his fourth of the season with a powerful strike to secure the win whilst the opener was provided by defender Chris Smalling.

Captain Rooney is 4/1 (bet365, Betvictor) to provide the deadlock breaker tonight despite sustaining a knock to the knee against Hull. The favourite to net, however, is Radamel Falcao. The 15/4 (bet365, Spreadex) favourite returned from an absence with an appearance against the Tigers and will be looking to score his first since coming back from his calf injury.

Playmaker Angel Di Maria is not available for selection, something that will give the Stoke defenders hope ahead of the sides` Old Trafford meeting.

The 15/2 (Numerous) outsiders for tonight`s clash, Mark Hughes` Potters will know that they will have to be on top of their game to secure their first win following consecutive defeats. boylesports have the best price for a draw at 15/4.

Stoke worked hard but failed to break Liverpool down, instead conceding in the final five minutes at Anfield. Whilst their defeat was their second in as many matches after their unceremonious 2-1 loss at home to Burnley, the Liverpool game was only the third time the Midlands side have failed to score in all competitions this season. Jonathan Walters grabbed the consolation goal against the Clarets.

With this in mind, punters may find it worthwhile to back Hughes` men at 5/6 (32red, 888sport, unibet) to score over 0.5 times against the home team tonight. betway`s 9/2 says they can`t score over 1.5.

Prior to their consecutive defeats, Stoke recorded a 2-2 draw away at West Ham and an unlikely 2-1 victory over Tottenham. Victor Moses and Mame Biram Diouf put the Potters two to the good before the Hammers hit back to level up. Again City went two up against Spurs thanks to Borjan Krkic and Walters with the White Hart Lane outfit only managing to peg them back once.

In-form Walters is 11/2 (Numerous) to score at any time against United, whilst fellow midfielders Steve Sidwell (knee) and Glenn Whelan (calf) are unavailable.

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02/12/2014     © Frixo 2024