Man Utd vs Stoke LIVE updates: Latest score; Alexis Sanchez deal, Mkhitaryan to Arsenal

Manchester United 2-0 Stoke LIVE updates: Latest Premier League news, goals and highlights from Old Trafford; including Jose Mourinho’s pursuit of Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez

66: Manchester United go close again! Juan Mata tries to bend a low effort into the far corner but the shot rolls just wide. Jesse Lingard booked for tugging back Joe Allen.

SANCHEZ TO CHELSEA?

65: OK, here’s our reporter Dan Gibbs with the latest twist in the Alexis Sanchez transfer saga.

Chelsea are ready to throw a spanner in the works by making a late bid for Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.

A deal looks to be edging closer for Alexis Sanchez to join Manchester United with reports in France claiming the Gunners have accepted an offer.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan is also expected to move in the opposite direction.

However, Express Sport understands Chelsea have now entered the race late on for the Chilean and are ready to make a late bid.

Antonio Conte is desperate to ad attacking firepower to his squad this month following Alvaro Morata’s struggles in front of goal.

63: Not sure how it’s not 3-0. Pogba finds Martial in the penalty area but his first touch takes it away from him and Butland gathers.

Sobhi replaces Choupo-Moting.

60: Close! Paul Pogba’s cheeky strike with the outside of his boot is deflected over for a corner, which Jesse Lingard promptly wastes.

57: Haha! You have to laugh. Paul Pogba loops a ball over to Lukaku, who smashes it into his own face when trying to knock it over his shoulder! The Belgian collects the rebound and lashes a pride-restoring effort at Jack Butland.

Reminds me of the time Tyson Fury punched himself in the face…

54: Debutant Moritz Bauer has nine lives. Referee Anthony Taylor’s had several chances to book him but again decides to keep his cards in his pocket as he drags down Jesse Lingard.

51: No real change in the pattern of play folks. Stoke are putting together some nice bits and pieces but it’s not really causing United too much bother.

48: I should mention that Sky Sports are running a story claiming that Manchester City have officially ended their interest in Alexis Sanchez.

However, the Manchester Evening News have been quick to give the story even more drama by claiming Chelsea are now ready to launch a bid. Only in January, eh?

MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 STOKE

45: We’re back underway folks. Stoke make a defensive change with Kevin Wimmer replacing Josh Tymon at left-back.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Matt: Quite an open game. Stoke can consider themselves a little unlucky to be two down but two cracking finishes.

Marlon: Alexis Sanchez is sitting in his living room, watching this game and smiling at the prospect of playing ahead of those 40-yard Paul Pogba diagonal passes.

Nick: Paul Pogba’s vision is as good as Kevin De Bruyne’s when he plays like this. Finally starting to look like the player we all saw at Juventus. Amazing performance.

MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 STOKE

HT: David de Gea makes an exceptional stop on the stroke of half-time from Shaqiri, who made himself a few yards before sending a low shot towards the bottom corner. Manchester United deserved lead at the break, but Stoke still look a threat on the counter. Certainly not playing like relegation candidates.

ONE MINUTE ADDED TIME

44: Anthony Martial looks to add to his tally with a signature curling effort from just outside the area but it flies over.

MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 STOKE

Analysis from our reporter Richard Tanner, at Old Trafford.

42: The warm weather week has done United some good. Another superb strike, this time from Anthony Martial, and again the provider was Paul Pogba.

Martial becomes the third Manchester United player to reach double figures this season after Romelu Lukaku and Jesse Lingard.

40: Paul Pogba has been directly involved in 14 goals in his last 14 Premier League games (4 goals, 10 assists).

MANCHESTER UNITED 2-0 STOKE – MARTIAL

39: That’s a beautiful goal from Anthony Martial. Who on earth would consider letting him join Arsenal for Alexis Sanchez?!

The winger cuts inside to meet Paul Pogba’s perfectly-weighted pass and sends a sensational strike into the top corner.

38: Liquid. Pogba plays a delightful crossfield pass to Martial, but his effort is blocked. Shaqiri breaks down the right and sends a decent bad across the box that De Gea collects. 

35: Penalty appeal! Juan Mata hits the deck under pressure from Martins Indi, but he’s clearly slipped. In fairness, the Spaniard wasn’t asking for a spot-kick and said that he slipped. Gent. Referee Anthony Taylor agrees and doesn’t book him for diving.

