Sunderland 0-3 Manchester United (Ibrahimovic on target as United lead against 10 men Sunderland)

Manchester United took on Sunderland in the premier league gmae on Sunday and they were missing several key players including keeper David De Gea, Carrick, Rashford, Martial and Smalling. But United started stronger and took the lead in 30th minute when Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored with an absolute class far post effort to make it 1-0 for United. Sunderland day went from bad to worse when Sebastian Larsson saw a straight red for reckless challenge on Ander Herrera.

Sunderland 0-1 Manchester United Highlights
[ English Premier league 2017 Match ]
30′ 0 – 1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores yet another stunning goal to put United in lead. He recieved the ball on the edge of the box and cut inside before unleashing superb far post effort.
43′ [ Red Card ] Sebastian Larsson was sent off for a reckless challenge on Ander Herrera.

Jose Mourinho is finally getting their fine tuning Manchester United to his principles as they have won three consecutive league games last week. Now they face Sunderland and Middlesbrough in back to back home games followed by away fixture against West Ham United. Three more wins will put them on 39 points and if other top 4 hopefulls drop points United are right back into the mix. Having said that they need to consistantly win home matches which they have been unable to do in first half of the season.

third from bottom club Sunderland go into the game 3 points behind 15th placed Leicester City and although they lost against Chelsea last weekend they made it very difficult for them to close to game. Mourinho will be hoping Zlatan Ibrahimovic keeps his scoring run and United close the game early and have to deal with anxious last 10-15 minutes.

Manchester United 3-1 Sunderland – 26 December 2016
[ English Premier League 2016-17 match ]
39′ 1 – 0 Daley Blind scored in 39th minute of the game after Ibrahimovic played a superb pass on the patch of on rushing Blind who after neat first touch slotted home far bottom corner with a nice left footed shot.
82′ 2 – 0 Zlatan Ibrahimovic made it 2-0 in 82nd minute of the game when Pogba sent him through on goal.
86′ 3 – 0 Henrik Mkhitaryan scored what was a sublime backheel on Ibrahimovic’s cross
90′ 3 – 1 Fabio Borini

Team News & Lineups: United will be still without Ashley Young and Bastian Schweinsteiger along with longterm absentees like Shaw, Rojo and Valencia. Sunderland on the other hand will be without Younis Kaboul, Larsson, Jermain Lens and of course Adam Johnson making their starting lineup quite light-weight. This is how I expect both teams to lineup on Saturday.

Predictions: The last time United played Sunderland everything was rosy with United cruising to 3-0 win Memphis, Rooney and Mata on target and United going top of the table. But things are not the same anymore, Manchester United are haunted by the fear of defeat every week and they are failing to replicate their talent on the pitch with constant rumours of Van Gaal getting the sack by any minute after every passing defeat. This might very well be the case on Saturday and I expect Sunderland to put up a good fight. But I think United have too much quality to not win this game, I am going with a 2-1 win for United.

Wahbi Khazri put Sunderland 1-0 up in just first three minutes to put Manchester United under massive pressure. A direct long freekick found its way into United goal.

Anthony Martial scored his 10th goal of the season for Manchester United to bright United back into the game just before the break. A rebound from Mata’s shot fell in a difficult angle for Martial but his superb chip finish beat the keeper at near post.

Sunderland 2-1 Manchester United – Match Highlights
[ Premier League, Saturday, 13th February 2016 ]

1. Wahbi Khazri’s long range freekick found its way into United goal to put Sunderland in early lead:
2. Anthony Martial made it 1-1 with a superb finish on a rebound:
3. Lamine Kone’s late header wins the game for Sunderland: