Manchester United - Stoke City
Posted Saturday, May 08, 2010 by Goal.com
Red Devils must keep their side of title bargain.
Kick-Off: Sunday, May 09 16:00.
Old Trafford, Manchester.
Whether Chelsea defeat Wigan Athletic will be irrelevant in the Premier League title race unless defending champions Manchester United can complete their side of the bargain by defeating Stoke City on the final day.
The Red Devils go into the game at Old Trafford knowing they have to better the Blues’ result if they are to secure an unprecedented fourth straight title, and in the process overhaul Liverpool’s record total of 18 league titles.
United have won their last three games, picking up away wins over Manchester City and Sunderland and a win over Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, to force Chelsea to fight until the very end — but Sir Alex Ferguson knows his side go into Sunday as massive underdogs to come out on top.
Fergie and a number of key players, including Patrice Evra and Darren Fletcher, have accepted it will take something approaching a miracle for their side to end the day as champions, but after a mixed season they will understand the importance of completing their part of the task by picking up three points.
Stoke are in with a chance of securing a top ten finish after their narrow 1-0 victory over Europa League finalists Fulham at Craven Cottage in midweek.
The Potters will be determined to put on a strong showing against the title contenders, particularly after their recent humiliation at Stamford Bridge, where they lost 7-0 amid reports of dressing room disharmony.
Anything other than another away defeat for them, however, would be considered a major surprise.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United
May 02: Sunderland 0-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
Apr 24: Man Utd 3-1 Tottenham (Premier League)
Apr 17: Man City 0-1 Man Utd (Premier League)
Apr 11: Blackburn 0-0 Man Utd (Premier League)
Apr 07: Man Utd 3-2 Bayern Munich (Champions League)
Stoke City
May 05: Fulham 0-1 Stoke (Premier League)
May 01: Stoke 0-0 Everton (Premier League)
Apr 25: Chelsea 7-0 Stoke (Premier League)
Apr 17: Stoke 1-2 Bolton (Premier League)
Apr 11: Wolves 0-0 Stoke (Premier League)
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United
Manchester United will still be without the services of Antonio Valencia, who is struggling with an ankle problem.
Rio Ferdinand should be fit to play a full part in proceedings, while Owen Hargreaves should again feature from the substitutes' bench after his comeback against Sunderland.
Gary Neville will receive a late check on a calf problem.
Possible starting XI (4-4-2): Van der Sar; O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney.
Stoke City
Abdoulaye Faye (groin) will not return for Stoke, who have reported no fresh injury concerns after their game with Fulham in midweek.
Manager Tony Pulis may indeed name an unchanged starting XI for the trip to Old Trafford.
Possible starting XI (4-4-2): Begovic, Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Higginbotham, Delap, Whelan, Whitehead, Etherington, Fuller, Sidibe.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United
Having returned from injury against Sunderland, Wayne Rooney rounds off a fantastic season — which has seen him score 34 goals in all competitions — against Stoke. The Premier League’s golden boot is yet to be decided and the England striker will fancy his chances of ending the season on a personal high.
Stoke City
Matthew Etherington has been voted Stoke’s player of the season, and it is hard to argue against that given the consistent displays that the left winger has produced over the course of the campaign. The Englishman scored the winning goal against Fulham in midweek, and will look to make a similar impact against the title hopefuls.
PREDICTION
Manchester United are praying for a favour from Wigan in their game with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but they know they have to complete their side of the bargain by beating Stoke to stand any chance of success.
Stoke have done superbly to stay well clear of the relegation places for the second straight season, and could finish in the top ten if they pull off a shock result at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have had a mixed season and have done well to take the race to the final day, where they should end up with a win, if not the league title.
Manchester United 2–0 Stoke City
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