Stoke City condemned Manchester United to a fourth straight defeat to increase the pressure on manager Louis van Gaal.
Bojan Krkic broke the deadlock after a poor header back to David de Gea from Memphis Depay allowed Glen Johnson to play it back to the Spanish forward.
Stoke went 2-0 ahead through Marko Arnautovic's 25-yard finish after Bojan's free-kick had hit the wall.
Van Gaal dropped captain Wayne Rooney, who came on as a half-time substitute, and United struggled to create chances.
Stoke were superior throughout and could have won by more.
Arnautovic missed a great chance to add to United's misery when clean through, while Potters keeper Jack Butland denied Marouane Fellaini, Anthony Martial and Juan Mata.
- How the action unfolded, pictures and the best of social media
- I can quit by myself - Van Gaal
Rooney decision backfires badly on Van Gaal
Wayne Rooney touched the ball three times in Stoke's penalty area after coming on at the start of the second half
Van Gaal was already under pressure before kick-off after a poor run of form but the manner of United's defeat at the Britannia Stadium - together with the manager's decision to leave out England skipper Rooney - is bound to raise more questions about the Dutchman's future.
United rarely looked like getting back into the game after falling behind and showed little desire and leadership as they found themselves outmuscled and outfought by an impressive Stoke side.
They were already 2-0 behind after an awful first-half display when Rooney, starting on the bench in a league match for the first time since 28 January 2014, was introduced at the start of the second period.
They improved after the break, but Stoke, managed by former United forward Mark Hughes, deserved their victory.
Can't score, can't defend
United's lack of goals- seven in the past nine league games - has been well documented yet their latest downfall was caused by alarming mistakes at the back.
Depay's intended header back to his keeper De Gea was far too short and Bojan made the visitors pay with a close-range finish in the 19th minute after Johnson seized on the error to set up the former Barcelona player.
It was 2-0 seven minutes later when Bojan's free-kick rebounded off the wall and Arnautovic, who was quickest to react, produced a sublime finish from outside the area.
United had hardly tested Butland when Austria international Arnautovic got the better of Phil Jones after a delightful pass from Bojan only to fire wide when clean through.
A Stoke City fan wearing a Jose Mourinho face mask and holding a P45 certificate with Louis van Gaal's name on it
Another giant toppled at the Britannia
The Britannia Stadium is fast becoming a graveyard for the Premier League's bigger clubs.
Manchester City and Chelsea have both lost at the venue this season and victory over United was celebrated with just as much enthusiasm by the home fans.
Make no mistake, the home side were worthy winners, with Bojan, Arnautovic and Xherdan Shaqiri causing Jones and Chris Smalling huge problems with their pace.
How far can Hughes take the Potters? They started 2015 with a 1-1 draw over United at the Britannia. They're ending the calendar year within sight of a European place.
Man of the match - Bojan Krkic
There were several candidates in Stoke shirts but the Spaniard was a thorn in United's defence from start to finish - a real team player who showed desire on and off the ball. He now has two goals in two games.
What the managers said
Stoke intensity pleases Mark Hughes
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes: "I thought we were excellent in the first half. We looked to be positive and tried to get in behind their back four.
"They may have got some momentum but we saw it out quite comfortably.
"We wanted to be on the front foot and force errors and that's what happened.
"We have got players who can take chances but they might have taken more this season."
Players feeling pressure - Louis van Gaal
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal: "We have lost the game in the first 45 minutes because we didn't dare to play our football.
"I thought it was the right decision [to leave out Wayne Rooney] otherwise I would not have done it.
"I have received it [backing of club] all the time but we have lost today so there is a new situation. I feel the support of my players and my board. The fans will be disappointed but that is logical after four defeats."
Analysis
Former Everton winger Kevin Kilbane, speaking on Final Score: "I can't see Louis van Gaal staying beyond this now. On Tuesday he walked out of his press conference, and there has been an awful lot of pressure on him this week.
"That performance was as bad you will ever see from a Manchester United side."
