David Moyes made an unhappy return to Old Trafford as Manchester United continued their winning run with a 3-1 victory over Sunderland.
Moyes’ side frustrated the hosts until Daley Blind broke the deadlock six minutes before half-time and nerves were calmed when Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted a second in the 82nd minute.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan marked his return from injury with an impudent third while Fabio Borini’s 90th-minute volley was spectacular but ultimately meaningless.
It has taken the world record signing time to find his consistency in the Premier League but he has become the key figure in United’s side. Pogba was at the heart of everything Jose Mourinho’s side did, spraying passes to both wings and finding space in attacking areas. The only thing missing was a goal and it was not for the want of trying.
Mkhitaryan made his return from two games out with an ankle injury as a 62nd-minute substitute and immediately picked up where he left off. His goal was a piece of magic. Ibrahimovic’s cross was behind the Armenian but, raising his leg behind him and throwing himself forward, he somehow flicked the ball into the top corner. Pointing out he was offside would be churlish.
Mourinho brought in Blind for Matteo Darmian and was handsomely rewarded as United made it four Premier League wins in a row. Ibrahimovic’s goal, which was just reward for United’s dominance, calmed the nerves after a decent spell of pressure from Sunderland. Moyes set his side up to try and frustrate his former employers and then throw men forward when the chance arose. But Blind’s goal came at the wrong time and it was not until late in the second half that they began to threaten again.
