Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Premier League meeting between Manchester United and Stoke City at Old Trafford. It has been a good weekend for the Red Devils thus far, having seen the only side above them - rivals Manchester City - lose for the first time this season, while closest challengers Chelsea also dropped a couple of home points.

Victory tonight will lift United clear of champions Chelsea and an in-form Liverpool, while also giving them just the slimmest of chances of potentially catching City at the top. For Stoke, meanwhile, they are simply looking to drag themselves out of the bottom three, requiring all three points tonight if they are to usurp Southampton and move into 17th place.

MANCHESTER UNITED TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Shaw; Matic, Pogba; Mata, Lingard, Martial; Lukaku

SUBS: J.Pereira, Lindelof, Rojo, Fellaini, Herrera, McTominay, Rashford

Starting with a look at the home side, manager Jose Mourinho has made three changes to the side that beat Everton 2-0 last time out in the Premier League. Chris Smalling, Antonio Valencia and Romelu Lukaku all return to the fold, with the latter coming on for the final 10 minutes of the Red Devils' victory over Derby County by the same scoreline in the FA Cup. The Belgian, as has been well publicised, has five goals in his last 21 league and cup outings.

Valencia is back in the starting XI for the first time in a month, meanwhile, having missed the festive and New Year fixtures due to a hamstring injury. The Ecuadorian's absence was a key factor behind a sticky spell in December, but his return should give United a huge boost this evening, with Luke Shaw continuing to fill in down the left-hand side due to Ashley Young's suspension.

Notably, there is no Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the United squad this evening, with suggestions that he will be used as a makeweight in the deal that sees Alexis Sanchez arrive at Old Trafford. Speaking to Sky Sports a short while ago, Mourinho confirmed that the Armenian playmaker is left out because of the uncertainty over his future. In terms of those involved, Jesse Lingard is very much the man of the moment after scoring 10 and assisting 10 in his last 20 outings.

STOKE CITY TEAM NEWS!

STARTING XI: Butland; Moritz, Zouma, Martins Indi, Tymon; Allen, Fletcher; Shaqiri, Ireland, Choupo-Moting; Crouch

SUBS: Grant, Wimmer, Edwards, Adam, Afellay, Ramadan, Diouf

The Stoke side, which has been picked by Mark Hughes's former deputy Eddie Niedzwiecki, shows seven changes from their shock FA Cup exit at Coventry City last weekend. In terms of their last Premier League outing - a 1-0 home loss at the hands of Newcastle United - it is five changes in all; Moritz Bauer among those to come in for his Potters debut, a week on from arriving at the club.

Bauer is joined in the City XI by Stephen Ireland, who last started a Premier League game close to three years ago. Bruno Martins Indi is back from injury to take up a place in the backline, meanwhile, and Josh Tymon is also involved from the off in a much-changed Potters side. The formation of choice is 4-2-3-1, spearheaded by Peter Crouch who remains level with Jonathan Walters as Stoke's all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.

Martins India may have recovered from his groin strain, but this match comes too soon for hamstring victim Eric Pieters. Further forward, Joe Allen and Darren Fletcher will sit in front of the back four, while Xherdan Shaqiri, Maxim Choupo-Moting and the aforementioned Ireland will provide some attacking support. Niedzwiecki has certainly sprung a couple of surprises - I wonder if incoming boss Lambert had any say at all?

Jose Mourinho has made three changes to his starting lineup following their 2-0 win at Everton last time out in the Premier League, including a return up top for Romelu Lukaku, but arguably the biggest news is the absence of Henrikh Mkhitaryan from the squad. It is not the first time the Armenian has been completely overlooked this term, of course, but Mourinho admits this latest absence is down to the uncertainty over his future.

© Offside

United with a chance to strengthen their grip on second place this evening, then, having seen Chelsea falter at the weekend. There was also a defeat for Arsenal at Bournemouth, leaving them further out of the top-four picture, but Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool both picked up impressive wins. The latter saw off Man City 4-3 in a real thriller at Anfield, leaving the gap between the top two at 15 points.

Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea are now all level on points in what is looking like being a race to finish as runners-up, although supporters of each of those three clubs will be hoping that Man City begin to drop points on a more regular basis. Liverpool certainly showed the blueprint for what is required to unsettle the Citizens, but it is looking unlikely that they will lose another six or seven matches this term.

