Manchester United vs Stoke City EPL 08-09: Preview, Live Score
Manchester United hosts newly promoted Stoke City at home tomorrow (15 November 2008), looking to make a strong come-back from their rennet premier league defeat to Arsenal 2-1 away from home. The defeat cost them a place in the top three and they are now in the fourth place with 21 points from 11 matches. Stoke City goes into the match with full of confident as their 2-1 home victory over Arsenal is still vivid in their mind. Stoke currently stands 12th in the league standing with 14 points from 12 outings in which they lost 6, won 4 and drew 2 matches.
Match: Manchester United vs Stoke City, English Premier League 2008-09
Date: 15 November 2008, Saturday
Venue: Old Trafford
Kick off: 15:00 BST (British Standard Time)
Manchester United will be looking to come back in winning run following the defeat to Arsenal last week, before clinching a narrow 1-0 victory over Queens Park Rangers thanks to Carlos Tevez’s strike from penalty. Amidst talk of Tevez’s future at Old Trafford, given Real Madrid’s interest in the Argentine striker, it has been reported that Carlos Tevez might be in the starting line up against Stoke City in what Berbatov would be dropped in the reserve bench.
Premiershiplatest reported:
The Argentina forward, who no more is a first-choice following the summer arrival of Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur, could, however, get a start tomorrow at the cost of the Bulgarian star, who had a disappointing day against the Gunners and as a result the partnership with Wayne Rooney, who is stuck on 99 club goals, did not present any threat to the north-Londoners. Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo is also one short of a century of goals.
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to bring back his top guns like Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand for the match against Stoke City. Ronaldo, Berbatov and Ferdinand were rested in their recent 1-0 home victory over Queens Park Rangers in Carling Cup. Wayne Rooney is suffering from a minor chest injury, but he is expected to be back in contention for the home encounter with Stoke City. Tony Pulis, Stoke City striker Mamady Sidibe is expected to be fit in time to catch the trip to Old Trafford.
BBC reported:
Wayne Rooney is expected to shrug off a slight chest infection in time to face Stoke at Old Trafford.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand are among those likely to be recalled after being left out for United’s Carling Cup win over QPR.
Stoke manager Tony Pulis is hoping striker Mamady Sidibe will be fit enough to feature in the game.
Sidibe suffered an ankle injury against Wigan and missed the Carling Cup victory over Rotherham in midweek.
Manchester United can feel relaxed considering the fact that Stoke City could not win at Old Trafford in the last 32 years since 1976. Moreover, Stoke is yet to get their first away victory in premier league this season. However, Manchester United can not afford to feel relaxed ahead of the encounter with Stoke because the Potters drew with Liverpool away and defeat Arsenal at home. So, picking up points against top-flight clubs is nothing new to Stoke City. Moreover, Rory Delap’s long throw-ins have become proven weapons for Stoke this season. So, Manchester United has to be very alert whenever Stoke gets throw-in in United’s half.
Online Live Score and Updates
In the following websites, you can get the online live score and updates of the match:
Live Score
Goalzz
Footie Scorez
Sportpress
Goal.com
Manchester United seems to be favorite, but Stoke City possesses a realistic threat for the defending champions who have failed to replicate previous season’s high-flying form consistently so far this season. So, I guess, football fans might experience a hard-fought match.
