Everyone knows the maths by now: Manchester United need to win and hope Chelsea, with only five points dropped at home this season, somehow stumble against Wigan Athletic at Stamford Bridge. Anything else and the championship trophy will be leaving Old Trafford after three years. United are missing the injured Antonio Valencia and it likely to be an eerie atmosphere at Old Trafford. Even so, a home win should be a formality against a Stoke side that sieved seven goals when they played at Chelsea a fortnight ago. "All we can do is hope," says Sir Alex Ferguson. "But it's pointless going into the game expecting anything from Chelsea in our favour." Daniel Taylor

Venue Old Trafford, tomorrow 4pm Tickets Sold out Last season Man Utd 5 Stoke 0 Referee M Clattenburg

This season's matches 30 Y82, R5, 2.90 cards per game

Odds Man Utd 1-8 Stoke 22-1 Draw 17-2

Manchester United

Subs from Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Rafael, Evans, Carrick, Gibson, Obertan, Diouf, Fábio, Park, Hargreaves

Doubtful Neville (calf)

Injured Valencia (ankle, Jun), Owen (hamstring, Aug), Welbeck (knee, Aug), Anderson (knee, Sep)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWDLW

Disciplinary record Y50 R4

Leading scorer Rooney 26

Stoke City

Subs from Simonsen, Pugh, Collins, Diao, Lawrence, Tuncay, Ab Faye, Moult, Am Faye, Lund, Beattie, Kitson

Doubtful None

Injured Sorensen (elbow, Jun)

Suspended None

Form guide WDLLDW

Disciplinary record Y66 R5

Leading scorer Kitson, Tuncay 6

Match pointers

• Manchester United's last two league games against Stoke City at Old Trafford have ended in 5-0 victories for the home side

• Stoke's last top-flight win at Old Trafford was in April 1976

• With Gary Neville in the team this season, United have conceded 0.56 goals per game compared to 0.90 when he has been absent

• Thomas Sorensen attempted more dribbles than any other keeper this season

• United have scored only once before half-time in their last five games