Manchester United have hit the rich vein of form they badly needed to turn a corner in the Premier League.

Mourinho’s reign at Old Trafford had been littered with inconsistent performances but those seem a thing of the best given that the Red Devils are on an eleven-game unbeaten run, having won their last five matches in all competitions. It’s put them right back into contention for a top four position and a vital Champions League qualification spot.

With those above them in excellent form themselves, they need to keep winning and the visit of Middlesbrough provides an excellent chance of doing so. Boro have only won once away from home this season and that was to struggling Sunderland.

They have, however, earned some creditable draws, most notably away to Arsenal and Manchester City. They clearly know how to frustrate the elite sides and United cannot be complacent heading into the fixture.

With that in mind, which XI should Mourinho pick? Who are his in-form players? This is the Man United XI we think should play to extend that unbeaten run to twelve…

GK: David de Gea

David de Gea hasn’t really been tested between the sticks for Manchester United over the last month but does look a lot more comfortable with the defence in front of him, now that they’ve come into some decent form.

The United backline has undoubtedly improved in recent weeks and only three teams in the division have conceded less than them this season.

Given that only Hull have scored less than Boro meanwhile, we’re not expecting the United ‘keeper to be tested to any great degree on New Year’s Eve.

RB: Antonio Valencia

Fabio Borini and the Sunderland attack did a decent job getting at Antonio Valencia on Boxing Day and United fans will be hoping for a better display when Boro come to town.

Across the season, however, Valencia has performed well so we see no reason for him to lose his place. His tireless displays on the right-hand side are often to the benefit of the whole team, even if they rarely grab the headlines.

CB: Phil Jones

Phil Jones is finally looking comfortable as a player under Jose Mourinho. His performances at the back have been a big part of the uptick in form from Manchester United.

Another solid showing against Sunderland on Boxing Day means he easily keeps his place in the side for the visit of Middlesbrough. There’s been a lot of chatter about United needing to improve their defence in January but if the England international can continue in his current manner, perhaps their resources could be better spent elsewhere.

CB: Marcos Rojo

Marcos Rojo, like Jones, has had a solid month in a Manchester United jersey and should retain his place here.

The defender’s ability to play out of defence is a big positive for the Red Devils and that could be even more key against Middlesbrough, with United likely to have much more of possession on the day.

He can step forward bring the ball into the midfield.

LB: Daley Blind

Daley Blind hasn’t played much over the last month, but when he has, he’s been one of United’s better performers. The Dutchman definitely deserves an extended run in the team.

He was the man who got United on their way against Sunderland, scoring in the first half before late goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

He has the ability to impact the game positively from left-back and should start vs. Boro.

CM: Ander Herrera

Ander Herrera has been ever present in the side through December and is one of the reasons United have turned things around.

He’s having a great spell in a red shirt as the man who keeps everything ticking in midfield. His passing is second to none and his ability to dictate the tempo of a match has been vital to Mourinho’s side in recent weeks. The Spaniard has become a midfielder the United fans can rely on to compliment the likes of Michael Carrick and Paul Pogba.

CM: Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick is the beating heart of this United side and when fit should always play. His creative passing can unlock even the most stubborn of defences and he provides extra protection in front of the defence.

He may not grab the headlines and his performances may be quiet at times, but he’s reliable and goes about his business in an understated fashion. If he plays well you know United are probably going to win.

AMR: Juan Mata

Juan Mata has been somewhat short of confidence over the last month. His last Premier League goal came in the 1-1 game vs. Arsenal and he’s not contributed many since.

United will need every last bit of attacking threat available to break down what will be a dogged Middlesbrough side so he deserves another 90 minutes to show what he can do.

We know that on his day he can be one of the most effective players in the league. Can he show it?

AMC: Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba has been a force of nature in the United midfield and chipped in with assist number four against Sunderland. Three of those have come in December, highlighting what an incredible month he’s had at Old Trafford.

His combative play will be vital again up against Boro. If anyone can inspire and drag United to victory, it’s this man.

AML: Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Henrikh Mkhitaryan returned from injury off the bench against Sunderland to score a goal of the season contender.

