United approach to relieving pressure on their manager

LONDON — After discussions between Manchester United's senior players and manager Louis van Gaal about how to halt its decline in form, the squad heads to Stoke under intensifying pressure to ease the scrutiny surrounding the Dutchman.

United has not won in six games, a run that stretches back to Nov. 21. It has suffered defeats in its last three matches. It has dropped to fifth in the Premier League and has been eliminated from the Champions League.

Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney said talks have been held with Van Gaal about how to improve results, as well as team morale.

"I think it's normal that confidence would be a bit lower," Rooney said to Sky on Thursday. "As a group of players, we know we can do better. We regularly have meetings, myself and the other senior players in the squad and the manager as well. We are working together and trying to come up with the best solution.

"We are fighting for the manager to try and get results and turn the season around."

Van Gaal walked out of a news conference after 4 minutes, 58 seconds on Wednesday, after becoming frustrated at reports Jose Mourinho could replace him as manager at Old Trafford.

But the best way for Van Gaal to silence the rumours is by winning matches and Stoke will provide stern opponents for United, having already beaten Chelsea and Manchester City at home this season.

Here is a look at other talking points ahead of this weekend's Premier League schedule:

ARSENAL ON RISE

Arsenal travels to Southampton with growing belief of mounting a serious Premier League title challenge.

It trails leader Leicester by two points and produced a commanding display to beat third-place Manchester City 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Monday.

Manager Arsene Wenger said in the aftermath of the victory that the win will increase Arsenal's belief, but has since played down title talk.

"At the moment, it's miles too early to say who will win the Premier League," Wenger said Wednesday. "It's down to being pragmatic, putting the effort in to win your next game and worrying about your performance."

Arsenal is the overwhelming favourite to take three points on Saturday against a Southampton side which has drawn one and lost four of its last five league matches.

But when Ronald Koeman's side hosted Arsenal on New Year's Day last season, it defeated the Gunners 2-0 with a counterattacking performance.

BOURNEMOUTH SANCTION

Bournemouth is in "positive dialogue" with the Football League as it waits to discover the severity of a fine for breaking Financial Fair Play last season.

Bournemouth won the English second tier and was promoted to the Premier League for the first time in its history but exceeded the maximum adjusted loss rule of £6 million ($9 million US), which was set in 2012.

"Bournemouth is fully aware of the Football League's proposed financial sanction relating to Financial Fair Play and is currently engaged in positive dialogue with the Football League to reach a satisfactory outcome," the club said Thursday.

Bournemouth has won its last three league games, which includes victories against Chelsea and Manchester United, and is 14th in the standings.

It is away to Crystal Palace this weekend.

CAPTAIN KOMPANY BACK

Manchester City has captain and central defender Vincent Kompany back to face Sunderland, as well as right-back Pablo Zabaleta.

Kompany has been absent for six weeks with a calf strain which kept him out for eight matches.

"You are always missing good players," City manager Manuel Pellegrini said. "He's the captain here and if he doesn't play it's an important player we don't have in our squad."

Midfielder Fernandinho is anticipating another hard encounter against Sunderland.

"They always seem to play well when they are up against us," Fernandinho said. "We need to prepare well, concentrate throughout and give our fans the kind of performance they deserve."

ELSEWHERE

Leicester travels to Anfield to take on Liverpool, where a win would keep it first in the Premier League table. Guus Hiddink's first game back as Chelsea manager is at Stamford Bridge against Watford.

Fourth-place Tottenham hosts Norwich, Everton travels to Newcastle and Swansea is at home against West Brom. Aston Villa, last in the Premier League, is at home to West Ham.

The Associated Press .

Stoke 2-0 Manchester United: Van Gaal's Schneiderlin mistake and more talking points

Man Utd suffered their fourth successive defeat at Stoke and Louis van Gaal has plenty to ponder ahead of Chelsea's visit.

Schneiderlin was missed

Louis van Gaal has dropped Morgan Schneiderlin for three significant away games this season at PSV Eindhoven, Arsenal and Stoke and Manchester United have lost all of them.

At Stoke, Schneiderlin's discipline was sorely missed in midfield. With three years of Premier League experience, he should be a first-teamer at United but is often treated as a newbie to English football.

Van Gaal kowtowed to United supporters by bringing Ander Herrera into the side when Schneiderlin was just as essential against Stoke's fleet-footed forwards. Michael Carrick, 35 in May, was not sufficient cover for Chris Smalling and Phil Jones and United were looser in midfield.

Herrera was played in the wrong role

The most competitive aspect about United's performance was who could perform the worst. Phil Jones was forlorn, Daley Blind seemed confounded, Ashley Young defended like a novice and Marouane Fellaini spent more time arguing than playing.

Herrera had the nightmare after Christmas. His passing was wretched throughout and he seemed uncertain whether to defend or attack. The busy Basque showed some aggression but United needed incision.

Van Gaal was culpable. Herrera has been United's most productive player in the No.10 role and, as he proved in Bruges, is wasted in defensive midfield.

Herrera endured possibly his worst United display

Walking through the mixed zone afterwards, Herrera looked mortified and ashen-faced. He could not hide how badly it had gone.

Van Gaal passes the buck successfully

Van Gaal's Wednesday walkout deflected the blame not only to the media but the players. The sympathy he gained from his pantomime act heaped pressure on those in the shirts and some performed with the sluggishness of diners full from their Christmas dinner.

The lethargy and timidity about United was reminiscent of David Moyes' final days. Too many have performed as though it was just Van Gaal's United career that was on the line but the brutal reality is, whoever replaces the Dutchman, a number of playing careers are in jeopardy.

Van Gaal's United career is not the only on on the line

Young should not play at right-back again

Luck has had little to do with United's worst run in 26 years, but Van Gaal can be forgiven for lamenting his right-back misfortune. Young, reasonably accomplished at left-back, was utterly unreliable against the elegant, but languid, Marko Arnautovic and he has played in defence often enough to be more vigilant.

Young's hesitancy allowed Jamie Vardy to score past David de Gea last month and he was also obliging against Norwich striker Cameron Jerome. He is costing United goals and, if he is to start, it should not be at right-back again.

Time to drop Mata

The alternatives are not overwhelming - and that is Van Gaal's fault - however Juan Mata's rotten spell continued on the right flank at Stoke. Almost every one of the men in black were brittle and timid, but Mata should be influencing games and he has hardly done that this season.

Mata is not influencing games anymore

He is too often detached from United's attack and the counter-productive 4-2-3-1 formation can not legislate for the Spaniard's blunt performances. At inhospitable grounds like Stoke's, he is fodder for the hosts and Adnan Januzaj must glance smugly at United's right flank situation, despite his own malaise at Dortmund.