A bright start from Manchester United, popping the ball around sharply on the slick, green surface.

Juan Mata, linked with Barcelona in the papers, is on the ball early on and his curled effort from the edge of the area is deflected away for a corner.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Old Trafford

"Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal acknowledged some low-key, polite applause from the home support with three waves as he walked along the touchline at Old Trafford before the start of tonight's game.

"Better than when he last walked down that touchline - to furious jeers after the home defeat to Southampton."

Go, go, goals please. Manchester United get us under way at Old Trafford.

Steve Bower
Match of the Day commentator

"After contrasting emotions in the FA Cup, it's a return to domestic matters for these two clubs.

"Manchester United showed signs of improvement in their win at Derby but can they now take that into their league form? Their fortunes at Old Trafford must change if they are to challenge for a top-four finish.

"Mark Hughes returns to his former club - where he hasn't picked up a single point in his last eight visits - looking for a reaction after going out of both cup competitions in one week.

"They have the foundation in place to better their ninth-place finishes of the last two seasons - and having already beaten United at home this season, they'll hope to be the latest team to frustrate them at Old Trafford."

The teams emerge on to the pitch, greeted by the Rocky fanfare. Will this be top billing on Match of the Day tonight or not? Kick off is moments away...

Image source, Reuters

On 6 February 1958, an aircraft crash in Munich took the lives of 21 people, including seven Manchester United players. 

Today's game is the closest home game to the anniversary of the tragic incident and there have been readings taking place at the Munich Air Disaster Memorial outside Old Trafford.

The United players will wear black armbands in the match.

Image source, Getty Images

Muigai moses: Absolutely frustrating to see Fellaini getting another start today. Simply annoys me.

Plenty of hats and gloves on show in Manchester this evening. Can Stoke do it on a cold, wet, Tuesday evening at Old Trafford? We'll soon find out.

Bad news for Manchester United, and they haven't even kicked off yet. Their hopes of finishing in the top four have taken a dent, as Tottenham have scored an early goal against Norwich through that man Dele Alli.

United are now eight points off a Champions League place. A must-win game tonight, then.

How time flies. You wouldn't have known this if I didn't mention it...

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Old Trafford

...is give us a goal.

Manchester United's goalscoring - and performances in general - have been abysmal at Old Trafford this season.

They have scored just 12 goals in 11 Premier League games this season, with only bottom club Aston Villa having a worse record.

Add to that the horror stat that it is 11 matches - eight hours and 26 minutes - since they scored in the first half of a home game at OId Trafford and you can see why there is an air of discontent among supporters.

If that does not change here against Stoke City, the pressure will increase on manager Louis van Gaal.

Image source, Getty Images

We're into February now and Memphis Depay is the only Manchester United player to score in the first half this season. Incredible.  

Meanwhile, the half-time score at Old Trafford in United's last 11 games reads:

0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-1, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0, 0-0.

Not sure whether to even commentate on the opening 45 minutes, let's just turn up at half-time and go from there.

Stoke fans, I'd buy a scratch card or lottery ticket if I were you, you seem good at predicting the numbers. The Potters fans are currently top of BBC Sport's Premier League predictor, while Manchester United - much like their team - are languishing. The Red Devils supporters lie 16th in the table.

Play the predictor here

How will Pep Guardiola's appointment affect what's going on at Old Trafford? Will Louis van Gaal still be in charge during the last year of his contract or will he get an early chop?

Let me know your thoughts on Twitter using #bbcfootball, external or text in on 81111 (UK only).

Image source, Getty Images

Well, Pep Guardiola's appointment as Manchester City's next manager has really stoked the flames.

It was widely expected - but its confirmation still carried enough weight to reverberate throughout world football.

The 45-year-old Catalan is the game's most coveted coach, a charismatic and intense personality who has achieved glittering success at Barcelona - where he won two Champions League finals against Manchester United in 2009 and 2011 - and Bayern Munich based on an artistic passing approach.

So does his appointment make City Manchester's top club?

Have a read of Phil McNulty's piece

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick returns to the side in place of Morgan Schneiderlin, while Matteo Darmian replaces Guillermo Varela.

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Darmian, Smalling, Blind, Borthwick-Jackson, Fellaini, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Rooney

Stoke spring a surprise as there is no space for Xherdan Shaqiri in the XI and instead give a start to striker Peter Crouch. Club record signing Giannelli Imbula was not registered in time to play.

Stoke XI: Butland, Johnson, Wollscheid, Muniesa, Pieters, Whelan, Afellay, Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic, Crouch

Image source, Getty Images

Pep Guardiola will be heading to Manchester next season. Surely only a matter of time before Jose Mourinho follows?

Can you imagine both of the heavyweight managers in the same city? There'll be mayhem and every single one of us will love it.

Welcome to our live page for Manchester United v Stoke City, we'll have live text commentary here from 19:15 GMT. To follow all of tonight's games click here.