Louis van Gaal on the brink as Manchester United lose fourth successive match, against Stoke City

Louis van Gaal is fighting to save his job after his Manchester United side were outplayed by Stoke, succumbing to their fourth successive defeat in all competitions.

The Dutchman's future as United manager dominated the headlines going into the game after his side were defeated at home to Norwich last weekend.

[5 TALKING POINTS: Van Gaal must go now, but the board are to blame as well]

Reportedly given two games to save his job, Van Gaal made the bold move of benching captain Wayne Rooney, who has come under fire for a string of poor performances.

United, faced with turning over a Stoke side who had already beaten Manchester City and Chelsea at home this season, did themselves no favours when Memphis Depay gave Stoke a late Christmas present, gifting Glen Johnson the ball with an awful header intended for David De Gea, and Johnson squared for Bojan Krcic to open the scoring.

United were woeful all over the pitch and Marko Arnautovic gave Van Gaal’s side a mountain to climb when he slammed home a screamer from 25 yards to raise the roof at the Britannia.

Rooney was introduced at half time and added some urgency to United’s attacks, creating a golden opportunity for Marouane Fellaini, but the Belgian’s shot from close range was scooped out brilliantly by Jack Butland, who made another fine save late on from Anthony Martial.

United lacked the ideas or firepower to trouble Stoke and the knives will be out for Van Gaal ahead of the Chelsea game on Monday. This defeat saw them drop below Crystal Palace into sixth place on goal difference.

19’ - GOAL! Stoke 1-0 Manchester United: Bojan puts Stoke ahead after a howler from Memphis Depay, whose pitiful header falls short of De Gea, Johnson cuts back for Bojan who scores from close range.

25’ - GOAL! Stoke 2-0 Manchester United: Arnautovic scores a screamer and Van Gaal's United are in deep, deep trouble! Bojan's free-kick strikes the wall and Arnautovic reacts quickest, slamming an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards. BOOM!

36’ - CLOSE! Arnautovic misses a great chance to kill the game! Bojan puts him clean through, but the striker takes his shot early and drags it just wide. Big miss.

66’ - CHANCE! Butland saves from Fellaini! Rooney does well to fire a cross in from the right and Fellaini must score from close range, but his shot is scooped out brilliantly by Butland.

85’ - TOP SAVE! Butland has produced another fine save! This time he keeps out Martial, whose shot was creeping inside the post. Butland has been superb today.

United have lost four competitive matches in a row within a single season for the first time since October-November 1961.

United have lost just one of 15 games with Morgan Schneiderlin starting and five of 11 without him.

United have conceded two or more goals in three consecutive PL games for the first time since September 2010

Jack Butland has the best saves to shots ratio – 82% - of any goalkeeper in the Premier League.

Is this the end of the road for Van Gaal? This defeat is another body blow for the Manchester United manager, who will do well to go into the Chelsea game on Monday still in his job. United were disorganised defensively, awful in midfield and completely toothless in attack. It was a new low for the Dutchman, and the calls for his head could be too loud for the Glazers to ignore.

Jack Butland (Stoke) – Produced two fine saves in the second half to keep Stoke’s two-goal lead intact. The first was a brilliantly instinctive shot from point-blank range to deny Fellaini. A top display by a rapidly improving goalkeeper.

Stoke: Butland 9; Johnson 7, Wollscheid 7, Shawcross 7, Pieters 7; Cameron 7, Whelan 6; Afellay 8, Arnautovic 8, Shaqiri 7; Bojan 8. Subs: Van Ginkel 6, Diouf 6, Adam 6.

Man Utd: De Gea 5, Young 4, Smalling 4, Jones 4, Blind 4, Carrick 4, Herrera 4, Mata 4, Fellaini 4, Memphis 3, Martial 4. Subs: Rooney 6, Pereira n/a.