Will Man UTD sack van Gaal ~ Home of entertainment

Stoke City condemned Manchester United to a fourth straight defeat to increase the pressure on manager Louis van Gaal. Bojan Krkic broke the deadlock after a poor header back to David de Gea from Memphis Depay allowed Glen Johnson to play it back to the Spanish forward.

Stoke went 2-0 ahead through Marko Arnautovic's 25-yard finish after Bojan's free-kick had hit the wall.

Van Gaal dropped captain Wayne Rooney, who came on as a half-time substitute, and United struggled to create chances.

Stoke, who climbed three places to eighth in the Premier League, were superior throughout and could have won by more.

Arnautovic missed a great chance to add to United's misery when clean through, while Potters keeper Jack Butland denied Marouane Fellaini, Anthony Martial and Juan Mata.

Van Gaal was already under pressure before kick-off after a poor run of form but the manner of United's defeat at the Britannia Stadium - together with the manager's decision to leave out England skipper Rooney - is bound to raise more questions about the Dutchman's future.

United rarely looked like getting back into the game after falling behind and showed little desire and leadership as they found themselves outmuscled and outfought by an impressive Stoke side.

They were already 2-0 behind after an awful first-half display when Rooney, starting on the bench in a league match for the first time since 28 January 2014, was introduced at the start of the second period.

They improved after the break, but Stoke, managed by former United forward Mark Hughes, deserved their victory.

Can't score, can't defend

United's lack of goals- seven in the past nine league games - has been well documented yet their latest downfall was caused by alarming mistakes at the back.

Depay's intended header back to his keeper De Gea was far too short and Bojan made the visitors pay with a close-range finish in the 19th minute after Johnson seized on the error to set up the former Barcelona player.

It was 2-0 seven minutes later when Bojan's free-kick rebounded off the wall and Arnautovic, who was quickest to react, produced a sublime finish from outside the area.

United had hardly tested Butland when Austria international Arnautovic got the better of Phil Jones after a delightful pass from Bojan only to fire wide when clean through.

Another giant toppled at the Britannia

The Britannia Stadium is fast becoming a graveyard for the Premier League's bigger clubs.

Manchester City and Chelsea have both lost at the venue this season and victory over United was celebrated with just as much enthusiasm by the home fans.

Make no mistake, the home side were worthy winners, with Bojan, Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri causing Jones and Chris Smalling huge problems with their pace.

How far can Hughes take the Potters? They started 2015 with a 1-1 draw over United at the Britannia. They're ending the calendar year within sight of a European place.

Analysis

Former Everton winger Kevin Kilbane, speaking on Final Score: "I can't see Louis van Gaal staying beyond this now. On Tuesday he walked out of his press conference, and there has been an awful lot of pressure on him this week.

"That performance was as bad you will ever see from a Manchester United side."

The stats you need to know

Marko Arnautovic has now scored more Premier League goals this season (six) than his previous two combined (five).
The last time Manchester United lost four competitive games in a row was between May and August 2001.
United have lost four straight competitive matches in a single season for the first time since November 1961.
United lost a Premier League game on Boxing Day for the first time since 2002 (1-3 at Middlesbrough) and only for the second time overall in the top flight (P22 W18 D2 L2).
Louis van Gaal's side have averaged just 1.22 goals per game in the league this season (22 goals in 18 games) - United's lowest average in a league campaign since 1989-90 (1.21).
Stoke have kept a clean sheet in eight of their past 11 Premier League games.

LINEUP, BOOKINGS (3) & SUBSTITUTIONS (5)

Stoke City

01 Butland
08 Johnson
17 Shawcross
26 Wollscheid
03 Pieters
20 Cameron (Adam - 75' )
06 Whelan (Van Ginkel - 45' )
22 Shaqiri (Diouf - 65' )
14 Afellay
10 Arnautovic
27 Krkic Booked

Substitutes

11 Joselu
12 Wilson
15 Van Ginkel
16 Adam
18 Diouf
19 Walters
29 Haugaard

Manchester United

01 de Gea
18 Young Booked
04 Jones
12 Smalling
17 Blind
16 Carrick
21 Herrera (Pereira - 82' Booked )
08 Mata
27 Fellaini
07 Depay (Rooney - 45' )
09 Martial

Substitutes

10 Rooney
20 Romero
28 Schneiderlin
30 Varela
33 McNair
43 Borthwick-Jackson
44 Pereira

Ref: Kevin Friend

Att: 27,426

MATCH STATS

Shots

1311

On target

Corners

112

Fouls

1316

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full TimeMatch ends, Stoke City 2, Manchester United 0.

90:00+3:06Full time

Full TimeSecond Half ends, Stoke City 2, Manchester United 0.

90:00+1:27

Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.

90:00+1:27

Foul by Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City).

90:00+0:34

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Jack Butland.

90:00+0:32

Attempt saved. Juan Mata (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Wayne Rooney.