AS Stoke prepare for their first league visit to Old Trafford since 1985, the odds are stacked solidly against them.

Their opponents have not lost at home this term, while City have failed to win away; then there's each side's respective goalscoring record – Stoke have scored three in six away fixtures, while United have notched 13 in five home outings. Little wonder that Jaxx.com mark the reigning Premier League champions as their 1/6 favourites and online firm Betdaq chalk a colossal 22/1 against a City success.

However, isn't this a similar scenario to Stoke's earlier visit to Anfield when a 0-0 outcome was priced at 16/1?

United's recent performances have resulted in them drifting to 10/3 (Betfred) to retain their league crown at precisely the time that City have been climbing the league table.

This gives hope of another moral success – albeit in the form of a draw.

Online firm Canbet post 13/2 against the match finishing with honours even and punters who find that appealing might also fancy running the rule over bet365's 7/2 for the opening half to end goalless.

Elsewhere, Sportingbet offer City at 7/5 to win when kicking off with a two-goal lead, while Victor Chandler rates the chances of both halves ending all square as a 10/1 shot.

Meanwhile, Coral chalk 1/2 against the fixture yielding more than two goals.

Blue Square offer an intriguing 15/2 for City to score first but not win as Partybets chalk a massive 14/1 against a 1-1 result. Meanwhile, punters anticipating a repeat of Stoke's fine draw at Anfield can get a colossal 18/1 (Betdirect) against it finishing goalless.

Odds supplied by Betrescue.com