MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United slumped to a 2-1 loss at relegation-threatened Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday

MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United slumped to a 2-1 loss at relegation-threatened Stoke in the Premier League on Saturday to puncture the optimism generated by Juan Matas arrival and leave the reigning champions with a huge task to finish in the Champions League positions. USA Soccer Jerseys 2020 . Uniteds eighth defeat of a wretched campaign means Liverpool, which currently occupies the fourth and final Champions League place, could go nine points clear of its fierce rival by beating West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. Charlie Adam scored both of Stokes goals at Britannia Stadium either side of Robin van Persies equalizer, with a miserable day for seventh-place United capped by first-half injuries to centre halves Jonny Evans and Phil Jones that forced them off. It was Stokes maiden win over United in the Premier League, and first since 1984. "I dont know what we have to do to win," said United manager David Moyes. Everton bounced back from its derby thrashing by Liverpool in midweek by coming from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 and climb to fifth above Tottenham, which drew 1-1 at Hull. Cardiff climbed off the bottom by scoring two goals in 73 seconds at the start of the second half to defeat Norwich 2-1. That left Fulham, which was overwhelmed 3-0 at home to Southampton, two points adrift in last place. West Ham completes the bottom three even though it beat Swansea 2-0 thanks to a brace by Kevin Nolan. That win was marred by a red card to striker Andy Carroll for elbowing an opponent. The other match saw Sunderland earn a second straight 3-0 win at Newcastle in the northeast derby, sparking anger and frustration by home fans disillusioned by the sale of star player Yohan Cabaye to Paris Saint-Germain this week. Such is the tightness of the bottom half of the table, Sunderland -- like Stoke -- is now nearer mid-table than the relegation zone. With Mata joining from Chelsea for a club-record fee last week and both Wayne Rooney and Van Persie back fit, things looked like turning around for United and its under-pressure manager David Moyes. Most thought the comfortable 2-0 win over Cardiff on Tuesday would be the first in a run of victories to lift the champions up to the top four, but they came unstuck at the hands of a gutsy Stoke side managed by a former United favourite, Mark Hughes. "I thought we were, to a man, fantastic," said Hughes, who played 467 games for United. "We got a great reward for a huge amount of effort." Stoke enjoyed some fortune with the first goal, with Adams long-range free kick in the 38th taking a wicked deflection off Michael Carrick and flying into the far corner past stranded goalkeeper David de Gea. Mata set up Van Persie to make it 1-1 in the 47th but Adam grabbed what proved to be the winner from 25 yards five minutes later. "It is a massive result against a great team," Adam said. Belgium forward Kevin Mirallas popped up with Evertons winning goal from a free kick in the 85th minute, after Steven Naismith had cancelled out Leandro Bacunas opener for Villa. Everton is provisionally a point behind neighbour Liverpool, which beat its Merseyside rival 4-0 on Tuesday. Tottenham moved four points clear of United after Paulinhos 61st-minute goal earned a draw against Hull, which took the lead through Shane Longs first goal for the club since his recent move from West Brom. USA Soccer Store . "Youre next." Hardly. Iguodala tormented his former team with a game better than any he ever played in eight seasons with the 76ers. USA Soccer Pro Shop . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. https://www.cheapusasoccer.com/ . In a matchup of teams battling head-to-head for the final playoff spot in Major League Soccers Western Conference, the Whitecaps run to the post-season took a hard hit when FC Dallas blew open a tie game with two goals in the final minutes for a 3-1 victory Saturday night.England skipper Charlotte Edwards insists Australia are huge favourites against England in Wednesday’s World Twenty20 semi-final in Delhi, live and exclusive on Sky Sports 2. Australia have won the last three womens World T20 finals, beating England by four runs in the 2012 final and earning a six-wicket victory in the 2014 showpiece in Dhaka. Australia beat England by six wickets in the 2014 womens World T20 final The Southern Stars also beat England in last summers multi-format Womens Ashes series although Edwards side have won two of the last three T20 matches between the sides. Asked if Australia would start the match as favourites, Edwards told Sky Sports News HQ: Yeah without a doubt. Theyve won the last three tournaments and they obviously beat us in the summer so they are huge favourites for tomorrow. Australia won the womens Ashes in England last summer But we know when we are at our best we can beat them. We have the belief we can do that but they have got a lot of things in their favour at the moment - they have played here before - but tomorrow is going to be a huge game between two massive teams and its one Im sure all the players are looking forward to. Theyve won the last three tournaments and they obviously beat us in the summer so they are huge favourites for tomorrow. England skipper Charlotte Edwards England played in the north of India in Dharamsala on Friday before travelling to Chennai in the deep south for Sundays win over Pakistan, and only arrived in Delhi late on Monday. Edwards hit 77 off 61 balls in Englands win over Pakistan By contrast, Australias last two matches have been in Delhi but Edwards is not fazed by the travelling, preferring to focus on the quality of the pitch for Wednesdays eagerly anticipated encounter. USA Soccer Shirts. We knew the schedule when we got out here, she said. We knew it would be pretty tough but were looking forward to a great contest tomorrow.I think its going to be a little bit quicker than some of the pitches we have played on so far in this competition, which is a good thing. From what I hear its probably one of the better pitches in the tournament so hopefully that will be the same for tomorrow as well. Charlotte Edwards flanked by Heather Knight (l) and Katherine Brunt (r) at the 2015 Sportswomen of the Year Awards Edwards was one of nine England players that took part in the Womens Big Bash League in Australia over the winter, but she says the bond forged with several of the Southern Stars players will count for nothing come game time.Were frenemies tomorrow, she saidIve played with a lot of them all winter but when you step over the line and play for your country its England v Australia and all of that goes out of the window.It was be fiercely competitive on the pitch between two teams that massively want to get into the World Cup final in Calcutta, which would be one of the best days of our lives. Thats what we are all looking forward to tomorrow. Also See: England set up Aussie semi Tash Farrant blog David Willey column Morgan stunned by England rise ' ' '