Van Gaal on the brink as United lose fourth successive match

The Red Devils slumped to a fourth straight defeat as their winless run under the Dutchman reached seven matches.

Bojan Krkic (19) put the home side in front following a defensive mistake by United midfielder Memphis Depay, with Marko Arnautovic (26) cracking in a second from 25 yards as Stoke took control before half-time.

United brought captain Wayne Rooney off the bench for the second half, but could not find a way past Potters keeper Jack Butland as Mark Hughes' men closed out a comfortable victory over his beleaguered former club.

Manchester City had no such problems as they romped to a 4-1 win over struggling Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium to close the gap on leaders Leicester, who lost 1-0 at Liverpool.

The match was effectively over as a contest well before half-time as Raheem Sterling (13), Yaya Toure (17) and Wilfried Bony (22) all capitalised on poor defending from the visitors, who remain second bottom.

Midfielder Kevin de Bruyne (50) got the goal his performance deserved when sweeping in a fourth at the start of the second half, with Sunderland scoring a consolation through Fabio Borini (58).

Bony later smashed a penalty over the crossbar and City also saw returning captain Vincent Kompany last less than 10 minutes, limping off having come on as a substitute.

Leicester's 10-game unbeaten run came to an end after a second-half goal from substitute Christian Benteke (63) at Anfield proved enough to give Liverpool a first win in five matches.

Chelsea, under interim manager Guus Hiddink, were held to a 2-2 draw following another impressive performance by Watford at Stamford Bridge.

Diego Costa (32) put the hosts in front from close range following a corner, but the Hornets fought back to level with a penalty from Troy Deeney (42).

Watford, who had won four successive Premier League matches, went ahead early in the second half through a deflected effort from Odion Ighalo (56), but Chelsea soon levelled when Costa (65) beat the offside trap down the right and slotted in from an angle.

Oscar blazed a penalty over the bar after slipping on the run-up as Watford held on to secure a point.

Bottom club Aston Villa also picked up a point in a 1-1 home draw with West Ham.

West Ham, who had drawn their last three matches 0-0, went ahead in first-half stoppage time through a 20-yard effort from full-back Aaron Cresswell.

Villa levelled through Jordan Ayew's 62nd-minute penalty, but remain cast adrift at the foot of the table.

At White Hart Lane Harry Kane scored twice as Tottenham beat Norwich 3-0.

The visitors, who had won at Manchester United last weekend, fell behind on 26 minutes to Kane's penalty.

The England forward chalked up his 27th Premier League goal in 2015, beating Teddy Sheringham's club record, by slotting in a second on 43 minutes from Dele Alli's pass.

Midfielder Thomas Carroll made it three 10 minutes from time with his first Premier League goal.

Elsewhere, managerless Swansea climbed out of the relegation zone with a battling 1-0 home win over West Brom, as an early goal from Ki Sung-yueng (nine) proved enough for a first win under caretaker boss Alan Curtis, while Bournemouth played out a goalless draw against Crystal Palace.

Tom Cleverley snatched a 1-0 victory for Everton at Newcastle with the last touch of the game as the Toffees finally made the pressure count.

The midfielder looped home a 93rd-minute header to finally beat Magpies keeper Rob Elliot, who had made six fine saves, including two from man of the moment Romelu Lukaku as he looked to score in an eighth successive league game.