Victory today will certainly improve the mood around Old Trafford, though, having gone off the boil since the middle of December, even accounting for the wins over Everton and Derby in league and cup. Either way, the Red Devils have vastly improved on last season, when finishing down in sixth place, and the rumoured arrival of Alexis Sanchez this week will only make them stronger. Slowly but surely, Mourinho is building a side he can call his own.

Mourinho's men were held in three-successive games over the Christmas period - including twice at Old Trafford - as Leicester City, Burnley and Southampton are claimed points. Throw an EFL Cup exit at Championship side Bristol City into the mix, and it is fair to say that the wheels were well and truly beginning to come off. Then came a comfortable 2-0 win at Everton, however, followed by a late victory by the same scoreline against Derby in the FA Cup 10 days ago.

Momentum is now the key word for Mourinho, as he needs his side to advance further in the FA Cup and Champions League, while also holding off Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for second. United have a real chance to achieve just that, with games against Stoke, Burnley, Huddersfield Town and Newcastle United to come in the Premier League, as well as a tricky trip to fifth-placed Tottenham on January 31.

In terms of their Champions League and FA Cup fixtures, United face Sevilla and Yeovil Town respectively in those competitions which, taking everything into account, are great draws. Having won two trophies in his maiden campaign at Old Trafford - three if you include the Community Shield, which we won't - Mourinho will now be looking to add at least one more in 17-18, coupled with a second-placed finish in the top flight.

Recent form, as touched upon, has been far from great, however, and Mourinho also has a disappointing record against Stoke of late. The Portuguese is winless in five against the Potters, including three draws as United manager, with his last three-point haul coming while in charge of Chelsea in April 2015. Mourinho's future has been called into question of late but, such is the cynical nature of football, that will likely all change once another winning run is put together.

DID YOU KNOW? Manchester United have lost just two of their 47 home matches under Jose Mourinho, with both of those defeats coming at the hands of Manchester City, but they have won just one of their last four since late November after previously putting together an eight-match winning streak. Hard to beat, certainly - now they need to bring back the fear factor that was here in the first few months of the season.

Manchester United got their Premier League campaign back on track a fortnight ago with a 2-0 win at Everton, having previously drawn three on the bounce over Christmas time. The sticky spell has allowed Liverpool to capitalise and draw level on points, while Chelsea - held by Leicester City this weekend - are also on 47 points for the season. Neither side appears to have too much hope of catching leaders Manchester City, however, as they are 15 better off.

© Offside

This should, on paper, be one of the Red Devils' easier fixtures of the season to date. Stoke head to Old Trafford sitting inside the bottom three and in need of a victory if they are to swap places with Southampton, who are a point in front but also boast a superior goal difference. The Potters have won just five games all season in the Premier League and are rightly among the favourites for the drop.

With less than half of the campaign left to play, this is very much City's biggest challenge since earning promotion to the big time a decade ago. Paul Lambert, appointed earlier today, certainly has his work cut out and must hit the ground running when he formally takes charge ahead of next weekend's home match against a sliding Huddersfield Town. First, though, comes what can only be described as a bonus fixture tonight.

Hughes was finally given his marching orders following last weekend's shock-of-the-round against Coventry City, going down 2-1 at the Ricoh Arena in yet another abject display. That was one loss too many for the City board, having also shipped five at Chelsea before losing at home to fellow strugglers Newcastle United in the week before. It is fair to say Lambert was not exactly Stoke's first choice, though, with three others effectively turning down the role.

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill was the overnight favourite to take the job on Sunday, but he reportedly turned Stoke down due to a lack of assurances over his future - strange, considering Lambert was given a two-and-a-half year contract. Gary Rowett signed a new long-term deal at Derby County, meanwhile, and Quique Sanchez Flores - seemingly with a point to prove in the Premier League following a solitary year at Watford - also rejected the chance to hold talks.

Lambert, an underwhelming choice in the eyes of many, is now tasked with turning around a Stoke side that has lost 13 of their last 20 matches in all competitions; a run that includes EFL and FA Cup exits in the early rounds to Bristol City and Coventry City. The Potters really have been woeful in the first five months of the campaign, and now the question is whether there is enough time to truly turn things around.

