Maxim Choupo-Moting's double ended Manchester United's winning start to the Premier League as Stoke emerged with a creditable draw against Jose Mourinho's men.
Three wins, 10 goals and a hat-trick of clean sheets had given the Old Trafford giants a strong start to the season, yet City boss Mark Hughes spoke of weaknesses in his former club's armoury ahead of Saturday evening's encounter.
Choupo-Moting gave credence to his manager's claim during an entertaining 2-2 draw at the bet365 Stadium, where Stoke's summer signing opened the scoring and would later secure a point after Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku scored for table-topping United.
Hughes' well-drilled side took great pride in ending the Premier League's last remaining 100 per cent record - and the City boss clearly got under Mourinho's skin as no full-time handshake was forthcoming.
The pair's duel on the touchline was as entertaining at times as the match itself, with Choupo-Moting punishing Eric Bailly's listless defending to put Stoke ahead.
United produced a response as impressive as it was swift after seeing their goal breached for the first time this campaign, with Paul Pogba's header off Rashford followed by Lukaku putting his side on course for victory.
Victory would prove beyond Mourinho's men, though, as a sensational David De Gea stop brought a corner from which Choupo-Moting lost Phil Jones to head home.
Opta match facts
- Manchester United haven’t won any of their five Premier League away games at Stoke since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 (D3 L2) – only at Chelsea, Tottenham (4 each) and Cardiff (once) have they failed to win in the league since the Scotsman left.
- Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s opener was the first goal Manchester United had conceded in 535 minutes of Premier League football, since Harry Kane’s strike at White Hart Lane in May.
- There were just 161 seconds between Choupo-Moting’s opener and Marcus Rashford’s equaliser for Man Utd.
- Only Wayne Rooney (15) scored more Premier League goals as a teenager for Man Utd than Rashford has (currently 12, same as Ryan Giggs).
- Romelu Lukaku’s strike was his 150th in club football (47 Anderlecht, 17 West Brom, 87 Everton and 5 for Manchester United).
- No player has scored more goals in their first four Premier League games for Man Utd than Lukaku (4, same as Louis Saha, Robin van Persie and Zlatan Ibrahimovic).
- Choupo-Moting became the first player to open his Premier League goal account with a brace against Manchester United since Afonso Alves in April 2008.
- Mark Hughes has become only the second manager to go unbeaten in four consecutive Premier League managerial clashes with Jose Mourinho, after Ronald Koeman (5 games).
- 60% of Stoke’s shots were taken by Eric Chopou-Moting (6/10), who scored with both of his shots on target.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's second goal
Phil Jones look away now.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting completely did the United defender to powerfully nod in.
All level with 15 minutes to go.
Romelu Lukaku goal
Lukaku needed two bites of the cherry but eventually did beat Butland.
Marcus Rashford's goal
Rashford is fortunate to have this name against his name.
Pogba was the one who did the hard work in the air.
Goal counts the same for United.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting's goal
What an end to the half that was!
Here is Choupo-Moting sliding Stoke into a deserved lead.
Top cross from Diouf from the right and then an easy tap-in.
United improving
Stoke are still just about on top.
But United aren’t in it for the ride, they have certainly improved.
The biggest improvement is their forwards.
Rashford and Lukaku have started to move much better.
First action
Stoke have been the better side so far in this game.
They’ve seen plenty of the ball but haven’t managed to make anything stick.
United struggling for movement.
The many faces of Jose Mourinho
We have already seen all Mourinho’s emotions on the bench so far.
Happy Jose.
Sad Jose.
United out to warm up
United are going through their paces.
Jose Mourinho is giving them a watchful eye.
Nice rainbow over the ground.
Mark Hughes speaks
Mark Hughes has been talking to BT Sport.
On Stoke’s start to the season:
“We have started brightly enough.
“Today is a big test probably the biggest we have had so far.
“We will have to play well.”
On Kevin Wimmer’s debut”
“It is important to get him in a Stoke shirt and out there
“It was a blow to lose Ryan to an injury.”
Jose Mourinho speaks
Jose Mourinho has been talking to BT Sport.
On his team selection
“We have an important match on Tuesday but we are focus on this match.
“It is difficult enough.”
On Mark Hughes saying he knows United’s weakness:
“Maybe after teh game Mark can tell me my weaknesses.
“Maybe we will see if he is a Chelsea or United fan.”
Fans arrive
Supporters are starting to stream towards the bet 365 Stadium.
Should be a good game.
Jose Mourinho
Mourinho is sporting the boozy crooner look at Stoke.
Tuck your shirt in Jose!
To be fair I wish I looked that cool.
Manchester United arrivals
United’s stars have arrived at the Bet365 Stadium.
All watched by Mark Hughes on the wall.
Looks like Pogba has a cool red streak in his hair.
Rashford has a cap on and will be hoping to grab some goals from his starting berth.
Stoke team news
Manchester United team news
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Michael Carrick have decisions to make on their careers next summer - the only players whose future Jose Mourinho does not believe Manchester United have under “control” beyond this season.
Last week Arsenal sold Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Premier League rivals Liverpool, cashing in on the England international with his contract due to expire in the summer along with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
The latter duo have remained amid uncertainty regarding their future and Mourinho is sure there will be no such issues at Old Trafford any time soon.
Juan Mata, Daley Blind, Ander Herrera, Ashley Young, Luke Shaw and Sam Johnstone have just a season remaining on their United deals, but the Portuguese points to the one-year extension clauses included within them.
The biggest question marks regard the future of injured striker Ibrahimovic and captain Carrick, with the veterans’ contracts due to expire next summer.
“Of course it makes a difference (to have a one-year option),” Mourinho said.
“When the club has a one-year option, it means that the players have one more year of contract so nobody is in the last year.
“The two players are in this situation are Zlatan and Carrick - two players that at the end of the season who are going to sit and to analyse what they did and what they want to do.
“But just Carrick and Zlatan, all the other players are under the club control until end of the 18/19 season, so we are speaking about June ‘19. No player ends his contract.”