Sunderland welcome Stoke City to the Stadium of Light on Saturday with both sides desperate for a win.

The Black Cats are currently bottom of the Premier League with only two points from their opening seven games, while Stoke are the only other side yet to win and sit just one place above them on three points.

David Moyes and Mark Hughes are both under immense pressure to get that elusive first win tokick-start their season and it will be interesting to see how the respective managers set their sides up.

Moyes may well look to youth should he be without key players like Jan Kirchhoff, Lamine Kone and Adnan Januzaj, or decide to rotate after last week’s draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.

Hughes will also be debating shuffling the pack, although he can take some heart from a respectable draw with Manchester United.

Regardless, here are five battles we see as key to the final result on Saturday.

SHAQIRI VS VAN AANHOLT

Xherdan Shaqiri is Stoke’s chief creator and will be hoping to give Patrick Van Aanholt a torrid time when the sides meet on Saturday.

The Swiss international leads the way for Stoke in terms of key passes, managing two per game in his three appearances so far.

The stocky midfielder may well get the better of his Dutch opponent, who much prefers getting forward to defending.

Indeed, the Sunderland full-back may try and spring a surprise of his own by firing a few attempts at the Stoke goal.

ARNAUTOVIC VS MANQUILLO

If any player looks likely to score for Stoke at the moment it’s Marko Arnautovic.

The 27-year-old was the Potters’ top scorer last season and has often looked dangerous even when Mark Hughes’ side are off the boil.

The Austrian was on fire during the international break and found the net twice against Wales.

Arnautovic will be licking his lips at facing Javi Manquillo, with Sunderland conceding 24 chances on the left flank this term – the third highest in the league.

ALLEN VS MCNAIR

Perhaps a more unexpected source of goals, Sunderland will have to keep a close eye on Joe Allen.

The Welshman has scored in his last two Premier League games and hit a rocket against Austria while on international duty.

The 26-year-old has benefited from a more advanced role of late and it will be interesting to see if he can continue his hot form.

With Jan Kirchhoff likely to be sidelined, Paddy McNair may well be given the anchorman role and it will be his responsibility to guard the pockets of space Allen likes to break into.

N’DONG VS WHELAN

Glenn Whelan vs Didier N’Dong is probably the least glamorous duel you’ll see this weekend but it may well decide the result.

With both sides relatively evenly matched, a greater importance will be placed on winning duels and second balls in the middle of the pitch.

Whelan and N’Dong tend to play the role of ball-winner for their respective clubs and both have racked up a large number of interceptions and blocked shots.

Whoever comes out on top on Saturday will have a big say on the final score.

GRANT VS THE ENTIRE SUNDERLAND ATTACK

Lee Grant became the Stoke hero at Old Trafford a couple of weeks ago.

The 33-year-old was superb against the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Paul Pogba, pulling of seven saves to keep his side in the game.

With Glen Johnson ruled out and the Stoke defence still in disarray, Grant may well face a deluge of shots again.

Jermain Defoe in particular will test his reactions, but Grant may well find his goal peppered from all angles.

The international break may lack the drama, excitement and entertainment of its domestic counterparts but nonetheless, there’s plenty to be learned from nations partaking in a little eleven-versus-eleven duelling, especially from a club perspective.

Indeed, scouts, managers and coaches will be spending the international break running the rule over potential future additions and likely watching as much football as possible in the process.

FootballFanCast think fans should be no different and with that in mind, we’ve taken a look at three lesser-known stars Manchester United fans should be watching out for when France host Ivory Coast at 8pm on Wednesday evening.

Could one, two or even all three end up moving to Old Trafford during the next few transfer windows?

Ousmane Dembele

The Manchester Evening News reported on United’s interest in Ousmane Dembele when he signed for Borussia Dortmund during the summer and his performance against Ivory Coast will give an indication of whether the Premier League club should have pushed harder to rival the Black-Yellows’ deal.