33: These are the situations that Manchester United haven’t been capitalising on recently. They need to grab a second or third to put this to bed because Stoke look capable of scoring.

30: Romelu Lukaku running the yards?! Doesn’t sound right! The Belgian does some excellent work to track back, steal the ball and send a fantastic cross into the six-yard box that Jesse Lingard narrowly misses.

27: I sound like I’m in the Steven Ireland fan club, but he’s having a blinder so far. The midfielder makes a good run through the middle to win a free-kick for his side.

Close! Peter Crouch rises highest to knock a looping cross down to Choupo-Moting, whose goal-bound effort is heroically blocked on the line by Phil Jones. Inches from 1-1.

24: Such complacency from manchester United. Steven Ireland, for the second time tonight, waltzes into the area completely unmarked and strikes narrowly wide of the post. He really should have scored one of those two chances. I guess that’s what 996 days without a Premier League start does to you.

21: Danger! Jesse Lingard wins a free-kick just outside the Stoke penalty area, but Juan Mata blasts it straight into the wall.

20: Peter Crouch and Steve Ireland roll back the years with a nice passage of play that results in the midfielder dragging one wide of the post.

17: Sorry to bring the tone down, but I love this tweet. “Always felt that Antonio Valencia is a bloody good lad. If he wanted to take my mum out for a fish supper I’d have no complaints. He’d treat her right.”

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 STOKE

Analysis from our reporter Richard Tanner, at Old Trafford.

16: No great surprise then that United are ahead after only 10 minutes with something of a collectors item a goal from Antonio Valencia’s left foot. 

The Ecuadorian’s left peg is there for him to stand on, usually, but he pinged that one in with power and bend after cutting inside Josh Tymon. 

Nice way to mark his return to the team after six games out with a hamstring. And a nice build-up by United involving Shaw, Mata and Pogba.

Shaqiri has tested De Gea with an acrobatic scissors kick, Stephen Ireland has fired wide and Stoke are playing the ball about with some assurance, despite United’s early lead.

12: Shaqiri connects with an acrobatic bicycle kick, but De Gea is equal to it as he gathers at the near post. That was pretty spectacular actually. The kind of effort I’d break my neck trying…

MANCHESTER UNITED 1-0 STOKE – VALENCIA

10: What a hit, son!

Antonio Valencia is less then ten minutes in his return to the Manchester United starting XI, and he’s already banged in a cracker!

He receives a sidewards pass from Paul Pogba before cutting inside, driving forward and curling one into the top left-hand corner.

9: Penalty appeal! This is a tricky one. Debutant Moritz Bauer loses his footing and drags Antony Martial to the deck inside the area. It’s not stonewall but you’ve seen them given.

6: First signs of life from the hosts. Romelu Lukaku and Antony Martial play a neat one-two before Martins Indi manages to intercept. Stoke caretaker manager Eddie Niedzwiecki said the centre-back was carrying an injury tonight – looks alright to me!

3: Quite a confident start from the visitors, actually. They’ve kept possession nicely and haven’t allowed Manchester United to settle into their rhythm.

MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 STOKE

1: We’re underway! Let’s put those pesky transfer rumours on ice and enjoy some Monday night football! Let the mayhem begin…

TWO-MINUTE WARNING

19:58: We’re almost underway folks. The players have emerged from the tunnel to filthy conditions. Can Stoke do it on a cold, windy night in… Manchester?

MANCHESTER UNITED vs STOKE

19:55: Quick reminder of those starting XI’s.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Smalling, Jones, Valencia, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Lukaku, Martial.

Subs: Pereira, Lindelof, Rojo, Rashford, Herrera, McTominay, Fellaini.

Stoke XI: Butland, Bauer, Zouma, Martins-Indi, Tymon, Ireland, Allen, Shaqiri, Fletcher, Crouch, Choupo-Moting.

Subs: Grant, Wimmer, Afellay, Adam, Diouf, Sobhi, Edwards.

LAMBERT IN THE VIP…

Analysis from our reporter Richard Tanner, at Old Trafford.

