Match preview: United v Stoke

Louis van Gaal has called for a repeat performance from his side as United welcome Mark Hughes' Stoke to Old Trafford  with a score to settle as we return to league action after the FA Cup weekend. 

"I hope that we can give the same performance as against Derby" said the Dutchman, who added:
"Stoke City are a team that every club has a lot of difficulties with- I saw them play against Liverpool and I have to say that I like how they play very, very much so I hope we can win playing against the resistance of Stoke.
"On Friday, the fans of Manchester United were fantastic and it is important that they continue to support again on Tuesday as it shall not be easy to play against Stoke." 

Michael Carrick is set to feature having come off the bench at Derby but Bastian Schweinsteiger is out for a further month with an ongoing knee problem.
Phil Jones and Matteo Darmian are also still sidelined along with long-term absentees Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young and Marcos Rojo but there are no new injury worries for LVG. 
For the Potters, ex Red and current Potters captain Ryan Shawcross could miss out with a back problem.
Former Old Trafford men Mame Biram Diouf and Phil Bardsley are also among the Britannia Stadium alumnus

Since beating us on Boxing Day, Sparky's talented outfit have suffered setbacks in both domestic cups- losing on penalties in the Capital One Cup semi-finals before a 1-0 reverse at Palace in the FA Cup at the weekend.
Potters boss Hughes will be looking for a reaction to those defeats at the club that once idolised him but he has failed to pick up even a point in his last eight matches at our place as a manager. 

United's players- and fans- will be all too aware of the twin threats posed by Marko Arnautovic and former Barca man Bojan- both of whom scored in that Boxing Day game- while playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri will need to be well marshalled by the United defence. 

The Reds come into this one off the back of a woeful 1-0 home loss to Southampton and will be keen to make amends for the 2-0 loss at the Britannia on Boxing Day- arguably the lowest point in a troubled season. 

Form guide: United W W D W L W Stoke W W D L W L
Match odds: United 3/4 Draw 12/5 Stoke 9/2
Referee: Roger East