That makes it three goals in his last three appearances and he’s finally emerging into the talent that Mourinho can rely upon to produce in the Premier League.

His impact and goal should be enough to earn him a start vs. Boro and he’s the player United fans will perhaps be looking forward to seeing most, with many supporters desperate for the Armenian to realise his potential at Old Trafford.

ST: Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Ibrahimovic appears to be getting better with each passing game. The striker’s ability to win games almost on his own is unmatched in the league.

He was at it again vs. Sunderland, not just scoring but setting up United’s other two goals. It means his tally for the season stands at 14 goals and 3 assists in just 23 starts for the club.

If he turns up to the Boro game in similar form, Aitor Karanka’s side may not have much of a chance.

Sunderland host Stoke on Saturday knowing a win could drag them out of the relegation zone and give them a huge boost in their battle to beat the drop.

The Black Cats sit just one point behind 17th-place Crystal Palace and need to pick up as many wins as possible at home between now and the end of the season.

Stoke City are in a much more comfortable position, currently on 24 points and threatening to break into the top half of the table.

It’ll likely be a keenly contested affair at the Stadium of Light, both teams are coming into the game off the back of good results in the English Premier League. Sunderland picked up a 2-2 draw vs. Liverpool last time out while Stoke earned three points in a 2-0 win at home to Watford.

Which team can come out on top here? Here are three must-know stats ahead of the encounter…

There’s no-one like Defoe

Nobody in the bottom half of the table has a player scoring as many goals as Jermain Defoe is. He’s banged in 11 Premier League goals this season, just three behind Diego Costa, often winning points for the Black Cats on his own.

Sunderland’s next top scorer in the league only has three goals, showing how much they rely on him. Over half of their goals this season have come through the 34-year-old.

If Stoke can keep him quiet it would go a long way to victory but in this form, is there a defence in the land that can be confident of stopping him scoring?

Stoke are shaky away from home

Stoke have conceded at least three goals in four of their ten away matches in the English Premier League. It’s something that’s happened in their last three away in the league and it’s starting to become something of a trend.

Their defence has become used to heavy away defeats and it’s something they’ll need to address unless they want to endure a long afternoon at the Stadium of Light.

If they concede one on Saturday against the Black Cats, they’re liable to collapse, as we saw earlier in the season when they travelled to Selhurst Park and suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace.

The fortress of light

Sunderland have a fantastic record against Stoke at the Stadium of Light. It’s become something of a fortress when Stoke come calling.

The Black Cats have lost only one of their last twelve against the Potters at home. That defeat came in the League Cup too, meaning Sunderland are barely troubled by Stoke in the Premier League here. They’ve also won their last three encounters at home against Saturday’s visitors.

The last match between the two teams on Wearside ended in a 2-0 win for home side thanks to goals from Patrick van Aanholt and Duncan Watmore in the 82nd and 84th minute. Even if the home fans have to stay patient, Moyes’ men will likely get the job done.

Liverpool fans have had to endure more downs than ups over the course of the past few weeks.

Perspective is always needed, and the fact that the Reds are widely talked about as being in the title race and have scored more goals than any other side in the Premier League this term are both positives that not many Kopites foresaw before a ball was kicked; but some sloppy results of late have left them ten points adrift of leaders Chelsea and staring nervously over their shoulders at Manchester City and Manchester United in fifth and sixth respectively.

Indeed, failure to turn over a 1-0 deficit at home to Southampton in the second leg of their EFL Cup semi-final on Wednesday, a poor result vs. Wolves in the FA Cup on Saturday and then a loss to the Blues next week could effectively end the season for Jurgen Klopp’s side before February has even reared it’s head, so any good news is welcome.

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And the ever-reliable The Times have come in with reports that the club are in talks to extend Philippe Coutinho’s stay at Anfield with a new contract. Further to this, the Reds are not willing to have a release clause inserted into this deal, which would help to keep lingering interest from Barcelona at bay.

As if anyone didn’t believe the Brazilian was worthy of fresh terms, his stats this season show how important he’s been…

As our infographic illustrates, Coutinho has been amazing in his 15 appearances this term, contributing directly to ten league goals (five goals and five assists). On top of this, he’s made 588 passes, created 35 chances and smashed 50 shots at goal, while also completing 63.7% of his take-ons (35).

