Good morning and welcome along to our live coverage of the first of four Premier League games on this super Sunday of sport.
It’s an early start for this one as Man United welcome Stoke City to Old Trafford. Kick-off is at noon.
Shall we start with some team news? As expected, Wayne Rooney is left on the bench by Jose Mourinho as he named an unchanged side to the one which beat Leicester last week.
Likewise, Stoke are unchanged for today and that means a start for Glenn Whelan in midfield. Shay Given and Jon Walters on the Potters bench again.
Absolutely beautiful October morning in Manchester, with the crowd beginning to file into Old Trafford. Kick-off isn’t long away now.
It has been an incredibly difficult start to the season for Mark Hughes and Stoke. Just two points from six games sees them sitting bottom of the Premier League but Hughes has targeted today’s game as the turning point for his side.
It is 40 years since the Potters won at Old Trafford and, further still, they haven’t managed to come away with a point from 13 visits. All the odds are stacked against his side today but the former United forward only believes it’s a matter of time before they collect their first win of the campaign:
“We think it’s only a matter of time before it comes because we’re not playing badly. The last two games I’ve seen a confident team, a team that wants to address the situation and get the maximum points.
“It’s not as if our confidence has been affected, we’re fine in that regard, but clearly we want to get three points on the board as quickly as possible.
“It’s going to be difficult this weekend because clearly our record at Manchester United isn’t great. It’s a big ask but, if we’re going to get a first win on the board, why can’t it be at Old Trafford?
“We know we’re not too far away from getting back to the level we’re capable of so there’s no concern here.
As for United, it has been a good week with Mourinho’s side sending out a statement of intent with a 4-1 thrashing of champions Leicester. A 1-0 win over Zorya in the Europa League flattered to deceive but the hosts are going in search of four consecutive wins this afternoon.
Victory would see them hump from seventh to third, for the moment at least, and Mourinho knows his side are only going to improve:
“There is long way to go and there is big room for improvement collectively and individually. We are always worried about the dynamic of our game, our consistency.
“The players are good players but some perform better with the ideas of a different manager and the opposite is also true – some of the boys might be more comfortable with Mr van Gaal’s ideas of football. That is true, that is football.
“Stoke are not a team to be in trouble, good players, good investment and stability at the manager level. When I analyse the opponent I look at their team not the table.”
Sad news from Old Trafford this morning with the passing of former Arsenal, Man United and Stoke City forward David Herd. The Scot played 265 times for United, scoring 145 goals.
As a mark of respect, both sets of players will wear black armbands this afternoon.
Mourinho will be desperately hoping his side replicate the purpose and intensity they showed in the first half against Leicester last week.
Time for your predictions. Which way do you see this one going? Can Stoke upset the odds and claim a first victory at Old Trafford since December 1980?
Kick-off! United get us underway, attacking the Stretford End in this first half.
What a chance! Ibrahimovic has to score after being given the freedom of the penalty area but Lee Grant pulls off two superb saves to deny the striker. Bright start from United, ominous for Stoke.
That was just so easy for United. Pogba had time and space on the edge of the area to thread the ball through for Ibrahimovic, but he couldn’t beat Grant from close range.
Half appeals for a penalty as the ball brushes off the hand of Erik Pieters but it would have been extremely harsh. The referee, by the way, is Robert Madley.
Much better from Stoke. Bailly forced to make a crucial intervention after Arnautovic whipped in a dangerous cross. The visitors have plenty of firepower up-front and, on paper anyway, should be capable of causing United problems.
First yellow of the day is shown to Antonio Valencia for a rash challenge on Pieters. I don’t think the right-back could have any complaints about that one.
Chance! Stoke are beginning to come to life and Geoff Cameron is presented with a perfect opportunity to break the deadlock but his effort is tame and straight at de Gea.
Oh what a goal that would have been! Absolutely sublime from United as Ibrahimovic and Lingard combine to create the opening for Pogba, who just drags his first-time effort wide.
