Mourinho’s side carve out dominant 3- 0 win

Manchester ( United Kingdom), Jan. 16: Manchester United took time off from their pursuit of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez to coast to a comfortable 3- 0 victory against Stoke at Old Trafford on Monday.

Antonio Valencia and Anthony Martial in the first half, and Romelu Lukaku after the break, were on the scoresheet as Jose Mourinho finally beat struggling Stoke as United manager at the fourth time of asking.

But this performance, and numerous missed chances, still gave Mourinho plenty of evidence he needs to add Sanchez to his squad during the January transfer window, despite cutting neighbours Manchester City’s lead at the top of the Premier League table to 12 points after their unbeaten league run was ended by Liverpool on Sunday.

“Obviously we see Manchester City in front of us and they lost,” United’s Paul Pogba told Sky Sports adding: “They are first so we always want to catch them, so it was good that they lost, so for us we have to think about ourselves.” The right- back received a pass after good work outside the area from Pogba and darted into the box, running at teenage defender Joshua Tymon, starting just the second league game of his career.

Valencia was given room to advance before firing past the dive of Jack Butland from 16 yards out with a left- foot shot — something of a collector’s item. Tymon was also at fault for United’s second, after 38 minutes, losing the ball to Lukaku before he in turn pulled it back for Pogba.

The French midfielder spotted compatriot Martial lurking unmarked on the edge of the Stoke area and his pass allowed the forward to place a magnificent strike into the top corner of the visitors’ net.