Liverpool, not only in the Premier League, are too close for comfort and we need to take advantage of Chelsea’s rough period. It feels like we’re in a rough period, too, considering those pathetic draws that took place in December that prematurely put an end to our title challenge.
It’s important the lads pick up all three points tonight and push towards a run of wins in the league. We also have Champions League football, the pinnacle of European football, which, may be among the reasons Alexis Sanchez sees United more appealing than Arsenal, who are going backwards. Anyhow, we’re not here to discuss how past it Wenger is, or how anyone that solely uses the ‘Money’ line against United is a dickhead.
Jose Mourinho has named his starting eleven as follows:
De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Martial, Lukaku.
There’s no denying it. Stoke City have been abysmal in defence this year. We’re at home so there can’t be any excuses. Hopefully, Lukaku can get more goals to his tally for the season because pressure has built, and it’s no secret that Mourinho wants to add more goals to his side by signing Alexis Sanchez.
It’s good to see Luke Shaw rewarded for his form of late with another start. I don’t believe his future is certain to remain at Old Trafford but the manager is monitoring the situation. If Shaw can keep this form — proving he’s consistent enough to be a United player — Mourinho may take a U-turn with the player like he did last year with Argentina defender Marcos Rojo.
The same goes for Jesse Lingard, who cannot stop scoring at the moment. He is in the form of his life and it’s clear to see why Mourinho trusts him.
As expected, the starting line-up is a strong one. But how much stronger could it be if it included a mediocre-hating Chilean attacker…
UNITED!