19:50: New Stoke boss Paul Lambert has taken his seat early in the VIP box at Old Trafford and is peering out through the rain watching his new charges go through their warm-up. He is not officially in charge tonight – just on a watching brief. 

But the Potters’ record at Old Trafford will not fill him with great hope – 15 defeats and two draws in their last 17 visits. the last time they won here was 1976 when Tommy Docherty was United’s boss.

HIDDEN AGENDA

19:48: I’ll confess that I have a horse in the race tonight… I have THREE Manchester United players in my Fantasy Football side, with Romelu Lukaku as captain. I need all the points I can get to claw my way off the bottom of the Express league!

‘CITY WON’T FIGHT UTD…’

19:45: OK, last transfer story for a few minutes. Apparently there’s a Premier League football match on tonight?

Anyway, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher thinks Manchester City aren’t prepared to battle it out with Manchester United over the signing of Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez.

He explained: “I think with City looking like they’re walking away, I think it just boils down to the fact they thought they had a deal in the summer, Arsenal wouldn’t sell because they couldn’t get Thomas Lemar. 

“’Okay we’ll do it in January’ and it’s almost done just waiting for the first or second of January to do it, and then out of nowhere Manchester United come in and the deal’s off. 

“So I think that’s then put them off Sanchez and whether they’re prepared to get into a fight, an auction with Manchester United. It looks like they’re not.”

ALEXIS SANCHEZ TO UTD, MKHITARYAN TO ARSENAL

19:40: Here’s our reporter Dan Gibbs with the latest transfer gossip involving Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan…

Manchester United have won the race for Sanchez that will also see Mkhitaryan join Arsenal, according to reports.

Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils have been battling Manchester City for the Chilean’s signature United have now seen off competition to sign him.

United will pay the Gunners £40m for Sanchez, who is out of contract in the summer, while Mkhitaryan will move to north London in the opposite direction.

United have offered Sanchez a long-term deal worth in excess of £300,000-a-week, plus a £35m signing on fee.

With Arsenal accepting Alexis Sanchez is United-bound they want a deal completed in the next 48 hours so they can focus on signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

996 DAYS!

19:35: Yep, it’s been 996 days since Steven Ireland started a Premier League game. Just the man to deal with Jesse Lingard, Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial…

‘I WOULD LIE IF I SAID IT WAS TACTICAL…’

Analysis from our reporter Richard Tanner, at Old Trafford.

19:30: Mourinho has dropped a clear pre-match hint that Henrikh Mkhitaryan could be on his way out of Old Trafford in the proposed cash plus player exchange deal that looks set to bring Alexis Sanchez to Old Trafford from Arsenal.

The Armenian international has not even made the United bench for tonight’s clash with Stoke. 

And Mourinho said: “I would lie if I said it was a pure tactical decision. It was just a choice of the players that we know, in this moment, they have 100 per cent their heads in Manchester United.

“No doubts about the future. I don’t think it’s easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future. It’s added pressure that a player doesn’t need, so I think it’s the best for him and for us, while the doubt is in the air, to protect him.”

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Paddy: Stoke City spokesman: “We are delighted to welcome Paul Lambert to the club. Once we’d been turned down by Gary Rowett, Quique Sanchez Flores, Martin O’Neill, Robbie Williams, his good friend Jonathan Wilkes & Trevor from the canteen, we knew Paul was the right man for the job…”

Seamus: Henrikh Mkhitaryan is out of the Manchester United squad because his “head is not in it.” Jose Mourinho said that himself, so basically he’s part of the Alexis Sanchez deal!

Jason: No Sanchez yesterday, No Mkhitaryan today despite Mourinho saying he’d probably start. Could a swap deal actually be on the cards or is it one more coincidence to add to the disappointment?

LAMBERT APPOINTED…

19:20: I didn’t think there could be a less inspiring managerial appointment in the Premier League this season.

But Stoke have managed to pull off a stunning coup by naming Paul Lambert, who hasn’t managed in the top flight for three years, as Mark Hughes’ successor.

The 48-year-old, who has signed a two-and-half-year contract, has previously managed in the top flight with Norwich and Aston Villa and in the Championship with Blackburn and Wolves.

Bookmakers are so confident of his abilities that they’ve already paid out on Stoke to be relegated…

JOSE EXPLAINS…

19:15: Right, where’s Henrik Mkhitaryan?

