Stoke City 2-2 Manchester United: Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting double ends visitors' perfect Premier League start at bet365 Stadium

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A little bit loose, was how Mark Hughes described some of Manchester United’s play on the eve of this fixture. Brave, considering he was preparing to face the only Premier League team holding a 100 per cent record.

Correct though, on evidence of a fascinating contest that fluctuated one way then the other and ended with United loosening their grip on top spot.

A 2-2 draw wiped out the advantage previously enjoyed over neighbours City, and now only goal difference separates Jose Mourinho’s side from Pep Guardiola’s.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored his first two Premier League goals as Stoke City held Manchester United to a 2-2 draw

The summer signing from Schalke scored both from close range. The first came from his right boot, his second via his head

A lucky goal from United forward Marcus Rashford cancelled out Choupo-Moting's opener just before half time

Romelu Lukaku then put United ahead before the hour mark, but Choupo-Moting levelled things up again moments later

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Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting scored his first Stoke goal in the 43rd minute after a lofted Darren Fletcher pass found Mame Biram Diouf, who fed the 28-year-old in the box

As well as scoring twice Choupo-Moting, playing wide on the left, worked very hard without the ball, as this heat map shows. See more stats and maps with Match Zone

 

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Having experienced a calm beginning to the campaign, this was a stormy experience for Mourinho and he cut an irritable figure on the touchline as the result became apparent.

He rowed up close with Hughes, receiving a shove in the chest from the Stoke manager in response. He gave mock applause when the hosts returned a drop ball long. And at the final whistle he pointedly refused to shake his opposite number’s hand, while at the same time obliging every member of Stoke’s backroom staff.

Hughes wore a bewildered expression and gave a sarcastic wave in response. Afterwards, Mourinho said only one team wanted to win, which seemed rather churlish, while Hughes justifiably said his team had gone ‘toe to toe’ with a club of much larger finance.

Genuine needle has emerged between these two and Hughes is now just the second manager to go unbeaten in four consecutive Premier League games against Mourinho, after Ronald Koeman.

Asked by the BBC about his post-match snub of Hughes, Mourinho said: ‘I prefer not to answer the question, because it looks like it is my fault and that is not correct.’

He told BT Sport: ‘I don’t speak about stupid things, I’m too old for that, talking about stupid things is for stupid people.’ 

Stoke made a confident start and summer signing Choupo-Moting tried his luck twice inside the first 23 minutes

Fellow new-boy Jese Rodriguez, making his third appearance since signing from PSG, also got a shot away early on

But Jack Butland was the first goalkeeper called into action. The Potters stopper did well to deny Rashford twice

At the other end Potters playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri tested United goalkeeper David de Gea with two efforts from long range

But De Gea could do nothing to stop Choupo-Moting who broke the deadlock on 43 minutes at the Bet365 Stadium

Hughes was more forthcoming. ‘I pushed him because he was in my technical area,’ he said. ‘Maybe that is why he didn’t want to shake my hand. It has to be viewed as a negative result for him. Maybe he reacted in the wrong way. In fairness I have my history with handshakes. Maybe it’s me.’

Before the real warfare got underway, there had been some friendly fire between the managers. Hughes sent out the first shot by saying he had detected weaknesses in United’s armoury, to which Mourinho responded with a jab of typical wryness.

‘I feel sorry he doesn’t say specifically so he can help us to be a better team,’ smirked the Portuguese. ‘So maybe after the match he is nice and tells us the weaknesses, because I have some doubts if he is a Chelsea fan or a Man United fan.’

At that stage it was all good fun, but Mourinho did indeed amend his winning team, perhaps in tacit acceptance of Hughes’s analysis.

United were near-perfect in accumulating nine points from the opening three games, scoring ten and conceding none, yet against Swansea and Leicester parts of their play were defensively frayed. 

Choupo-Moting, who was set up by an excellent cross from Mame Biram Diouf, celebrated with Chelsea loanee Kurt Zouma

Stoke's lead lasted just two minutes and 41 seconds. United hit back through Rashford, although he didn't know much about it

Nemanja Matic flicked on a corner to Paul Pogba, whose headed effort hit the back of Rashford on its way into Butland's net

Rashford tried to double his tally early in the second half but his effort was well blocked by Potters defender Zouma

So Juan Mata made way for the midfield terrier of Ander Herrera, and Matteo Darmian replaced Daley Blind at left-back. It made for a United team of sturdy appearance. But events proved that an illusion.

Marcus Rashford twice went close to opening the scoring, but was both times denied by fine saves from Jack Butland. The Stoke goalkeeper first diverted a finish with his legs, then got down well to a sharp shot from the 19-year-old.

Dominating possession, it seemed only a matter of time for Mourinho’s side to strike. But at the back they were oddly brittle and Stoke took advantage two minutes before the break.

Darren Fletcher delivered a delicious ball to the wing, where Mame Biram Diouf had been played onside by Eric Bailly. Darmian was slow to chase a block, allowing Diouf to cross so Maxim Choupo-Moting was given a simple finish, Bailly having also failed to react to the danger. Phil Jones was at fault too for not cutting off the near post.

Hughes celebrated with gusto, inevitably picturing a platform for the type of victory that came over Arsenal. But on the stroke of half-time, United levelled.

United did get a second goal though as Lukaku scored from his own rebound, after first being thwarted by Butland

Lukaku latched onto a Henrikh Mkhitaryan pass and fired a left-foot shot at Butland, before following up with his right

Stoke very nearly hit back straight away but De Gea pulled off a stunning reaction save to tip over a shot from Jese

De Gea was beaten from the resulting corner though as Choupo-Moting rose above marker Phil Jones to powerfully nod in

United almost stole another victory at the death but Butland displayed excellent reactions to keep out a header from Jones

Mourinho refused to shake hands with Stoke manager Hughes (left) at the end of the Premier League encounter at Stoke

Nemanja Matic flicked on Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s corner and Paul Pogba was in inordinate space inside the six-yard box. His header was going in but ricocheted immediately off the back of Rashord’s neck into the top corner. Rashford is unlikely to score another goal of less effort, but he had done enough to deserve his good fortune.

Stoke emerged for the second half with energy but United soaked it up and hit back harder, going ahead in the 57th minute.

Darmian dispossessed Joe Allen and advanced, passing to Mkhitaryan, who spotted Romelu Lukaku’s burst and threaded the ball accordingly. One-on-one, Butland saved the Belgian’s first-time shot but was unable to stop the follow-up as Lukaku made it four Premier League goals for the season.

If that seemed the point when Mourinho’s side would lock down the win, Stoke confounded expectations. Six minutes later, Erik Pieters picked out Jese Rodriguez with a cross and the Spaniard’s volley was destined for the roof of the net until De Gea produced utterly remarkable reactions to tip over. It was only a stay of execution.

Shaqiri hit an excellent deep corner and Choupo-Moting beat a tumbling Jones to nod in for his second of the match. Not bad for a free signing from Schalke.

In a predictable move, Mourinho sent on Anthony Martial and the Frenchman nearly continued his habit of causing devastation off the bench. He produced a brilliant cross to find Lukaku free eight yards out, but the finish went wildly over. It was a poor miss. A little bit loose, you might say.