Jurgen, sign him up!

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Chelsea seem to have a trick up their sleeve this summer if Diego Costa leaves Stamford Bridge, which seems increasingly likely, as they’re the latest club to express an interest in signing highly-rated Torino striker Andrea Belotti.

The 23-year-old Italian international has made quite an impression on the continent, aided by the fact he’s scored three times in five national appearances, and there’s quite a queue for his services- and Torino are demanding a whopping £50m for his services.

With his season statistics though, there’s not much evidence that price is too expensive.

With an impressive 14 goals and three assists in 18 Serie A appearances, Belotti has been in deadly form and put Roma to the sword earlier this season, when his Turin side secured a famous victory over the Rome outfit.

It’s not just his conversion rate though, as his shots-per-game, aerial duels and key passes show he’s a real thorn in the side of defences.

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Former Celtic and Aston Villa striker Alan McInally believes that Manchester United and Arsenal will fail to finish in the top four come May.

The race for Champions League qualification is very tight, with just four points separating second from sixth.

Chelsea are eight points ahead of the pack in first place, with Manchester City second on 52 points.

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal are third and fourth respectively on 50 points each, while Liverpool are one point adrift of the top four and Manchester United are two.

The Red Devils are unbeaten in their last 16 league matches, but their early-season form has put them slightly behind their rivals.

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While appearing on Sky Sports News, McInally gave his top-four predictions and he believes that United will fail to clinch a Champions League spot.

The Scotsman also claimed that Arsenal will end the campaign outside of the favoured positions, revealing that his top four consist of “Chelsea, Man City, Spurs and Liverpool”.

The Premier League is sure to become Arsenal’s main focus now that they are on the brink of elimination from the Champions League following a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday night.

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With Fabinho’s father having revealed recently that “talks with Manchester United” have taken place regarding his son, it’s fair to say that more than a few Red Devils supporters were paying close attention to Monaco’s trip to Manchester City last night.

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Amid a stunningly talented group of players in the Mediterranean side’s ranks, the Brazilian stands out, with his imposing frame, explosiveness and technical ability having seen him move, with great effect, from right-back to central midfield over the course of the past 12 months.

His Ligue 1 showings have attracted much attention, and he really put in a performance to justify the hype last night at the Etihad Stadium…

The 23-year-old was a key cog in a Monaco team that more than held their own against the riches of Man City, completing 81% of his 31 passes while taking 44 touches of the ball from the centre of the pitch. Impressively, he laid on two goals, but also showed his combative side by winning two aerial duels and making two interceptions.

Man United still need a box-to-box partner for Paul Pogba, and Fabinho’s physicality may make him Jose Mourinho’s ideal candidate.

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Chelsea star N’Golo Kante has been one of the standout Premier League players of the season, but there is one aspect of his game that he needs to work on, judging by talkSPORT’s statistics.

There are eight players who have made more interceptions in the top flight than the Frenchman, and one of them is West Ham United defender Winston Reid.

The Hammers had a miserable start to the season, winning just one of their first seven league games, but they have since made improvements, which has moved them to 11th in the table.

Reid has been a regular in Slaven Bilic’s team, starting 24 league games and featuring six times in cup competitions.

talkSPORT’s stats prove why he is so often trusted by the manager as he has made the fourth-most interceptions in the Premier League this season.

Reid has cut out opponents’ passes 65 times, which is six more than Kante has managed, while Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera and Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny have made 67 and 73 interceptions respectively.

Surprisingly, Hull City’s Curtis Davies has snatched the ball on 83 occasions in the top flight this season, which is more than anyone else.

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Chelsea are one of English football’s top clubs, there’s no getting away from it. Although cynics will point at the money Roman Abramovich piled into the club in the mid-2000s and use the ‘you ain’t got no history’ chant, the Blues have had some great moments since their formation way back in 1905 and have seen some truly excellent players pull on their jersey.

