Premier League preview: Manchester United v Stoke

Manchester United will look to rebound from their FA Cup loss to Liverpool when they meet Stoke City in the English Premier League.

After a 2-1 loss to Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday, United host Stoke on Tuesday ahead of two big league clashes.

A trip to Stamford Bridge to meet Chelsea follows, before a league meeting with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Sitting three points adrift of league leaders Manchester City, Sir Alex Ferguson’s team could regain defender Rio Ferdinand for the meeting with Tony Pulis’ Stoke.

With Phil Jones and captain Nemanja Vidic missing from defence, Ferdinand recovering from a back injury in time would be a boost for United.

Attacking stars Wayne Rooney and Nani are both likely to miss, but should return for Sunday’s meeting with Chelsea.

The absence of the pair could provide Javier Hernandez, who has endured an injury-plagued start to the campaign, with an opportunity to net his first goal since November as United eye a third consecutive league win.

The Mexican forward was a revelation in his first season with United, netting 20 goals, but has struggled so far this campaign.

Danny Welbeck (six league goals) has been preferred up front, and he may once again line up by himself against Stoke, who have not beaten United since 1993.

Pulis’ men visit Old Trafford after a 2-0 FA Cup win over Derby County on Saturday, and sit eighth despite collecting just six points from their last six league outings.

Stoke’s last league win was a 2-1 victory over Blackburn on January 2, when striker Peter Crouch (six goals) scored a double.

Pulis has far fewer injury concerns than Ferguson, with forward Mamady Sidibe the lone long-term absentee.

The manager will be relying on the likes of Crouch, Matthew Etherington and Jonathan Walters to provide a spark against United.

It has been a long time since Stoke City beat Manchester United, and it is hard to see them causing an upset on Tuesday.