In the Premier League, it is two defeats in a row - 5-0 to Chelsea and 1-0 to Newcastle, with the latter particularly hard to take after Hughes rested the majority of his star names at Stamford Bridge. Stoke do have a favourable run of fixtures to come, however, as they face Huddersfield and Watford at home in quick succession, before then taking on Brighton & Hove Albion, Leicester City and Southampton.

It must be remembered that, while Stoke's current position looks bleak, they are only actually six points off the top half. West Ham, Everton and Leicester have showed what a new manager can do when in relegation trouble, each turning things around in recent weeks, and now it is down to Lambert to do likewise with four months still to go. Improving their away record is a good place to start - one win and six points on their travels so far is matched only by West Brom.

Stoke have also got a dismal away record against the sides who finished last season in the top six, winning just three of their last 57 against the established elite and conceding 140 goals in the process. They have faced three of those sides so far this term on their travels, losing 7-2 at Manchester City, 5-1 at Tottenham Hotspur and 5-0 at Chelsea. Anything less than a four-goal defeat today would be an improvement, then!

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Stoke City earned a Premier League point here for the first time last season, having lost on their previous eight trips. The Potters are winless in 17 away games against Manchester United in all competitions, however, dating back to April 1976 and seeing them lose 15 of those matches. The last three meetings between the two sides have ended all square, including an entertaining 2-2 draw at the bet365 Stadium in September.

With kickoff at Old Trafford now just a couple of minutes away, let us check out some pre-match thoughts from both camps.

Jose Mourinho: "From the outside, I think [Mark Hughes] was a guy with great qualities to do the job for them. I don't think for the players it's a difficult situation - probably they train the same way and it's not a dramatic change that isn't good in this period of the season."

Kevin Russell: "Usually when managers go, everyone has got to look at their self. Not only the players, but staff from bottom to the top. Could we have done more? Could we have done better? So I'm sure the players are in that frame of mind and think they've got a point to prove."

© SilverHub

KICKOFF! We are up and running at the Theatre of Dreams in this 10th and final Premier League fixture of the weekend. Manchester United looking to avoid a fourth-successive draw against a single opponent - something that has happened just once before (vs. Leeds United between 1982 and 1991).

An assured start to the match for Stoke, as they knock the ball around with some confidence. They have had a week to drill themselves for this match, of course, so stand-in boss Niedzwiecki will be quietly confident of a shock result.

A long ball is flicked on but De Gea got to it before a Stoke player. United seeing more of the ball now compared to the first couple of minutes, but they have not really been able to get their forward players in possession in dangerous zones.

A quiet start to the match as far as United are concerned against a well-drilled Stoke side. Held here by Burnley and Southampton in recent weeks, remember, so they need to step things up if they are to turn one point into all three.

PENALTY APPEAL! Martial has a penalty appeal rejected after being sent crashing by new Stoke signing Moritz Bauer. There was certainly contact, but the Frenchman did not help himself with his delayed reaction to going down.

A stunning breakthrough strike from Valencia, who marks his return to action after a month out in style. The Ecuadorian cut in from the right flank and curled the ball past Butland's reach into the top corner of the net. United have certainly missed him in recent weeks!

SAVE! Almost an instant response from Stoke against the run of play, as Shaqiri attempts an acrobatic overhead kick which had to be stopped by De Gea. Not the toughest of saves, granted, but a decent effort all the same.

Mata disappointed in himself after failing to slide the ball through for Lukaku. Far too much on his pass which Butland was able to gobble up. Stoke just need to find a compact shape because they are at risk of shipping a second early on.

Seventeen minutes played and United have a lead to build on. Would not say that it is deserved, as such, with both sides managing one attempt on goal apiece. Valencia's strike had the accuracy to fly past Stoke stopper Butland.

SHOT! Good play from Stoke, with Allen - as ever - at the heart of it. The Welshman kept hold of the ball and slipped it through for Moritz, who could not pick out a teammate when in behind. The bell then fell to Ireland, but his shot was dragged wide.

That was a great chance for Ireland, who lacked the composure when spotted with nobody around him inside the box. Disappointing first touch and an even worse follow-up shot, on what is his first league start in close to three years.

SAVE! United awarded a free kick in a good shooting position, which Mata fails to make the most of. More than a quarter of the match now played and both teams seeking the game's second goal, with Maxim Choupo-Moting picking out De Gea from his attempt.

