United put Sanchez saga aside to see off Stoke

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.

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

"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."

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

The Old Trafford scenes at full-time... #MUFC pic.twitter.com/b3VSkNjriI

— 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.

? 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

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