The 19-year-old was phenomenal during his debut senior campaign at Rennes last season, finishing up with twelve goals, five assists and 4.1 successful dribbles-per-match from his first 26 Ligue 1 outings, and has carried that form into his Westfalenstadion tenure – starting with a sensational strike against the Red Devils in pre-season (above).

Jose Mourinho appears unconvinced by his current wide options and Dembele has the potential to fill the void. He looks certain to start against the African outfit, having sat out France’s 2-1 win over Sweden on Friday.

Serge Aurier

Manchester United’s right-back options aren’t the most inspiring, with Mourinho seemingly not keen on Matteo Darmian or Timothy Fosu-Mensah, while Antonio Valencia, currently sidelined through injury, is by no means the most natural of defenders.

PSG’s Serge Aurier, now one of the biggest names in the Ivory Coast line-up, could well be the solution. He’s strong, powerful and quick in typical Mourinho style but uses his physicality to punch holes going forward as well as keeping matters solid at the back.

A spat with Laurent Blanc put his Parc de Princes future in jeopardy ahead of the summer but the 23-year-old has seemingly re-established himself under Unai Emery.

Franck Kessie

19-year-old Franck Kessie is developing quite the following, with a number of sources comparing the Atalanta midfielder to iconic African enforcer duo Michael Essien and Yaya Toure. A star-studded performance against France could give us a hint of whether the teenager has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of those two Premier League title winners and he’s already professed his love for Manchester United, describing them as his ‘favourite team’ back in September.

Mourinho is still trying to find the right formula in the middle of the park and Kessie could prove to be the perfect long-term addition. But is he ready for life at Old Trafford just yet? His outing against Euro 2016 final-reaching France should provide the answer.

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Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has attracted interest from German outfit Bayer Leverkusen ahead of the January transfer window, according to the Daily Mail.

What’s the story?

The Argentine was heavily linked with a move away from Old Trafford in the summer after failing to cement a regular spot in the first team.

A transfer failed to materialise, but the rumours have continued to rumble as he has struggled to make a mark under the leadership of manager Jose Mourinho this season.

It is believed that Leverkusen have placed the defender on their transfer wishlist, with United keen to recoup the £16m that they paid Sporting Lisbon for his services in 2014.

Rojo, who can play as a left-back or a centre-back, failed to figure in the early stages of the season, but following injuries to Chris Smalling and Eric Bailly, he has clawed his way back into the team.

Will Manchester United sell?

In short, probably. Well, as long as they get the right fee. Rojo has had a stop-start career since moving to Old Trafford due to injuries and questions over his attitude off the pitch.

A few weeks ago, many would have argued that Rojo’s eventual exit was a sure thing, but he has received some praise from Mourinho since providing cover for the injury-hit defence.

The Portuguese coach described Rojo’s performance at centre-back as “phenomenal” after United’s EFL Cup 1-0 victory over local rivals Manchester City in October.

The 26-year-old also did a solid job at the back in the Red Devils’ 1-1 draw with Arsenal, but the Daily Mail has claimed that Mourinho is keen to sign a new centre-back, and selling Rojo would provide additional funds for the transfer kitty.

He may be performing well at the moment, but when Smalling and Bailly return to full fitness, Rojo is likely to be the first defender to drop out of contention.

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Liverpool could receive a huge boost when they take on arch rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford next weekend.

One of their star players, Philippe Coutinho, has been out since injuring his ankle during the Reds’ 2-0 victory over Sunderland on November 26 at Anfield.

However, he could make his eagerly-anticipated return on January 15 when Jurgen Klopp’s men make the short trip to Manchester to play in what could be a crucial match in their campaign for the Premier League title.

The Brazilian returned to full training on Friday, and given that he will not be in the squad for Sunday’s FA Cup third-round tie against Plymouth Argyle, it gives the 24-year-old nine days to regain fitness in time for the vital showdown.

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Depending on Chelsea’s result that weekend, Liverpool could move to within two points of the Premier League leaders with a triumph over United.