CLOSE! Forget being behind - Stoke, on the basis of the chances so far, should be ahead. Shaqiri with a deft touch to perfectly tee up Ireland 15 yards from goal, but the midfielder again blasted wide of the opposition goal.

Stoke have looked very bright over the last seven or eight minutes, and the home fans are becoming a little restless. This is something they have seen a lot of in recent weeks, having failed to overcome Burnley and Southampton.

CHANCE! Stoke need to take one of these chances. Crouch leaps highest at the back post against De Gea to pick out Maxim Choupo-Moting, who had an empty net to aim for but could not direct the ball past Jones in front of him.

Lambert, watching this game from the stands tonight, will be happy with what he has seen in the opening half an hour of the contest. Stoke may be behind but, on the whole, they have been the better of the two sides so far.

SAVE! Lukaku forced to go out to the right to pick up possession, sending in the best cross of the evening so far which was crying out for - ironically - a player of Lukaku's stature to head home. Stoke half-clear the ball and Shaw's long-range blast is dealt with by Butland.

Home fans want a penalty after Mata went to ground inside the box, but Martins Indi quite clearly did not make any contact. The Spaniard made the point that he did not dive, but rather lost his footing, which referee Anthony Taylor agreed with - no booking.

United just starting to step things up a little over the last few minutes. Lingard keeps the attack alive and picks out Martial, whose shot is blocked behind for a corner. Stoke unable to really get out of their own half at the moment.

Man United have been turning the screw over the last few moments and have themselves a second. Valencia's was special and this was arguably better from Martial, sending the ball into the top-right corner from 20 yards after Pogba squared the ball into his path.

© Offside

Both United goals have come down their right, with young full-back Tymon - filling in for Pieters - exposed on both occasions. The Red Devils now need to see this one through for the three points required to hit 50 for the campaign.

Disappointing first touch from Lukaku, who made a habit of burying the ball from this range earlier in the campaign. With his side two goals up he can get away with that; at 0-0 it would have been a different story entirely.

De Gea with yet another huge stop to keep United's clean sheet intact from the final act of the first half, getting down to his left to push aside Shaqiri's shot. Martial had sent the ball flying high over the bar moments prior, but he has already made a telling impact on the game with that stunning strike a little over five minutes ago to make it 2-0 at the break.

United started the match brightly and took the lead through Antonio Valencia's perfectly-placed shot out of Jack Butland's reach after cutting in from the right, marking his first appearance in a month in style. The Red Devils, who had an early penalty shout rejected after debutant Moritz Bauer sent Anthony Martial to the ground - a delayed reaction not helping the Frenchman's cause - were initially unable to build on their advantage.

Instead it was Stoke, under the management of Eddie Niedzwiecki with new boss Paul Lambert watching on from the stands, who started to create some big chances without taking any of them. Xherdan Shaqiri had an acrobatic attempt stopped by David de Gea at his near post, while Stephen Ireland twice dragged wide from inside the box on his first league start in close to three years.

A couple of openings then fell the way of Maxim Choupo-Moting, who tested De Gea from one of them but could not send the ball past Phil Jones from the next one; the defender preventing a certain goal with his block. With 10 minutes of the first half remaining momentum slowly started to return United's way, though, with Luke Shaw sending a shot on goal and Martial then going one better by picking out the top corner.

The attack, again originating down Stoke's left where Josh Tymon was filling in for Erik Pieters, culminated in Paul Pogba squaring for an unmarked Martial to perfectly guide the ball past Butland. City, to their credit, refused to roll over as Shaqiri forced the save of the match thus far out of De Gea down to his bottom left with the final act of the opening 45 minutes.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: J.Pereira, Lindelof, Rojo, Fellaini, Herrera, McTominay, Rashford

STOKE CITY SUBS: Grant, Wimmer, Edwards, Adam, Afellay, Ramadan, Diouf

© Offside

RESTART! Manchester United get us back under way at Old Trafford, where there is news of a half-time change for Stoke City. Young left-back Josh Tymon, exposed far too often in that first half, is replaced by Kevin Wimmer.

SAVE! A horrible pass from Zouma leaves his side wide open, but Martial could not get the better of Butland when slipped through. The Englishman was quickly off his line and denied the Frenchman a shot on goal with his challenge.

This match has still not been won as far as United are concerned, having come close to conceding right at the end of the first half when De Gea produced that big save down to his left. All it takes is one Stoke goal and it is game on again.

