5 bold Premier League predictions: Van Dijk leads Liverpool to victory

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 05: Emre Can of Liverpool (R) and team mates congratulate Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool (obscured) as he scores their second goal during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on January 5, 2018 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /

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STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 29: Stoke player Kurt Zouma in action during the Premier League match between Stoke City and Liverpool at Bet365 Stadium on November 29, 2017 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) /

4. Stoke hold Manchester United at Old Trafford

The Premier League weekend ends with Manchester United hosting Stoke on Monday night. This will be the Potters’ first match without recently sacked manager Mark Hughes. Hughes finally got the axe after Stoke crashed out of the FA Cup last weekend to League Two side Coventry.

Martin O’Neill and Quique Sanchez Flores are two managers the Potters are considering but it’s unlikely the club will have anyone in place to take charge on Monday night. This means the Stoke players will be playing for a new manager soon, which should produce a better performance.

An away trip to Old Trafford is still an extremely difficult task but several sides have shown this season that United aren’t as formidable on the pitch as they look on paper. In the last five matches the Red Devils have drawn three, two of which came at home.

The Potters will have to be at their best but they should have more resiliency about them now that Hughes is gone. They can take heart from the fact that Manchester United haven’t beaten them in the last three league meeting between the two sides.

A point would be a great result for the Potters and we fancy them to get just that in a game that might not be the most exciting. However, it should pave the way for a new manager to come in and improve Stoke’s form.

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