Hello and a Happy New Year to you. The first Premier League match of 2015 gets underway shortly with Stoke City entertaining Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium. Kick off 12.45pm GMT.

Evans whips a cross in from the left. It drops for Young who sees his own ball into the centre deflect for a corner.

Opening goal stats...

Lovely turn by Falcao takes him beyond three challenges but his outside of the foot pass towards van Persie is easily cut out.

The last time United failed to score in back-to-back league games was in December 2013 against Everton and Newcastle.

PENALTY APPEAL. Shaw looks to nod a ball to the left of the Stoke area across goal and it hits the arm of Walters. United appeal but referee Michael Oliver waves it away.

United with a lot of the ball since that opening goal, but so far they've done very little with it.

Worth pointing out - the Red Devils have won six and lost just two of their 11 Premier League matches played on New Year’s Day.

If you kick off ahead of the rest of the teams, you've always got a chance to do this...

United not exactly quick out of the traps in 2015. Plenty of time to hit back, mind you.

United look to respond immediately but Falcao's cross from the left is deflected into the arms of Begovic.

GOAL! Stoke lead! Marko Arnautovic's corner is headed towards goal by Crouch with Ryan Shawcross peeling off Phil Jones to volley home. What a start for the home side.

The hosts are first on the attack with Shaw conceding the corner.

DID YOU KNOW? Stoke midfielder Steven Nzonzi ran further than any other Premier League player in the first half of this season, covering 214.8 km (over 133 miles).

KICK OFF! Stoke get PL football in 2015 underway!

Man Utd have won five and lost just one of their last seven away games in all competitions against Stoke - but the defeat did come as recently as last season...

Stoke are looking to record three successive Premier League clean sheets for only the second time (they also achieved the feat in April 2010). However, the Potters have not had a shut-out against United since a 1-0 triumph in a top-flight match at the Victoria Ground in March 1983.

David de Gea has been the Red Devils' star man this term. Find out why he feels like a comic book hero here!

Man United beat Stoke 2-1 at Old Trafford back on December 2. Juan Mata got the winner after Steven N'Zonzi had cancelled out Marouane Fellaini's opener.

Mark Hughes on van Gaal: "He seems to be the right figurehead for the club. He's the guy you sense they need given last year was a time of transition for them. They're still going through that process to a certain extent so they need a strong person at the head of the club and he certainly gives that impression."

Louis van Gaal: "The thing that has pleased me most is the fans, they are amazing. We started the season poorly, but in spite of that they have supported us, they have great belief in their squad and manager. I want to thank them because they've been very important in our weaker moments. After seven wins in a row and two draws, we're unbeaten for several weeks, but we can still improve. That's more important, we can improve, and we have to improve."

Peter Crouch has scored only twice in 20 Premier League appearances against Man Utd but both have come for Stoke.