SAVE! United the side probing away at the moment in search for that killer third goal. A couple of options on the bench for Mourinho to call upon if he requires, as Lukaku turns and shoots into the arms of Butland from range.

Fresh reports have emerged over the last 20 minutes or so suggesting that Man City have now pulled out of the running to sign Sanchez from Arsenal, but United may now face competition from Chelsea. More on that right here.

The Red Devils still in the ascendancy here, closing in on a third goal that would seal the three points. A couple of efforts in quick succession, but nothing Stoke could not deal with. Chance to swing the ball in from a corner now...

SAVE! Martial, no doubt full of confidence after his first-half goal, manages to get the ball out of his feet but cannot find a way past Butland from six yards. The Frenchman should have done better when picked out by Pogba.

STOKE CITY SUB! Maxim Choupo-Moting is replaced by the more direct Ramadan Sobhi with exactly half an hour to play. The Potters will now look to get bodies forward, knowing that they need a goal soon if they are to salvage a point.

CLOSE! United continuing to dominate the game but the scoreline remains as it did at half time. Lukaku picks out Lingard, who helps it on to Mata, who flashes the ball wide of the target. No idea how they have yet to get a third.

That is 10 shots for United now this evening, two of which they have found the net with. A 2-0 lead flattered them slightly at the break, but they have been deserving of a two-goal advantage on the basis of the last 20 minutes here.

YELLOW CARD! The first booking of the contest is shown to Lingard, who conceded one free kick too many and was penalised by Anthony Taylor. The in-form attacker has cut a frustrated figure for large parts of the match.

SHOT! Chance after chance after chance for the hosts. Lingard is picked out by Shaw following a storming run down the left, before laying it off for Mata who could not keep his shot down - well over the bar in the end.

YELLOW CARDS! Romelu Lukaku is cautioned for squaring up to his opponent and Stephen Ireland is also penalised after lunging in on Mata. The Spaniard had the ball in the net a few moments ago, but he was clearly offside.

STOKE CITY SUB! Peter Crouch, who we have not seen a great deal of today, is replaced by former United man Mame Biram Diouf. The incoming attacking needs to plug the gap between midfield and attack if Stoke are to pull one back.

Lukaku makes it two in two by holding up the ball in the box, turning and then blasting past Butland - great finish. A fair reflection now as far as the scoreline is concerned as United have completely dominated the second half of this contest.

© Offside

A disappointing evening for Lambert, then, who is watching on from the stands tonight. Stoke did offer promise in the first half, and did not deserve to be two down at that point, but they have faded away since then and it is now a case of damage limitation.

It is absolutely hammering it down at Old Trafford now. United's subs have decided to run back to the dugout and take cover! Stoke have used all three of their back-up options, while Mourinho has yet to turn to his bench.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS! Fellaini and Rashford are introduced for the final 10 minutes, taking over from Martial and Lingard. A bad night for Stoke could become even worse if a fresh Rashford can get on the ball and run at the backline.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUB! The points already in the bag, Mourinho uses the final stages of the match as a chance to give young midfielder Scot McTominay a brief runout. Juan Mata, who missed a couple of decent chances before Lukaku's third, makes way.

SAVE! Not for the first time this season, Jack Butland is proving to be Stoke's star man despite his side being taken apart. Smart little flick from Marcus Rashford, which the England keeper got down well to keep the scoreline at 3-0.

CHANCE! Stoke should have one back, and would have had one back if not for David de Gea. A big stop from the Spaniard to thwart ex-United man Diouf, before the substitute blasted his follow-up attempt into the side-netting.

Two minutes of normal time left to go at Old Trafford and the points are in the bag for United. A return to winning ways for them in the Premier League here, having been held by Burnley and Southampton prior to the New Year.

Just a couple of minutes of added time to be played - referee Anthony Taylor clearly taking sympathy on Stoke. A good evening for Mourinho, then, whose side have looked like their old selves in the second half of the contest.

Manchester United comfortably see things through for just a second win in five league outings at Old Trafford. A comfortable evening it may have been, but Stoke City had plenty of chances to level up at 1-0 and it could have been a different game entirely had they taken one of them.

That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events at Old Trafford. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, while reaction from both camps will follow elsewhere on the site in due course. Thanks for joining!