Manchester United is just four points behind Chelsea for the top spot in the premier league and they have a prime opportunity to close the gap on Saturday when they take on mediocre Stoke City.
As Chelsea takes on Tottenham Hotspur in a match that could end the first place club's undefeated streak, Manchester gets a team that has eight points in just seven matches. More important is the fact that Stoke City has only gotten one point from Manchester United in eight meetings since 2008. Stoke started off the season with four straight draws before losing to Chelsea in the fifth week of the season. Since then, Stoke has accumulated a win over Swansea City and a 0-0 draw to Liverpool. Despite only having one loss the entire season to the best team in the league, the squad only has 8 points and is 12th place. Gigantic 6'7'' Peter Crouch leads the way with 4 goals in seven games.
Manchester United is in on the Neymar rumors, but whether or not they acquire the Brazilian, they can be content with the current side they employ. Questions about how Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie co-exiting can be laid to rest as the two have made a tremendous offensive duo in their few games together. Their main concern continues to be Mexico Javier Hernandez who has yet to find his killer-instinct for Man U. His weekend with Mexico did prove that the striker might be getting back in form as he contributed two goals in two games as Mexico won every qualifying match. Prior to those two games, Hernandez only had one goal in qualifying. Man U won its last game over New castle 3-0 but had lost a heart-breaker to Tottenham just weeks earlier.
Prediction: Manchester United should win this easily at home. 3-1.
Schedule: 10 a.m. EDT