Manchester United returned to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable 4-0 victory against Roy Keane's Sunderland. Goals from Wayne Rooney, Louis Saha and a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo were more than enough to give the Red Devils three valuable points that see them leap-frog Arsenal to the top of the festive tree.
Sir Alex Ferguson felt comfortable in starting without the likes of Ryan Giggs, Andersen and Carlos Tevez and his judgement proved correct as the Champions cruised to an easy win in the North East.
The deadlock was broken on 20 minutes thanks to a well-taken 18-yard finish from Wayne Rooney and, from there, you sensed no way back for the Black Cats.
Rooney, superb throughout, then turned provider for United's second as he found Louis Saha who fired home an excellent volley to double the lead.
Sunderland had got off to a promising start but they lost all belief when Rooney opened the scoring and the result was beyond doubt before the interval as Ronaldo curled home a free-kick.
The home side looked content to sit on their three goal disadvantage after the interval but United managed to rub more salt into their festive wounds with as Saha fired home from the penalty-spot after Danny Colling brought down Nani.
This was an excellent performance from United who oozed class throughout. We go top of the league, for the time being at least, with Arsenal travelling to Portsmouth on Boxing Day night.
Full Time - Sunderland 0-4 Manchester United Attendance - 47,360
manure will top the league for 3 days and then it will be business as usual on Monday
He is right in a way this bad result against Portsmouth is the start of their usual bad run of results. Alot of there players are off to the African Cup of Nations soon so they'll start @#$%& up then but when they all return they'll @#$%& up as a squad.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007:12:26:22:35:53 by ManUnited4Life.
couldnt watch the match but will see extended highlights later. Great day allround it seems.
1) Conformtable commanding display like the champions we are
2) Louis the forgotten man back on scoresheet which can only do his confidence a world of good.
3) Rooney showing us exaclty what he brings to the team.
4) Parky got a good run out after umteen moths.
5) Key players subbed or fully rested.
6) Chelski and the Arsenal dropping points. Livers grabbing victory from the jaws of mediocrity.
Alot of there players are off to the African Cup of Nations soon so they'll start @#$%& up then but when they all return they'll @#$%& up as a squad.
Toure and Eboue.
Eboue wouldn't get into our fully fit side anyway, and we've got 3 defenders to cover for Toure.
You'll need better than the ACON excuses to make yourself feel more comfortable about your lead at the top.
Yep its all excuses. Your great escape against 13th place Tottenham, your draw against 7th place Pompey and not to mention your draw against Newcastle and lose to Boro this month are indications of the beginning of your bad run of results.
But keep it on the hush we want your follow Arsenal supporters to believe that you have a chance at winning the league that way it is more fun when you dont.
at this stage no one has won a thing. Chelsea and Liverpool are still in it. There are 19 games to go and i don't think we have really hit top form yet.
you had a couple of easy games for the last couple of weeks....derby, fulham, sunderland
and dont go on about kolo toure leaving for the anc...as long as we have song, djorou, senderos and gallas fit i think we will be fine....eboue wont be a miss as walcott and hleb and suitable replacements for him
you lot had your bad spell in the beginning of the season...we are having it now and we are only 1 point behind you guys
we could say that you had the easier start to the season. However we have lost 2 games to your one and we are top by a point. We also have taken 7 points from our title challengers. You have taken only 5.
emptyred ah such bitterness - only a few weeks previously you gooners were telling us how you were going to win the league- 7 points clear and all that.
Did it involve beginner mode, fifa 2008 and a playstation 2?
I dont see how man utd have got easier games left. Weve been to all the hard away grounds, just bolton left and they arent the same team anymore. when the top 4 play each other it can go either way. I love man united away because man utd try to play an open game and the outcome will be another arsenal win. I hope scholes plays instead of anderson, even more open. and btw, your 3 games then will be arsenal, blackburn away then chelsea away, you could easily come out of that in 3rd or 4th place in the league.
And now that weve tasted 2nd place and regained top spot, we wont make any silly mistakes, 100% concentration for every game, get van persie back, its only up from here.
empty red is right that nothing is won yet but as YOUR manager said, its important to be top at new years. So happy new years boys, esp you c0(ky negotiator.
enjoy it while you can. As you can see, we are breathing down you neck.
you've got to go the bridge and play liverpuke too. I say we all have ticky ties ahead. But sometimes those are not even the ones that throw us curve balls.
Funny because you have to play Citeh, Chelsea as well as us all away. Now do you still remember the point you had?
All you're doing is making it harder for you and the Goonsyte fans, like always, to come up with excuses for when you dont win the league. Dont worry im sure that if you all put your heads together you can come up with an excuse.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment.
We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals.
We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards.
If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing
abuse@sportnetwork.net