Stoke City vs Manchester United, 2015 Premier League: Time, TV schedule, team news, online and live stream

So here we are then. The English press have decided that Louis van Gaal has been given two games to save his job, and here's the first of them. If it truly is a must-win for the manager, then how the players respond to that will tell us quite a lot about whether Van Gaal's dressing room is with him. We know he has Wayne Rooney's backing; we may also find out just how much that means.

Today's opponents are Stoke City, who could be a bit awkward. We've a full preview here, but in summary: they're wildly inconsistent, but potentially very good. You may recall them turning Manchester City into a fine meat paste not too long ago. For United, none of Matteo Darmian, Marcos Rojo or Jesse Lingard have recovered from their injuries, and so join long-term absentees Luke Shaw and Antonio Valencia on the sidelines. Also missing will be Bastian Schweinsteiger, who completes his three-match ban today. However, Morgan Schneiderlin might be back.

Just one last thing to note, then. Happy Christmas.

HOW TO WATCH

When: Saturday 26 December 2015, 12:45pm UK time, 7:45am ET.

Where: The Britannia Stadium, Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 4EG

TV: Sky Sports 1 in the UK, NBC Sports Network in the USA

Online: Sky Go in the UK, NBC Online Extra in the USA.

Manchester United vs. Stoke City 2015 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch EPL online

The stakes are at their highest now for Louis Van Gaal and Manchester United. They've now lost their last three matches in all competitions and have unable to win in the league since November. If he's not in win-or-get-fired territory yet, Van Gaal is teetering right on the edge of it. Manchester are getting healthier, but their form has been so mediocre lately that they'll need to turn things around strongly if they're going to come out victorious in a trip to Stoke.

Manchester have been fairly decent on the road this season before this run of poor form, and Stoke have just been okay at home. But that recent form changes things. Stoke have won two of their last three matches at home and have been a much tougher team overall of late, while Manchester have, well, put Van Gaal's job in jeopardy. This isn't going to be anywhere near an easy match for Manchester to win -- Stoke were going to put up a fight no matter what, but under the current circumstances, that fight will be all the harder.

Key player -- Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City)

Arnautovic has long been a fairly underrated player, but this season it's been hard to overlook him. The tricky Austrian has been a menace on the left, scoring five goals and slipping by pretty much every marking scheme Stoke's opponents have thrown at him. Even when he's not scoring goals, Arnautovic draws extra attention that his fellow attackers can exploit, and that's worth a lot in a high-pressure game like this.

Key matchup -- Bojan Krkic (Stoke City) vs. Morgan Schneiderlin (Manchester United)

Krkic has been on an impressive run this season. He's scored four goals while routinely standing as one of the most consistent threats in Stoke's attack. The Spaniard has bounced back from last year's season-ending knee injury with aplomb and his runs from behind the striker have been disruptive all season long. It's going to be up to Schneiderlin to keep those runs from happening, or at least try and shepherd them away from dangerous areas of Manchester's defense.

Stoke City injuries and suspensions

Out: Stephen Ireland, Marc Muniesa, Geoff Cameron, Peter Crouch, Peter Odemwingie, Shay Given

Manchester United injuries and suspensions

Out: Jesse Lingard, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw In doubt: Matteo Darmian

Match Date/Time: Sat., 7:45 a.m. ET, 12:45 p.m. local

Venue: Britannia Stadium, Stoke-on-Trent, England

TV: NBCSN (US - English), NBC Universo (US - Spanish), TSN 1, 3 (Canada), Sky Sports 1 (UK)

Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (US), Sky Go (UK), TSN (Canada)

Listings via LiveSoccerTV.

Chelsea and Manchester United stars make all-star eleven for Euro 2016 qualifying

Swansea City and Southampton were also represented in the elite group of players, which also boasted former West Ham and Tottenham players.

Uefa have selected their All-Star eleven from the European Championships qualifying round group stage, and it is a team flush with players either at, or with an association to, Premier League clubs with Chelsea, Swansea City, Manchester United and Southampton all represented in the team.

Of the eleven players selected as the best lineup, six currently ply their trade in the top flight of English football. Chelsea have Thibaut Courtois and Gary Cahill involved, while Swansea have Ashley Williams and Gylfi Sigurdsson representing them. Also included are Manchester United fullback Matteo Darmian and Southampton midfielder Steven Davis.

