Louis van Gaal is free to continue as Manchester United manager but desperately needs to stop the run of six games without a win that has seen his team drop out of the Champions League places. United have fallen nine points off the lead and Van Gaal’s assertion that they could be top in the next four weeks seems optimistic, to say the least. Stoke, with six clean sheets in their last eight games, will be tricky opponents, but are coming off the back of a home defeat to Crystal Palace. Daniel Taylor

Kick-off Boxing Day 12.45pm

Venue Britannia Stadium

Last season Stoke City 1 Manchester United 1

Live Sky Sports 1

Referee Kevin Friend

This season G9, Y30, R3, 4.00 cards per game

Odds H 9-4 A 7-5 D 11-5

Stoke City

Subs from Haugaard, Wilson, Bardsley, Van Ginkel, Sidwell, Walters, Afellay, Joselu, Teixeira, Moha, Shenton

Doubtful None

Injured Cameron (hamstring, 28 Dec), Crouch (hamstring, 2 Jan), Muniesa (hamstring, 5 Jan), Ireland (hamstring, 9 Jan), Given (knee, unknown)

Suspended None

Form WWLWDL

Discipline Y27 R3

Leading scorer Arnautovic 5

Manchester United

Subs from Johnstone, Romero, Varela, Herrera, Powell, Fellaini, McNair, Pereira, Borthwick-Jackson, Tuanzebe

Doubtful None

Injured Darmian (hamstring, 28 Dec), Valencia (ankle, Feb), Shaw (broken leg, Apr), Lingard (hamstring, unknown), Rojo (shoulder, unknown)

Suspended Schweinsteiger (last of three)

Form WWDDLL

Discipline Y25 R0

Leading scorers Martial, Mata 4