A defeat, though, will put pressure on the Merseyside outfit as United will be climbing up, with just two points separating the rivals.

Meanwhile, defender Joel Matip and Daniel Sturridge may also be fit to play a part at Old Trafford as they recover from respective injuries.

At the moment, all Liverpool fans are focusing on is getting the ‘little magician’ back on the pitch, and they are relishing the news that he has returned to training.

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Manchester United could smash the world record for a transfer for the second summer in a row by swooping for Antoine Griezmann, The Independent reports, but Luke Shaw may leave.

What’s the word?

Not content with spending £89m to bring Paul Pogba to Old Trafford last summer, Manchester United are aiming to roll out the red carpet once again at the end of the season to bring the midfielder’s international colleague Antoine Griezmann to the Premier League.

The French striker has excelled with Atletico Madrid since moving to the Spanish capital but speculation persists on his future, with the former Real Sociedad man consistently linked with a move to English football.

Despite a host of interest, United seem intent on jumping to the front of the queue for Griezmann’s services no matter the cost- even if it means potential breaking the £100m mark. In fact, talks have already begun- even including a potential shirt number.

Who will be sacrificed?

Unfortunately, it seems a former darling of English football will be trimmed from the squad by Jose Mourinho this summer as the same report indicates that Luke Shaw will be ousted from the Red Devils- as Mourinho isn’t pleased with his development.

Shaw, still just 21, cost United £30m in 2014 but has endured a difficult time at Old Trafford, seeing virtually the entirety of last season wiped off following a horrific leg break sustained against PSV Eindhoven.

This term, Shaw has battled with his recovery and was criticised by Mourinho for taking pain medication, the first signs of a crack in the pair’s relationship, and the ruthless former Chelsea boss won’t waste any time in moving him on.

Making just 13 appearances this season, Shaw hasn’t appeared in the Premier League since October and his last appearance in any competition was at the end of November- showing his decline amongst the squad standings.

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In the final act of the Premier League’s weekend action, Chelsea maintained their lead at the division’s summit with a measured 2-0 win over Hull City at Stamford Bridge.

Indeed, we’ve seen Antonio Conte’s Blues play some fantastic football over the course of the campaign but this was more an occasion for the unspectacular, sealing a win that would continue their Premier League pace-setting run without running the risk of a shock defeat to the division’s second-bottom placed side.

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Epitomising that mantra perfectly was a Man of the Match performance from Victor Moses. Whilst more star-studded team-mates struggled to produce their customary impact, the unsung Nigerian proved the difference in a tight match in west London.

Moses provided the assist for Diego Costa’s opener just before half-time, as his low cross, spinning slightly away from goal, trickled through bodies to find the Premier League’s joint-top scorer loitering near the penalty spot.

But as our infographic shows, Moses’ overall contribution was equally impressive, highlighting the all-action, up-and-down style he’s brought to the right wing-back role. The 26-year-old created another two chances, beat his man twice and flung in eight crosses, whilst making his presence felt at the other end with two tackles and two interceptions.

He may not be the most glamorous name on the Chelsea team-sheet, but Moses proved against Hull why he’s become so important to this title-chasing Blues side; in short, he’s their unsung hero.

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Jose Mourinho’s reaction to the most basic of questions from Martin Fisher, walking away from his post-match interview with the BBC reporter after being asked to explain his gripes with referee Mike Jones, summed up a frustrating night for Manchester United.

Despite the accommodating surroundings of Old Trafford, the Red Devils failed to break through a stern rearguard display from Hull City that saw Marco Silva claim four points from three Premier League fixtures since taking the reigns from Mike Phelan at the start of January.

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The Tigers have faced United three times since then, the other meetings coming in the EFL Cup semi-final, and come away with impressive results; a 2-0 defeat despite injuries forcing Silva to field just a six-man bench, a 2-1 win at the KCOM Stadium and last night’s clean-sheet-draw on the road.

