Manchester United put in arguably their best performance of the season with a rampaging 3-0 win over Stoke City at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Louis van Gaal's side played with a freedom and fluidity not seen earlier in the campaign and it paid dividends with a convincing win over the Potters the result.
Jesse Lingard got United off to a quick start when he got on the end of Cameron Borthwick-Jackson's lovely low cross form the left, diving to meet the ball to head home in the 14th minute.
Soon enough the home side were two goals ahead when Wayne Rooney found Anthony Martial on the edge of the area, allowing the Frenchman to control, pick his spot, and curl in a lovely effort beyond Jack Butland.
United wrapped up proceedings eight minutes into the second half with a beautiful move that saw Juan Mata release Martial down the left and the summer signing supplied a pinpoint delivery for Rooney to slot home from close range.
The win saw the Red Devils remain fifth on the table, where they sit five points behind Arsenal, while Mark Hughes' Stoke dropped to 10th with a second loss in a row.
MATCH OVERVIEW
Manchester United: 3 (Jesse Lingard 14', Anthony Martial 23', Wayne Rooney 53')
Stoke City: 0
Old Trafford, Manchester - 75,234
TALKING POINTS
- Can this be the catalyst for Man Utd to kick on and push towards the title? Well at least the top four…A much better performance. LVG to allow the team to play with freedom from now on?
- Disappointing result for Stoke. Are they too inconsistent? Does Hughes need to marry his style with a little bit more defensive structure if they want to seriously establish themselves as a top-half team?
WHAT'S NEXT?
Man Utd head to Chelsea on Sunday as Stoke get set to host Everton on Saturday.
TWITTER INSIGHT
Great result tonight pic.twitter.com/MnDf1k89OL
— Anthony Martial (@AnthonyMartial) February 3, 2016
@ManUtdpic.twitter.com/hdxJSZCGdQ
— Juan Mata García (@juanmata8) February 3, 2016
QUOTES CORNER
Man Utd boss van Gaal on his side's display:
"The players have made a great performance.
"They performed well not only defensively but now also attackingly because we have created a lot of chances and we have made fantastic finishing of team goals.
"That is what I like to see. I am pleased. The finishing was also very good."
Stoke's Hughes on the loss:
"The worst thing that can happen at Old Trafford is to concede early," Hughes said.
"We talked about it before the game and that is what happened. Our performances are a bit erratic.
"The difference is marked so we have to look at it and see why that happened."
STATS SPECIALS
*Thanks to Opta
3 - Manchester United have scored their third first half PL home goal of the season (the first since September). Bonanza.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 2, 2016
99 - Wayne Rooney has now scored 99 Premier League goals at Old Trafford. Balloons.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 2, 2016
6 - Wayne Rooney has scored (4) or assisted (2) six PL goals in five games in 2016. Back.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 2, 2016