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand posted this message during the game
The stats you need to know
- Marko Arnautovic has now scored more Premier League goals this season (six) than his previous two combined (five).
- The last time Manchester United lost four competitive games in a row was between May and August 2001.
- United have lost four straight competitive matches in a single season for the first time since November 1961.
- United lost a Premier League game on Boxing Day for the first time since 2002 (1-3 at Middlesbrough) and only for the second time overall in the top flight (P22 W18 D2 L2).
- Louis van Gaal's side have averaged just 1.22 goals per game in the league this season (22 goals in 18 games) - United's lowest average in a league campaign since 1989-90 (1.21).
- Stoke have kept a clean sheet in eight of their past 11 Premier League games.
What next?
Both teams have little time before they are back in action. While Stoke make the journey to face Everton (15:00 GMT) on Monday, United entertain Chelsea (17:30 GMT) at Old Trafford.
Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)
Stoke City
- 01 Butland
- 08 Johnson
- 17 Shawcross
- 26 Wollscheid
- 03 Pieters
- 20 Cameron (Adam - 75' )
- 06 Whelan (Van Ginkel - 45' )
- 22 Shaqiri (Diouf - 65' )
- 14 Afellay
- 10 Arnautovic
- 27 Krkic Booked
Substitutes
- 11 Joselu
- 12 Wilson
- 15 Van Ginkel
- 16 Adam
- 18 Diouf
- 19 Walters
- 29 Haugaard
Manchester United
- 01 de Gea
- 18 Young Booked
- 04 Jones
- 12 Smalling
- 17 Blind
- 16 Carrick
- 21 Herrera (Pereira - 82' Booked )
- 08 Mata
- 27 Fellaini
- 07 Depay (Rooney - 45' )
- 09 Martial
Substitutes
- 10 Rooney
- 20 Romero
- 28 Schneiderlin
- 30 Varela
- 33 McNair
- 43 Borthwick-Jackson
- 44 Pereira
Match Stats
Live Text Commentary
Full Time Match ends, Stoke City 2, Manchester United 0.
90:00 +3:06 Full timeFull Time Second Half ends, Stoke City 2, Manchester United 0.
90:00 +1:27Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90:00 +1:27Foul by Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City).
90:00 +0:34Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Jack Butland.
90:00 +0:32Attempt saved. Juan Mata (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Wayne Rooney.
88:05Chris Smalling (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88:05Foul by Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City).
85:12Attempt saved. Bojan (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Charlie Adam.
84:39Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Jack Butland.
84:37Attempt saved. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Andreas Pereira.
83:09Attempt missed. Charlie Adam (Stoke City) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
82:54 BookingBooking Andreas Pereira (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
82:48Foul by Andreas Pereira (Manchester United).
82:48Ibrahim Afellay (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
81:32 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Manchester United. Andreas Pereira replaces Ander Herrera.
81:15Attempt missed. Charlie Adam (Stoke City) left footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.
80:11Foul by Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
80:11Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
75:39Foul by Phil Jones (Manchester United).
Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
74:26Attempt missed. Ibrahim Afellay (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Bojan.
74:08 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Stoke City. Charlie Adam replaces Geoff Cameron.
73:07Foul by Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
73:07Bojan (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
72:04Ashley Young (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
72:04Foul by Erik Pieters (Stoke City).
71:20Attempt blocked. Ander Herrera (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Marouane Fellaini.
70:32Ander Herrera (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
70:32Foul by Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City).
67:27Attempt missed. Ibrahim Afellay (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mame Biram Diouf.
67:02Hand ball by Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City).
65:28Attempt missed. Ander Herrera (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
64:53Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Jack Butland.
64:29 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Stoke City. Mame Biram Diouf replaces Xherdan Shaqiri.
63:55Hand ball by Erik Pieters (Stoke City).
63:17Attempt saved. Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Wayne Rooney.
62:26Delay over. They are ready to continue.
62:06Delay in match Anthony Martial (Manchester United) because of an injury.
