"Obviously we see Manchester City in front of us and they lost," United's Paul Pogba told Sky Sports. "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. "It's good that they lose points but we have to go back to winning because we want to catch them again."Read Jose Mourinho's latest comments on the current transfer speculation: https://t.co/KwfOMyZ7LU pic.twitter.com/Y77PJl0Kcv
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 16, 2018
He added: "We're not looking to the past. We're just looking to the future and the next games. "We just want to catch City. We just have to focus on ourselves, keep winning and I think we will be OK." United believe they have won the battle for the £35m rated Sanchez, who is out of contract with Arsenal at the end of the season, especially after City let the Gunners know on Monday that they are no longer interested in Sanchez, given his fee and salary demands.Man of the Match, @ManUtd’s Paul Pogba
Most touches (96) Most chances created (4) Most succ. dribbles (4) 3rd PL app this season with 2 assists (more than any player) Not lost a @premierleague app since 2016 (last 35 apps) pic.twitter.com/US0JQumsQo — Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) January 15, 2018
New Stoke manager Paul Lambert, appointed on the morning of this game, was watching from the stands before officially starting work on Tuesday and must have been unimpressed as United raced into an early lead through Valencia, back in the United line-up after a month out through injury. 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.How much do @ManUtd miss @paulpogba when he doesn't play?
Follow live updates, in-game goals and watch live on @SkySportsPL: https://t.co/RLuzy8m1fu pic.twitter.com/o3UdGPtKfZ — Sky Sports MNF (@SkySportsMNF) January 15, 2018
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. Teenager Tymon's only other start for Stoke was in the recent 5-0 defeat at Chelsea, part of a depressing run that has now seen the Potters gather just four points from a possible 24 - a sequence which left the Potters firmly in the relegation zone and cost Lambert's predecessor Mark Hughes his job.Jose Mourinho gives his post-match verdict to #MUTV following #MUFC's win over Stoke. pic.twitter.com/yRQQLX2j8v
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 15, 2018
Lukaku piled on the misery in the 72nd minute with some physical play in the area, controlling Martial's pass on his chest, holding off a defender and turning to score from 15 yards. In between the two first-half goals, Stoke had some moments of hope with injury-plagued Stephen Ireland, starting a league game for the first time in 996 days, coming close twice in quick succession, placing shots wide from no more than 15 yards. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, who scored twice against United earlier this season in a 2-2 draw, also saw a goalbound shot blocked by Phil Jones.The Old Trafford scenes at full-time... #MUFC pic.twitter.com/b3VSkNjriI
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 15, 2018
But United were back on top immediately after the restart with Butland needing to race from his line to beat Martial to another expert Pogba pass. Substitute Marcus Rashford's clever near-post back-heel was kept out well by Butland and Stoke's Mame Biram Diouf might have claimed a late consolation but for equally excellent goalkeeping from David De Gea. RESULT: Manchester United 3 (Valencia 9, Martial 38, Lukaku 72) Stoke City 0 English Premier League table after Monday's match (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Man City 23 20 2 1 67 17 62 Man Utd 23 15 5 3 48 16 50 Liverpool 23 13 8 2 54 28 47 Chelsea 23 14 5 4 41 16 47 Tottenham 23 13 5 5 46 21 44 Arsenal 23 11 6 6 41 30 39 Burnley 23 9 7 7 19 20 34 Leicester 23 8 7 8 34 32 31 Everton 23 7 6 10 25 38 27 Watford 23 7 5 11 33 42 26 West Ham 23 6 7 10 29 41 25 Crystal Palace 23 6 7 10 21 33 25 Bournemouth 23 6 6 11 24 35 24 Huddersfield 23 6 6 11 19 39 24 Newcastle 23 6 5 12 21 31 23 Brighton 23 5 8 10 17 29 23 Southampton 23 4 9 10 23 34 21 Stoke 23 5 5 13 23 50 20 West Brom 23 3 10 10 18 30 19 Swansea 23 4 5 14 14 35 17? An emotional Eddie Niedzwiecki speaks of his pride and reacts to Stoke City's defeat at @ManUtd.
FREE on Stoke City+ ? https://t.co/swhXHS9zRU#SCFC ?⚪️ pic.twitter.com/x6WiCYEtHI — Stoke City FC (@stokecity) January 15, 2018
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