United ready to resume

Realistically, the Reds couldn't have made a better start to the campaign – sitting at the top of the table with maximum points from the first three league games, scoring 10 goals and keeping three clean sheets in the process.

Two dominant 4-0 wins at home to West Ham United and away at Swansea City were followed with a professional 2-0 victory over Leicester City at Old Trafford, as Jose Mourinho's men set the early pace with a swagger which bodes well for a positive season ahead.

Next up, United make the trip to the Potteries on Saturday, knowing a tough game lies in wait against an improving Stoke City team, who have already beaten Arsenal this term and will be hoping for another top-half finish in their fifth season under former Reds striker Mark Hughes.

However, as Ander Herrera pointed out this week, the Reds will be ready and raring to go in a bid to maintain the winning start in the league but must match Stoke's desire in what is likely to be a hostile environment. Even with 17 players travelling far and wide for their countries in the last fortnight, there can be no excuses of tiredness or fatigue and there will be expectation to deliver the goods once again.

United have found the going tough at the Bet365 Stadium in recent years and last won in 2013 in both the top flight and League Cup. Indeed, the meetings with the Potters last term, which ended in 1-1 draws, were real battles, whilst experiencing the contrasting feelings of late goals. The Reds were left to rue a hatful of missed chances as Joe Allen's late goal salvaged a point for Stoke at Old Trafford, before Wayne Rooney made history by becoming United's all-time leading goalscorer with a sublime free-kick to earn the Reds a share of the spoils in Staffordshire.

But, with Romelu Lukaku hitting the ground running following his summer move from Everton and Marcus Rashford also getting off the mark against Leicester, the ruthless streak the Reds have demonstrated in the early stages of the season is a noticeable difference.

The impact of substitutes has also been a positive factor in changing the complexion of games and there have been some significant contributions, with four goals coming from players from the bench already. It only emphasises the strength in depth Mourinho has to choose from and the boss knows he is able to rely on every member of his squad when called upon.

After rewarding Anthony Martial with a start against Leicester, following his two goals in the first two games as a substitute, Mourinho faces a tough decision on who to start with on the left-hand side, with Rashford coming off the bench to net the all-important opener against the Foxes and also impressing for England with a goal and an assist in their 2-1 victory over Slovakia at Wembley on Monday night.

With the Reds last in action on Saturday, there will be the opportunity to see how rivals have fared before the evening kick-off on a day when all of last season's top 10 take to the field. Points are guaranteed to be dropped in the lunchtime game as Manchester City welcome Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium as fourth takes on second in the early standings.

Elsewhere, Arsenal will be looking to bounce back from their 4-0 defeat at Anfield before the international break when they host Bournemouth, while Everton and Tottenham, who both claimed four points from their first three games, face off at Goodison Park and the champions of the last two seasons will meet at the King Power Stadium as Chelsea travel to Leicester City.

The only team who can still boast a 100 per cent record in the Premier League, United will be eager to illustrate that the rampant, free-scoring and defensively sound side we saw last month is here to stay and the momentum built up in August hasn't been lost during the international break.

Stoke will undoubtedly provide a stiff test but, on a ground that was not always the happiest hunting ground for him as Chelsea boss, Mourinho knows the importance of winning at all costs, particularly at the start of a busy run of seven games in 22 days.

THIS WEEKEND'S OTHER FIXTURES

Saturday 9 September (15:00 BST unless otherwise stated)
Manchester City v Liverpool (12:30)
Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth
Brighton and Hove Albion v West Bromwich Albion
Everton v Tottenham Hotspur
Leicester City v Chelsea
Southampton v Watford

Sunday 10 September
Burnley v Crystal Palace (13:30)
Swansea v Newcastle (16:00)

Monday 11 September
West Ham United v Huddersfield Town (20:00)