60:18Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Glen Johnson.
59:03Offside, Stoke City. Glen Johnson tries a through ball, but Xherdan Shaqiri is caught offside.
57:40Offside, Manchester United. Ashley Young tries a through ball, but Wayne Rooney is caught offside.
57:12Juan Mata (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
57:12Foul by Philipp Wollscheid (Stoke City).
55:59Foul by Ashley Young (Manchester United).
55:59Bojan (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
54:06Foul by Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).
54:06Philipp Wollscheid (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
51:02Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Philipp Wollscheid.
48:31 BookingBooking Bojan (Stoke City) is shown the yellow card.
48:27Bojan (Stoke City) has gone down, but that's a dive.
46:37Hand ball by Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United).
45:59Ander Herrera (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
45:59Foul by Marco Van Ginkel (Stoke City).
45:00Second Half begins Stoke City 2, Manchester United 0.
45:00 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Manchester United. Wayne Rooney replaces Memphis Depay.
45:00 SubstitutionSubstitution Substitution, Stoke City. Marco Van Ginkel replaces Glenn Whelan.
45:00 +3:08 Half timeHalf Time First Half ends, Stoke City 2, Manchester United 0.
45:00 +1:28Foul by Philipp Wollscheid (Stoke City).
45:00 +1:28Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
43:30Foul by Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United).
43:30Philipp Wollscheid (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
43:06Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Ryan Shawcross.
42:54Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Ryan Shawcross.
41:01Delay over. They are ready to continue.
39:57Delay in match Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) because of an injury.
39:48Attempt missed. Anthony Martial (Manchester United) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right.
38:11Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Erik Pieters.
37:35Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Erik Pieters.
36:08Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Philipp Wollscheid.
35:50Attempt blocked. Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Anthony Martial.
35:03Attempt missed. Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Bojan with a through ball.
33:12Bojan (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
33:12Foul by Daley Blind (Manchester United).
32:27Delay over. They are ready to continue.
31:24Delay in match Erik Pieters (Stoke City) because of an injury.
30:36Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Philipp Wollscheid.
27:59Attempt saved. Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
27:57Attempt saved. Memphis Depay (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
27:12Foul by Geoff Cameron (Stoke City).
27:12Memphis Depay (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
27:05Foul by Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City).
27:05Ander Herrera (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
25:07 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Stoke City 2, Manchester United 0. Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner following a set piece situation.
25:03Attempt blocked. Bojan (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
24:07 BookingBooking Ashley Young (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.
24:01Hand ball by Ashley Young (Manchester United).
22:50Offside, Stoke City. Erik Pieters tries a through ball, but Marko Arnautovic is caught offside.
22:49Attempt blocked. Erik Pieters (Stoke City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bojan with a through ball.
21:45Hand ball by Memphis Depay (Manchester United).
18:46 Goal scoredGoal! Goal! Stoke City 1, Manchester United 0. Bojan (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Glen Johnson.
16:38Foul by Bojan (Stoke City).
16:38Ander Herrera (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
15:47Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Marko Arnautovic.
14:53Attempt missed. Bojan (Stoke City) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
13:58Xherdan Shaqiri (Stoke City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
13:58Foul by Ander Herrera (Manchester United).
11:24Erik Pieters (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
11:24Foul by Ashley Young (Manchester United).
9:44Attempt missed. Marko Arnautovic (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.
8:45Glenn Whelan (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
8:45Foul by Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
7:32Attempt saved. Ander Herrera (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Michael Carrick.
7:17Attempt missed. Memphis Depay (Manchester United) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
5:40Bojan (Stoke City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
5:40Foul by Phil Jones (Manchester United).
5:14Offside, Stoke City. Geoff Cameron tries a through ball, but Marko Arnautovic is caught offside.
4:14Attempt missed. Bojan (Stoke City) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ibrahim Afellay.
2:50Corner, Stoke City. Conceded by Ashley Young.
0:22Hand ball by Juan Mata (Manchester United).
0:00First Half begins.
0:00Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
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