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City are still fighting on four fronts this season but only have two recognised senior strikers, one of whom – Sergio Aguero – has started less than half of their games this season because of injury.

“Every Chelsea versus Manchester United game is big but this one is especially of course”, he said.

In a subsequent interview with MUTV, he acknowledged that the trip to Stoke was a “must-win game”. Liverpool led at half time through two Steven Gerrard penalties before David Nugent and Jeffrey Schlupp replied within three minutes around the hour mark.

Kompany is expected to play for Manchester City on Saturday against Sunday.

Mourinho, for his part, would like nothing more than a Stoke victory at Britannia Stadium as a hastened appointment at Manchester United – assuming Van Gaal gets the boot – would have him in the Old Trafford dugout for Chelsea’s Monday appointment at Old Trafford.

Hughes, a former United striker, expects Van Gaal to turn the situation around, but is unsentimental about the prospect of adding to the Dutchman’s woes.

Losing 2-0 at Stoke on Boxing Day condemned United to a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions for the first time since 1961, and pushed the team down to sixth place.

“They have got good individual talent”. They are eking out points consistently in recent weeks. “Hopefully we won’t allow that at the weekend”.

The schedule makers really did Chelsea no favors, with the club trying to find some form under interim manager Guus Hiddink.

The Premier League leader lost in Liverpool from a Benteke goal while Manchester City beat Sunderland at home.

“They must have a heart full of the desire of an amateur”, said Hiddink.

‘Riyad was a more complete player when he left Le Havre than when we first had him – he had made huge strides in his defensive play and was physically far more ready for the English league. They were crushed by Odion Ighalo and Watford last week.

“We started to play so late, I don’t know why”.

Arsenal wasted a Boxing Day opportunity to knock Leicester off the top of the table when they were out-thought, outmuscled and outplayed as Shane Long scored twice in a shock 4-0 romp for mid-table Southampton.

19 goals in 22 performances is the kind of strike rate that some of the best can’t even boast and Wenger understands he needs a consistent goal threat if he is to end Arsenal’s 12 year hiatus from the pinnacle of the Premier League on the last day of the season.

The 60-year-old coach said that his 24-year-old ward has grown in confidence.