Premier League preview: Manchester United v Stoke City

Stoke City will look for their first victory against Manchester United in 28 years when the two sides meet at Old Trafford on Saturday.

United have won eight of the last nine meetings between the sides, scoring 24 goals and restricting Stoke to just two in the process.

Stoke City midfielder Steven N’Zonzi, who was part of a shock 3-2 win for former club Blackburn over United last season, is convinced his new side can reverse recent history.

“It is one game and people may not give us much chance on Saturday, but similarly nobody gave Blackburn a chance when we went there last season and look what happened that day,” N’Zonzi told his club’s official website.

“We have performed well this season and picked up points from games where people may not have thought we would get anything. We are moving in the right direction.”

Stoke have lost just one of their seven Premier League fixtures this season but sit 12th after five of them ended in draws.

They have conceded just five goals – only table-toppers Chelsea have a better defence – but have also struggled to score them, hitting the back of the net just six times this season.

Former United defender and Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross has been pivotal in his side’s strength at the back while they have heavily relied on Peter Crouch to score goals.

Crouch has already netted four times this season and will be asked to shoulder the responsibility up front again on Saturday.

Stoke’s opponents are having no problems in scoring, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side having hit the back of the net a league-high 17 times.

New signing Robin van Persie has begun life in Manchester in style while the team’s scoring power is highlighted by the fact a further 10 players have bagged at least one goal.

Van Persie has six goals in five appearances against Stoke, although all were for Arsenal, while United’s Mexican striker Javier Hernandez has four in as many matches against Tony Pulis’ men.

Ferguson will be without injured defenders Phil Jones and Nemanja Vidic (both knee) for the match with Stoke likely to miss Glenn Whelan (hamstring).