2. Battle on the flanks
With both Rafael and Luke Shaw fit again, Van Gaal is likely to revert to a back four with those two as full backs. Although both players are good defensively, it is going forward that they flourish at and it is exactly what they will be asked to do at the Britannia. With Ashley Young likely to continue his place in front Shaw as a left winger, the home side will have to be on their mark defensively if they are to stop the crosses coming in from both flanks.
For Stoke, width hasn’t been a particularly integral part of their play ever since the arrival of Bojan. But with the Spaniard likely to miss the game through injury, the Potters will have to make good use of the flanks and provide good crosses into the box and trouble what is an ever-changing United defense. Whichever team wins the battle on the flanks, will without a doubt, emerge as the winner in the game as well.