This is definitely not going to challenge Real Madrid 0-2 Ajax [see entry at 12:19 GMT] for Louis van Gaal's "perfect" game and the Dutchman makes his fist changes to try and instigate an improvement. On comes Ander Herrera and Adnan Januzaj for Luke Shaw and Radamel Falcao.

Crystal Palace caretaker boss Keith Millen: "I've had to focus on staying in charge. It is not done and dusted yet with Alan Pardew. I have kept the players in the loop as to what is going on.

"Villa came to us a month ago and that was a close game and they punished us for one mistake. It was a tight game here last year as well."

Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni: "We have gone through the same preparation after the change of manager. We were focusing on the QPR match a few days ago and now we focus on Aston Villa in the same manner.

"I think it is going to be very tight. We need the points. These are big games but all the games in the Premier League are big games. We are only halfway through the season, nothing is going to be decided today but it is another important match."

Image source, Getty Images

Joe Hart and Frank Lampard are both on the bench for Manchester City this afternoon as Willy Caballero gets a rare start in goal.

Full team news to follow,

Phil Neville
BBC Radio 5 live

"I don't think it is Juan Mata's type of surface today. I wouldn't be surprised if Adnan Januzaj or Ander Herrera comes on and Louis van Gaal makes a change.

"Also, it's going to be important for the United back three to be strong in defence to make sure the likes of Peter Crouch don't get a run on them."

Half a chance for Manchester United as Radamel Falcao is felled by Marc Muniesa just outside the Stoke area. Juan Mata, who has not been involved as much as he would have liked, sends the free-kick into the middle of the area but Asmir Begovic punches clear.

Good stuff from Stoke as they put pressure on the Manchester United defence. Erik Pieters swings a cross into the area from the left and Peter Crouch rises to meet it, but is beaten in the air by Chris Smalling, who heads clear.

On Tony Pulis as West Brom manager:

Joe Pickstock: Why would he accept a head coach role when he left Palace because he didn't have a say in the transfers?

Chris Sheldon: He's in a win win situation..... if they stay up he's the hero if they go down he blames the last manager.

Jed Varah: Crystal Palace must be thinking they should have kept him!

BBC Match of the Day on Facebook, external

Image source, Other

Who would have guessed?

Team news is imminent for our eight 15:00 kick-offs...

Phil Neville
BBC Radio 5 live

"It's a big second-half for United in terms of challenging for the Premier League title. They need to win at places like Stoke. They need to sort their away form out.

"For Stoke it's more of the same: put that pressure on the three United defenders. They competed really well and Mark Hughes will say to his front men they need to be clinical when they get the chances."

Juan Mata is caught ball watching by an alert Mame Diouf, who powers forward with the ball but Manchester United get back to snuff out the attack. So far, so scrappy in this half.

The wind remains as strong as it was in the first half as Asmir Begovic places the ball for a free-kick, it rolls slightly and his subsequent kick is carried beyond Jon Walters and out of play.

Image source, Getty Images

Richard Darko:, external Part of United's problem is Van Gaal. Rooney in midfield is nonsense. Herrera should be playing and Rooney pushed up. Simple.

Albahry Hassan:, external Man Utd need to count on their strikers here if they are to get anything - defensively they are pathetic.

Immsy:, external Can't believe Jones, Evans and Smalling are still playing for United. Might as well play Wilson as defence.

Phil Neville
BBC Radio 5 live

"We saw Ryan Giggs come out into the technical area and what he was saying to the defence was to get that ball into the midfield. United can exploit possession in there, they have an extra man, and we did not see it in the first half."

New West Brom boss Tony Pulis is at Upton Park this afternoon - I've just seen him suited and booted in the tunnel. The Hawthorns club shop will have to stock up for his first appearance in the dugout.

Radamel Falcao positions his hairband, rolls the ball to Robin van Persie and the second half is under way. No changes from either side at the break.

Image source, Getty Images

MOTD's Paul Walker at the KC Stadium: "Many of those who descend on the KC Stadium on New Year's Day will be nursing hangovers but a couple of hours in the fresh air should at least help the recovery process. It will take more than that to help the two men in the dugout, who might benefit from a few hours in a darkened room.

"Both Steve Bruce and Roberto Martinez are suffering with major headaches at present and will no doubt be glad to see the back of 2014 after failing to build on last season's hard work."

MOTD's Alistair Mann at Anfield

"Twelve months ago, as now, Liverpool began the New Year outside the top four. They had been league leaders on Christmas Day but two defeats to end 2013 saw them fall from their lofty perch.

"Inspired by Luis Suarez, they then embarked on a stunning run which not only saw them unbeaten until their fateful defeat to Chelsea at the end of April but even included a sequence of 11 straight victories to raise hopes of a first Premier League title.

"Eighteen points adrift of Jose Mourinho's side this season, a title challenge would appear fanciful, and Champions League qualification may well depend on an upturn in results akin to last year."

MOTD's Guy Mowbray at the Etihad

"Both camps were left cursing the dastardly "missed chance" on Sunday. Manchester City's golden opportunity to move to just one point behind leaders Chelsea was quelled by Burnley, whilst Sunderland drew yet another game despite having an extra man for most of the second half at Villa.

"If Sunderland had turned just three of their 11 draws into wins this season, they'd be level on points with rivals Newcastle in a healthy mid-table position, and we wouldn't be mentioning the dreaded 'R' word in connection with them.

"No wonder 'draw' has become the worst four-letter word you could utter in Gus Poyet's presence!"