And one of their greats, Didier Drogba, celebrates his 39th birthday this weekend. The Ivorian arrived at the club in 2004 and helped the Londoners to four league titles and the Champions League across his two spells at Stamford Bridge, cementing his status as a Chelsea legend.

Although there have been other greats to lead the line for the team – Diego Costa is currently doing a good job of putting his name forward – Drogba may well be the greatest of the lot.

Do you agree? Vote below to have your say…

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As reported in an exclusive from The Sun, Newcastle United are aiming to pull off a summer coup in the transfer market by landing one of the Premier League’s hottest properties, Gylfi Sigurdsson.

What’s the story?

Sigurdsson is often one of the most impressive players on any given Premier League weekend and in their quest to ensure survival in the top-flight next season, Newcastle United want him to spearhead that challenge.

That’s according to The Sun, who say Rafa Benitez wants owner Mike Ashley to shell out the £15m it could take to pressure Swansea City into selling their talismanic force.

A source of the paper said:

Rafa knows he can’t just go out there and buy the biggest names in their first season back – but Gylfi would be a good-value addition to his squad.

Good-value is perhaps an understatement given how fantastic the Icelandic midfielder has been for the Welsh club so far this term.

Can he lead Newcastle to better days?

Despite his side being in a relegation dogfight, just three points above the Premier League drop-zone, Sigurdsson has done everything he can to try and make sure there’s no danger of them dropping into the Championship. With 9 goals and 11 assists in 31 appearances, it’s clear’s his impact from attacking midfield is massive to the club.

He could be that kind of influence for Newcastle too, who are crying out for a committed performer in the final third that can unlock defences on a regular basis.

The 27 year old has all the attributes to become a real fans’ favourite in the North East and if there’s any possibility a deal could be done for him then the Magpies would be silly not to pursue it.

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Derby County will know that they realistically need to beat Fulham at the Pride Park Stadium on Tuesday night if they are to keep their chances of securing a Championship play-off spot alive.

The Rams stayed in contention to secure an unlikely top six finish as they beat Queens Park Rangers 1-0 at home on Friday night, with Matej Vydra scoring the goal that separated the two teams.

Fulham moved into the play-offs as they picked up a 1-0 victory away at Rotherham United, while the team that began the weekend in sixth – Sheffield Wednesday – were held to a 1-1 draw by Barnsley at Oakwell.

It means that Gary Rowett’s men are eight points adrift of the top six with just seven matches left to play, but they could close the gap on the Cottagers to just five points with a win against Slavisa Jokanovic’s in-form side in midweek, although they would also need to hope that the Owls slip up against already-relegated Rotherham too.

Here are three reasons Derby will secure that win to keep their play-off dream alive…

Unbeaten under Gary Rowett

Ok, so it’s only been two games but Rowett will be relatively pleased with the start he has made since taking over the Rams.

While the first half in the local derby may not have been too impressive, Rowett’s men bounced back with an impressive second half display and they brought that into their clash against QPR on Friday night.

They should have scored against Ian Holloway’s side long before they finally did in the 70th minute, and they will be in buoyant mood as they face Fulham in front of a bumper crowd.

Record against promotion-chasing sides

While Derby’s form has fallen away in recent weeks – one win in nine saw Steve McClaren sacked last month – the Rams have enjoyed some impressive results at home against the teams fighting towards the top end of the Championship table.

County beat Leeds United 1-0, Sheffield Wednesday 2-0, Norwich City 1-0 and Reading 3-2 earlier in the campaign, and if they raise their game to similar levels when Fulham visit on Tuesday night, they should get the three points once again.

They have a striker in form

With Darren Bent suffering from injury in recent weeks and David Nugent struggling to make much of a goalscoring impact following a January transfer window move from Leicester City, the Rams needed someone to step up and find the net – enter Matej Vydra.

The Czech striker was a big-money arrival when Nigel Pearson brought him to the club last summer, but when Pearson was sacked the 24-year-old fell out of favour under Steve McClaren.

However, he has hit back in recent weeks and has scored three goals in his last four matches, and that form could be crucial to his side’s hopes of claiming an unlikely play-off spot.

Do you agree, Derby fans? Let us know below.