20 minutes gone at Old Trafford and it remains goalless despite chances for both sides.
Save! Lovely one and two touch build-up from United and again Grant is forced into a fine stop, tipping Mata’s effort over the bar.
From the corner, Pogba is left alone but can’t keep his header on target. Frustration for the hosts so far.
United knocking on the door — but Lee Grant is standing firm. This time he denies Jesse Lingard. Still goalless.
That was probably his finest stop. Ibrahimovic did brilliantly down on this near touchline to get past his man and flick it across. Lingard did everything right to get ahead of his man but saw his effort pushed behind by Grant. Superb reactions.
And Ibrahimovic goes close again! The ball is floated across from the right and the Swedish striker gets solid contact on it but Shawcross is there to divert behind. All United now but still no breakthrough.
It has all gone a little quiet at Old Trafford, and Mark Hughes will be delighted at the way his side have acquitted themselves for the large part. United have dominated and created chances but Stoke have stuck at it and have been able to take the sting of the hosts’ initial onslaught.
Pogba tries his luck from range but it was never going to trouble Grant. Into one minute of injury time.
Half-time! Man United 0-0 Stoke
United dominated that first half but couldn’t find a way past Lee Grant, who is having a blinder on his first appearance at Old Trafford. The Stoke goalkeeper pulled off brilliant saves to deny Ibrahimovic, Pogba, Mata and Lingard. Frustration for the hosts who really should be ahead.
Back underway at Old Trafford. No changes for either side.
Pattern of the game from the first half has continued but still United continue to probe without any reward. Pogba’s long-range effort is deflected high and wide and Lingard is then stopped in his tracks by a Stoke rearguard growing in stature.
Grant forced into action again as he is quickly off his line to clear the danger with Lingard bearing down on goal.
Meanwhile, Herrera receives yellow for a late, and high, challenge on Joe Allen. On BT Sport, Howard Webb says it was a red card.
Chance! Joe Allen is straight back into the action and very nearly finishes off a brilliant Stoke move — but the former Liverpool man can’t get enough purchase on his effort to beat de Gea.
Frustration for United.
Mata has really received a new lease of life under Mourinho and he’s been brilliant again today, picking up space between the lines. On this occasion he unleashes a dipping strike but Grant gets behind it.
Wayne Rooney is about to come on because United need a lift here. Stoke have been the better team in this second period and have certainly grown in confidence.
Close! Herrera goes close with a sweetly-struck daisy cutter which just skims past Lee Grant’s upright.
And here comes Rooney and Martial with Mata and Lingard making way.
GOAL! Man United 1-0 Stoke (Martial)
What an impact, what a finish! Martial and Rooney combine for the former to curl it home beautifully. Lee Grant had no chance.
United pushing for a second now as Old Trafford comes alive. Blind’s goal-bound effort is blocked behind. Stoke on the ropes all of a sudden.
Here comes Jonny Walters. 14 minutes left for Stoke to salvage something from this game.
And it was a special goal too.
GOAL! Man United 1-1 Stoke (Joe Allen)
Smash and grab! De Gea fails to deal with the initial effort from Johnson and Walters manages to force it back across, where Allen is on hand to stab home.
Immediate response from Mourinho. Memphis Depay on for Herrera and now United need to chase a winner with just seven minutes left on the clock.
Grant forced into a fine, low save from Ibrahimovic as United throw everything at Stoke.
Off the bar! Rashford whips in a perfect cross and Pogba meets it flushly but it canons back off the bar. He has to score though.
The Stoke goal is under siege but United are running out of time. Four minutes added on.
Joe Allen has been superb but the MOTM award goes to Lee Grant.
Full-time! Man United 1-1 Stoke
Thanks for joining us today, we’ll have a report and reaction from Old Trafford on the site very shortly. Until then, goodbye!
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