Leicester get reality check, Van Gaal on the brink

Stoke have only won once in their last four league matches – in a 2-0 win over Manchester City and they are now looking to beat another Manchester club.

The Red Devils slumped to a fourth straight defeat as their winless run under the Dutchman reached seven matches.

Goals from Stoke forwards Bojan Krkic and Marko Arnautovic punished United for a terrible start at a blustery Britannia Stadium and although the visitors improved in the second half they could not fix the damage.

Van Gaal left out captain Wayne Rooney for tactical reasons and by the time the England striker was introduced as a second-half substitute, United were already in deep trouble.

“The 2,500 diehards who had travelled an hour south from a rainswept Manchester produced a show of defiance after watching their team lose 2-0 against Stoke City on Saturday”.

Raheem Sterling, Yaya Toure, Wilfried Bony and Kevin de Bruyne scored as Manchester City warmed up for their trip to Leicester on Tuesday with an easy win.

Third-placed Manchester City closed in on Leicester by crushing lowly Sunderland 4-1 although it suffered a blow when captain Vincent Kompany limped off with a calf injury.

Christian Benteke’s second-half goal sealed the points at Anfield as Leicester were handed their first league defeat since September, and only their second of the season.

Watford manager Quique Flores has discussed his side’s 4-match winning streak, and playing against Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea on Boxing Day.

Troy Deeney, with a penalty, and Odion Ighalo put Watford 2-1 ahead after Costa had given Chelsea a 32nd-minute lead, but the Spain striker equalised in the 65th minute from Willian’s pass.

Oscar blazed a penalty over the bar after slipping on the run-up as Watford held on to secure a point.

Managerless Swansea City escaped the relegation zone as Ki Sung-Yueng’s ninth-minute tap-in saw off West Bromwich Albion, while bottom club Aston Villa drew 1-1 at home to West Ham United.

Cuco Martina broke the deadlock for Southampton in the 19th minute with a jaw-dropping 30-yard shot that swerved inside the left-hand post.

Crystal Palace drew 0-0 at Bournemouth, moving above Manchester United into fifth spot.

Newcastle dropped into the bottom three, behind Norwich on goal difference, after losing 1-0 to Everton following a last-gasp Tom Cleverley victor.

The midfielder looped home a 93rd-minute header to finally beat Magpies keeper Rob Elliot, who had made six fine saves, including two from man of the moment Romelu Lukaku as he looked to score in an eighth successive league game.