There were also two other players who have at one time or another been involved with English clubs, with Real Madrid and former Spurs hero Gareth Bale chief among them, underlining just how impressive Wales' qualification is. 

However, not many West Ham fans would have predicted their former fullback Razvan Rat would go on to earn an accolade such as being picked as the best left-back of European qualifying when he left the Boleyn Round last year.

Now 34, the Romanian is plying his trade at Rayo Vallecano in La Liga, and captained Romania to qualification for their first international tournament since 2008.

Helping his country emerge undefeated from what was a crazy group where Northern Ireland topped the table and top seeds Greece finish below Faroe Islands, is a far cry from the performances Rat put in during his six months with the Hammers.

Bayern Munich trio Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller and David Alaba make up the rest of the eleven, while Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne was included as one of seven substitutes.

Darmian: Joining Manchester United an easy decision.

The former AC Milan defender indicated he 'didn't have to think twice' about moving to Old Trafford as the Italian believes the Red Devils are among the world's best clubs

Matteo Darmian has stressed that joining Manchester United was an easy decision for him as he feels the Premier League is one of the best in the world.

The Italy international joined United from Torino in July and he has no regrets over his decision to move to England.

"I used to watch the Premier League on television and it was well known that it was perhaps one of the best leagues in the world," Darmian told the official United website.

"So, when I got the call from United, I didn't have to think twice about it at all. 

"For me, it was a big step in my career and a really big opportunity, personally, which I didn't want to let slip away.

"Of course, Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs, not just in England but the whole world. Because of the history as well.

"All these factors made it an easy decision for me."

Darmian, 25, has made 12 appearances in all competitions for Manchester United so far this campaign.

One Manchester United Player Just Made The All-Star European Qualifiers XI

A number of Manchester United players have been on international duty over the past week. However, just one has made the official European All-Star XI. 

Memphis Depay has been under significant scrutiny of late after he has suffered a serious dip in form. The winger was on international duty for Holland over the past week and, after rumours broke that both Ryan Giggs and Louis van Gaal were fed up with his conduct, further stories came out in the press detailing more controversy for the talented youngster.

According to multiple reports, Depay had a massive argument with former Manchester United man Robin van Persie in Dutch training. The stories suggested that the players came close to fisticuffs and eventually, even Dutch manager Danny Blind confirmed the news although he attempted to play it down as a nothing incident.

Meanwhile, Anthony Martial was named man of the match in his first full debut for France as he bagged an excellent assist in a friendly win over Denmark.

A number of other Manchester United squad members were also out on international duty, however just one made the European All-Star XI.

Matteo Darmian has been in awesome form for Manchester United since signing from Torino over the summer and, after some excellent performances for Italy during the week, Darmian was named as the best right-back in Europe in the recent qualifiers.

Darmian - I'm nowhere near Neville

Matteo Darmian admits he still has a long way to go before he can be ranked in the same company as legendary right-back Gary Neville. 



The Italian international seemed to take to the Premier League with apparent ease during United's early games, following his £12.7m move from Torino this summer. 

Darmian, however, recently came in for fierce criticism for his display in the Red Devils' crushing 3-0 defeat by rivals Arsenal, being hauled-off at the break by boss Louis van Gaal. 

And the defender is realistic enough to admit he still has plenty of work ahead of him before he can even be considered a worthy successor to Neville. 

Darmian told Inside United: "Gary Neville was a great player for this club and just the thought of being compared to him is a marvellous thing for me. 

"I will just try to go out on the pitch and do my best for the team. Like I have always done, I will fight for my place and try to get better and better. 

"I think I do manage to understand what the coach wants and put it into practice during the training sessions and, on a matchday.

" The 25-year-old added: "My English is improving bit by bit. I am trying to learn it and my teacher will keep helping me to pick it up faster. 

"None of my team-mates speak Italian but Paolo Gaudino works in the fitness staff here and he helps me understand some things because he talks Italian."

VIDEO: Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian's skills in juggling!

Manchester United's Matteo Darmian showcased his skills in juggling with a football in a knee-up challenge.

New Delhi: Manchester United's summer recruit Matteo Darmian showcased his skills in juggling with a football in a knee-up challenge.

Darmian completed 78 juggles in the knees-up challenge in a minute to show his brilliance.

Manchester United official website posted this video on Twitter.

The versatile Italian defender has been a pivotal player for Louis van Gaal's side this term and has been a solid entity at the back.

The English giants face Everton on Saturday in the English Premier League.