Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League pile for the first time in two years on the weekend.
Louis van Gaal's Red Devils produced a 3-0 victory over bottom-placed Sunderland at Old Trafford to leapfrog crosstown rivals Manchester City who relinquished top after losing 4-1 at Tottenham earlier on Saturday.
Memphis Depay opened his Premier League account when finishing a Juan Mata pass from close range in stoppage time of the first half before Wayne Rooney ended an 11-game scoring drought when kneeing home Anthony Martial's cut-back pass after a forceful run from the Frenchman.
Mata wrapped it up in the 90th minute when rifling home Ashley Young's cross to send United to pole position while leaving Dick Advocaat's Black Cats at the foot of the standings.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Manchester United: 3 (Memphis Depay 45+4', Wayne Rooney 46', Juan Mata 90')
Sunderland: 0
Old Trafford, Manchester - 75,328
TALKING POINTS
- Are United good enough to seriously challenge? Or have they just made the most of slip-ups from the other contenders?
- Where can Sunderland go from here? Two points from seven matches simply not good enough.
WHAT'S NEXT?
United proper for Wolfsburg in the Champions League on Wednesday night before travelling to Arsenal on Sunday. Sunderland will be striving for their first win when they host third-placed West Ham United at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
TWITTER INSIGHT
My first Premier League goal, feels good. Hopefully many more to come! pic.twitter.com/26bv3XBhTl
— Memphis (@Memphis) September 27, 2015Happy days! @ManUtdpic.twitter.com/sOBF3U1N8S
— Juan Mata García (@juanmata8) September 26, 2015
QUOTES CORNER
Man Utd's van Gaal on moving to top spot:
"Last season at this stage I think we were in 13th position in the league table, so I'm a happy coach."
Sunderland boss Advocaat on his side's horrid start:
"We have a lot of games to go but we have to think about how we change things in the squad, as players."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
171 - Wayne Rooney has now scored 171 league goals for Man Utd; level with Denis Law in the all-time Man Utd league goalscorers chart. Ace.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 26, 20155 - Juan Mata has either scored or assisted in five of his last six Premier League appearances (three assists, two goals). Influence.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 26, 2015
TEAM LEADERS
MAN UTD
Goals - Juan Mata, Anthony Martial 3
Assists - Juan Mata 3
Clean sheets - Sergio Romero 3
Yellow cards - Matteo Darmian 3
SUNDERLAND
Goals - Jermain Defoe 2
Assists - Jeremain Lens 2
Yellow cards - Billy Jones 4
Red cards - Younes Kaboul 1
