Manchester United will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Stoke City in their English Premier League game.
United still hold a 12-point lead at the top of the table, despite their 2-1 loss to Manchester City last Monday. However, Sir Alex Ferguson will want his side to come away with all three points from the Britannia to increase their lead at the top.
City manager Roberto Mancini recently said united had it easy in the Premier League because teams play scared against them, leading to a comfortable three points more often than not. Ferguson, though, completely dismissed the suggestion.
"I think that's absolute nonsense, I really do," Ferguson thundered. "There are a lot of games I've watched this season, teams like City, and I've said to myself 'are they trying?' Of course they're trying.
"The English game is the most honest in the world, I think we all recognise that, and it has been for many, many years. And also you've got 3,000 fans following you away.
"There's no way any team could come to Old Trafford and not do their best. That also applies itself to the Etihad, Stamford Bridge, the Emirates or Anfield. They all do their best because that's the nature of the English game.
"So it's absolute nonsense what he (Mancini) said. He was maybe looking for a bit of self-sympathy or something like that. But it's nonsense.
"If you look at our game down at Norwich this season, the energy they expended in that game, particularly the two wide players, was phenomenal. They ran 100 miles.
"That's an example of the Premier League. And the Reading game, when it went to 3-2, I thought we were going to lose 30! Every crossed ball that came into the box, they seemed to get a header against us.
United will be without Ashley Young, Paul Scholes and Chris Smalling against Stoke. Jonny Evans is expected to return to the lineup, but Nemanja Vidic remains a doubt.
Stoke, who are struggling against relegation, are sweating on the fitness of Mathew Etherington and Marc Wilson, while Glenn Whelan returns from a back injury.
To watch Stoke City vs Manchester United Live Stream for viewers in the U.K, click here.
Expected lineups: Stoke: Begovic; Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Shotton; Walters, Whelan, Nzonzi, Adam, Kightly; Jones.
Manchester United: De Gea; Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra; Carrick, Cleverley; Valencia, Rooney, Nani; Van Persie.
Prediction: 3-0 to United