Well, he arrived at Old Trafford with the rest of the Manchester United side, but he’s not involved tonight amid claims he’s close to joining Arsenal in a swap deal involving Alexis Sanchez going the other way.

Why? I’ll let Jose Mourinho explain.

Asked why the Armenia international wasn’t included in the squad, Mourinho said: “I would lie if I said it was a pure tactical decision. It was just a choice of the players that we know, in this moment, they have 100 per cent their heads in Manchester United. 

“No doubts about the future. I don’t think it’s easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future. It’s added pressure that a player doesn’t need, so I think it’s the best for him and for us, while the doubt is in the air, to protect him.”

TEAM NEWS – STOKE

19:10: Caretaker manager Eddie Niedzwiecki, who Paul Lambert has very kindly allowed to take charge tonight, makes seven changes from the home defeat against Newcastle.

Moritz Bauer makes his full debut having arrived from Rubin Kazan. Baptism of fire for the right-back…

Bruno Martins-Indi and Josh Tymon return to the starting XI, as does the lesser-spotted Stephen Ireland, who makes his first Premier League start for nearly three years!

TEAM NEWS – MANCHESTER UNITED

19:05: Jose Mourinho makes three changes from the side who beat Everton in their last Premier League outing.

Chris Smalling, Antonio Valencia and Romelu Lukaku all return to the starting XI.

Victor Lindelof and Ander Herrera are among the substitutes with Henrik Mkhitaryan, who’s been heavily linked with Arsenal, not in the squad.

Jose Mourinho’s just dropped some ridiculously JUICY quotes about Mkhitaryan’s absence. I’ll bring them your way shortly.

MANCHESTER UNITED vs STOKE

19:00: Here are the starting XI’s folks. I see Henrikh Mkhitaryan isn’t in the squad. Move to Arsenal in the pipeline?

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Smalling, Jones, Valencia, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Lukaku, Martial.

Subs: Pereira, Lindelof, Rojo, Rashford, Herrera, McTominay, Fellaini.

Stoke XI: Butland, Bauer, Zouma, Martins-Indi, Tymon, Ireland, Allen, Shaqiri, Fletcher, Crouch, Choupo-Moting.

Subs: Grant, Wimmer, Afellay, Adam, Diouf, Sobhi, Edwards.

HAVE YOUR SAY

18:58: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

BUSY DAY…

18:55: It’s been a ridiculously busy day in the Premier League folks. Tons to discuss.

But I’ll bring you tonight’s team news and line-ups before getting stuck into Paul Lambert’s appointment, Alexis Sanchez’s potential arrival, a swap deal involving Anthony Martial and the future of Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

More gossip than you can shake a stick at. Not sure what that’s supposed to mean really, just DON’T bloody go anywhere!

EVENING

18:50: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of the Premier League.

Shall we start with a sensational hyperbolic introduction, or the more realistic version?

The title race has been blown WIDE OPEN after Liverpool’s thrilling victory at Anfield yesterday. A win that’s left Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City protecting a SLENDER 15-point advantage!!

Didn’t really work, did it? OK, time for the sensible version.

Manchester United welcome struggling Stoke to Old Trafford looking to cement their position in the Champions League qualification places.

Didn’t feel nearly as fun…

MANCHESTER UNITED vs STOKE – PREVIEW

Antonio Valencia could return for Manchester United after a month out with a hamstring injury.

The converted right-back trained with Jose Mourinho’s team in Dubai this week along with Michael Carrick, who has not played since September having undergone a procedure to treat an irregular heart rhythm.

Ashley Young still has one match left to serve on his suspension while Eric Bailly (ankle) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (knee) are missing once again.

Stoke could have Erik Pieters (hamstring) and Bruno Martins Indi (groin) available after the Dutch pair returned to training this week.

It was hoped skipper and fellow defender Ryan Shawcross, recently sidelined by a calf problem, would also be involved in training ahead of the game. There may be a debut for right-back Moritz Bauer after his switch from Rubin Kazan.

Last season: Stoke 1 Man Utd 1, Man Utd 1 Stoke 1

Top scorers: Romelu Lukaku (Man Utd) 16; Peter Crouch, Mame Diouf, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting & Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke) 4