4 Major Talking Points As Man United Cruise To Stoke Win

4 Major Talking Points As Man United Cruise To Stoke Win
21:57, 15 Jan 2018

Manchester United made it back-to-back Premier League victories courtesy of a 3-0 win over Stoke City at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Fresh from a week in Dubai, the Red Devils proved too strong for a team that remain in the relegation zone following a rotten run of form.

Antonio Valencia opened the scoring in the ninth minute on his return to the team, before Anthony Martial doubled the advantage seven minutes before the break. Romelu Lukaku then netted United’s third in the 72nd minute.

Below are four talking points from the clash in Manchester.

Pogba on another level for United once again

It was a midfield masterclass from Paul Pogba at Old Trafford. Stoke just could not get near the French magician as he inspired United to all three points. There will, of course, be tougher tests for Pogba, and he does still need to prove himself in the big matches, but this was a performance to be enjoyed once again.

The 24-year-old’s first half involved a series of spectacular long passes, in addition to the small matter of two assists as he set up Valencia and Martial in the ninth and 38th minute respectively. He was just too good for a Stoke midfield that did not have the legs or energy to prevent him time and space.

The midfielder should have had a third assist just before the hour when he set up Martial inside the box, but Stoke goalkeeper Jack Butland made a smart save. 

Pogba has nine assists and four goals in his last 14 Premier League appearances, and when considering the state of the current market, the £89m transfer fee in the summer of 2016 now looks cheap.

United refreshed following recharge week in Dubai

While United would have wanted to have been present in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, elimination to Bristol City in the quarter-finals meant that the Red Devils did not have a match between January 5 and January 15.

The break saw Jose Mourinho take his squad to Dubai for a week-long training camp, and the Portuguese was full of smiles at his press conference ahead of this match late on Friday afternoon. Sporting a healthy tan, Mourinho commented on the spectacular facilities that were available to his team.

After a busy festive period, the trip was just what this United team needed. They went after Stoke from the first whistle, and took the lead just nine minutes into proceedings when Valencia curled the ball past Butland.

Martial made it 2-0 in the 38th minute with a beautiful first-time finish, although David de Gea had to make a smart save to deny Xherdan Shaqiri to keep that score entering the half-time break.

Lukaku’s super turn and finish made it three in the 72nd minute, and it was a very comfortable evening for the 20-time English champions.

Manchester City’s 4-3 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday meant that United had the chance to close the gap to 12 points, and that was taken. Mourinho’s side, meanwhile, are now three points clear of third-placed Liverpool in the table.

Sanchez talk creates buzz around Old Trafford

If reports are to be believed, United are on the verge of securing a deal for Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean has been linked with City for some time, but it appears that United have swooped to land the 29-year-old, who could pitch up at Old Trafford before the end of this week.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been linked with a move in the opposite direction, and the Armenian was not in the squad here, fuelling suggestions that the former Borussia Dortmund attacker could well be included in the deal.

It is not too long ago that United took Robin van Persie away from Arsenal, and the Red Devils are seemingly on the cusp of landing the capital club’s star player once again.

After 80 goals in 165 appearances for Arsenal, it is not too difficult to understand the excitement, and the thought of Sanchez linking with the likes of Lukaku, Pogba and Martial in the final third is a mouthwatering prospect for the United fans.

City have seemingly dropped their interest in Sanchez due to the cost of the deal, and they might come to regret it. Chelsea are reportedly making a late play to sign the attacker, but United remain in the driving seat.

Lambert has a tough task to raise Stoke spirits

The defeat at Old Trafford was Stoke’s sixth in their last eight Premier League matches, which is a concerning run of form at this stage of the season. They remain down in the relegation zone on 20 points, and still have the worst away record in the entire division.

When considering that two of Stoke’s last three Premier League matches have been against Chelsea and United, it has been a tough few weeks. There can be no excuses, however, as they approach at a vital run of matches in the top flight.

Next up for is a home game against Huddersfield Town this weekend, before hosting Watford on January 31. They will then visit Bournemouth on February 3 ahead of a home game against Brighton & Hove Albion seven days later.

First-team coach Eddie Niedzwiecki was in charge of first-team affairs at Old Trafford as new manager Paul Lambert watched from the stands. Lambert signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the club on Monday, and he will officially take control of the Potters on Tuesday.

Lambert was effectively fourth choice when considering that Stoke failed to land Martin O’Neill, Gary Rowett or Quique Sanchez Flores. His appointment was not exactly met by excitement from the Stoke fans, and the former Wolverhampton Wanderers boss has a lot of work to do in the coming weeks.

The Scot will inherit a set of players with plenty of talent, but the squad really needs a lift. January arrival Moritz Bauer made his Stoke debut at Old Trafford in a team that also included Stephen Ireland and Peter Crouch.

Ireland – starting his first Premier League match since April 2015 - had a super chance to score in the 21st minute, but the midfielder clipped wide. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting also came close for the visitors in the first period, but the 28-year-old saw his strike from a Crouch knockdown blocked behind.

Stoke entered the break 2-0 behind, and it did not get much easier in the second period as United continued to press forward. Three goals ultimately separated the two teams on the night, but the Potters were a million miles off Mourinho’s side at Old Trafford.

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