“We didn’t score. You don’t score, it is not possible to win. Their goalkeeper was good. We needed to score, we needed more time to play. If you played 35-40 minutes in both halves, it is a lot. I think Hull City tried to see where they could go, the way they could behave and tried to see what the referee would allow them to do.”

In addition to the officials, Mourinho was seemingly aggrieved by his side’s attacking efforts at Old Trafford, although Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic has earned plenty of plaudits for a spate of impressive saves, six in total.

But if there’s one individual performance the Portuguese shouldn’t be disappointed with, it’s that of Paul Pogba. The France international didn’t convince everybody when he returned to United in the summer, but has moved further towards justifying that world-record price-tag with every passing game.

Last night provided another example; despite the profligacy of his team-mates, Pogba produced three efforts at goal, one of which brought a stunning save out of Jakupovic, provided three key passes and completed one successful dribble. He also contributed defensively, although Hull failed to try test David De Gea, with two interceptions, two tackles and four successful aerial duels.

Despite the enormous transfer fee and criticism he received earlier in the campaign, is Pogba quietly emerging as the signing of the season?

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As reported by The Mirror, Liverpool have opened talks on a big move for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Mario Gotze this summer.

What’s the word?

Apparently not content with the multitude of attacking midfield talent at his disposal already, Jurgen Klopp is planning a raid on his old club for one of his former stars.

The Mirror reckon the Reds are set to make a £20m move for World Cup winner Mario Gotze, currently in his second spell at Borussia Dortmund.

The German international has struggled to recapture the form that made him such a force at the club from a young age and is now eyeing a fresh start in the Premier League according to the report.

Klopp was keen on the reunion last season, say the paper, but missed out on his signature from Bayern Munich due to their lack of UEFA Champions League football.

Still got it?

There’s no doubt that Gotze’s reputation in the game has waned a little after a tough couple of seasons at Bayern and Dortmund. However, still just 24, he has plenty to offer Liverpool and his past achievements are an undeniable signifier of his ability to impact games at a world class level.

He is of course the player who scored the goal in the 2014 World Cup Final that delivered the trophy for Germany. Having also won 10 major honours in his time with Dortmund and Bayern, it’s clear he’s a born winner.

He played the best football of his career under Jurgen Klopp and a reunion between the two could kickstart his career again and see him finding his best form. If that happens, it could be a signing that brings Liverpool to the next level.

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Aston Villa owner Tony Xia is known to post messages on his personal Twitter account every now and again, and this time he had some words for Conor Hourihane.The 26-year-old midfielder joined the Villans from Barnsley in January, but has taken time to find his feet.After Hourihane’s arrival, Steve Bruce’s side lost five Championship games on the trot, but the tide could be turning following back-to-back victories over Derby County and Bristol City.In the 2-0 triumph over Bristol on Tuesday, Hourihane got off the mark with his first goal for the club after coming on as a substitute in the 38th minute.Not only would the goal have given the midfielder a big boost in confidence, the support from the club’s owner would not have gone unnoticed.Hourihane tweeted his joy at finding the back of the net and being part of the win.

Xia, who took over the club in May last year, also recognised the Irishman’s effort by tweeting him directly.

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It has been a tough season for Aston Villa.

Amid a poor showing in the top flight last year, the Villans succumbed to relegation towards the end of the season – ending the campaign out of the Premier League for the first time since its inception.

Even Steve Bruce hasn’t been able to come in and force a turnaround at Villa Park, with the club still languishing in 12th place. In truth, this season looks set to be considered somewhat of a write-off come the end of the campaign, with a playoff push no longer really feasible.

That goal is very achievable, but the English manager will be expecting to improve drastically next year. A lot of work will need to be done this summer in an effort to improve the squad – but could the Villans turn to a few of their former chargers in order to breath new life into their disappointing side?

Given how many top players they have had over the years, a few of their ex-pros could certainly do a job.

Place your vote below…

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