Getty Images
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
STOKE CITY  Begovic Huth, Shawcross, Upson, Wilson Pennant, Palacios, Delap, Etherington Walters Crouch | MANCHESTER UNITED  De GeaJones, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra Park, Carrick, Anderson, Nani Rooney, Hernandez |
Tony Pulis made drastic changes for that match and could again mix things up at the back. Jonathan Woodgate was poor in his last outing against Sunderland, and Matthew Upson – who formed a solid partnership with Ryan Shawcross against Liverpool – could be handed another start. Robert Huth is likely to continue at right-back.
Sir Alex Ferguson is hoping that defender Rio Ferdinand will be available to play at the Britannia Stadium. The England centre-back has been used sparingly since injuring a hamstring on the opening day of the season at West Brom, but the United boss confirmed on Thursday that he wants an experienced head in the backline.
The visitors have also been boosted by the return of Javier Hernandez, who trained with the side on Thursday and has been confirmed as available for the trip to Staffordshire after he picked up a calf injury following Ashley Cole's lunge at Old Trafford last Sunday.
Meanwhile, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael are definitely out with injuries, while Chris Smalling is a doubt. Phil Jones is almost certain to continue at the back after his impressive start to life in a red shirt.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Stoke City have not picked up a single point against Saturday's opponents since they were promoted to the Premier League in 2008.
- The game will be the hosts' 12th of the season and their sixth at home, with the Potters unbeaten at the Britannia thus far having played Hajduk Split, Chelsea, Liverpool, FC Thun, and Tottenham.
Tony Pulis' side are averaging a goal a game at home, but have failed to find the net in normal time in their last two matches (a 4-0 defeat at Sunderland and Tuesday's League Cup clash against Tottenham which resulted in a victory following a penalty shootout).
- The Potters have three players on their books who started their careers at Old Trafford. Danny Higginbotham, Danny Pugh - currently on loan at Leeds - and Ryan Shawcross (pictured right) all failed to make the grade under Sir Alex Ferguson.
- Despite their reputation as one of the most physical teams in the country, Stoke City have the fourth best disciplinary record in the top flight, with Arsenal and Liverpool the two bottom clubs. The Potters wound up with the 11th best record last season.
- Manchester United have put 16 goals past Stoke City in their previous six meetings, with the last two encounters ending 2-1 to the Premier League champions and the corresponding fixture last season being the first time in 17 years that the Red Devils had conceded against this opposition.
- Wayne Rooney is the top scorer in the Premier League with nine goals, as many as Kenwyne Jones managed for Stoke over the course of last season and three times the Potters' team total this term. In contrast, United have found the net 19 times in their five consecutive wins.
- The last time Manchester United were defeated by Stoke was in 1993 in the first leg of a League Cup tie at the old Victoria Ground. However, Sir Alex Ferguson guided his team to 2-0 home win, sending them through to the next round 3-2 on aggregate. The last time they lost to the Midlands club in the league was on Boxing Day in 1984.
- The two teams have met each other 93 times, with United winning 36 to City's 26.
- Refereeing the match is Peter Walton, who last year waved an imaginary yellow card to Birmingham midfielder Jordan Mutch after leaving his cards in the dressing room prior to kick-off. He has shown 17 real cards in the three league games he has been in charge of this season, with one of those being a red for Arsenal's Gervinho on the opening day against Newcastle United.
Editor's Prediction
Stoke 0-1 Man Utd. 
