Manchester United 3-1 Sunderland: Daley Blind, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mkhitaryan goals see David Moyes' Old Trafford return end in misery

Daily Mail | December 26, 2016

Manchester United recorded their fourth-straight win in the Premier League with a dominant victory over Sunderland in David Moyes' Old Trafford return.

Daley Blind fired the hosts ahead on 39 minutes with a low left-footed strike arrowed into the visitors' bottom corner after being set up by Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Ibrahimovic turned goalscorer himself on 82 minutes with a close-range finish before substitute Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored an outrageous backheel flick - albeit from an offside position.

Fabio Borini pulled one back for the visitors injury time with a stunning volley from outside the penalty area.

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Daley Blind roars with delight after firing Manchester United ahead against Sunderland on Boxing Day

Blind timed his run well into the penalty box from left back to fire home on 39 minutes with this strike

The Holland international's effort was so precise it found the bottom corner of Sunderland stopper Jordan Pickford's net

Blind was duly congratulated by his team-mates as they bid to close the gap on the top four

Both teams walk out on to the pitch for the start of their Boxing Day festivity on Monday afternoon

All eyes were on Sunderland boss David Moyes who returned to the club he managed for 10 months in April 2014

Moyes shakes the hand of United boss Jose Mourinho before they both took their place in their dugouts

Moyes greets a Red Devils supporter before taking his seat at Old Trafford for the Premier League clash

Sunderland forward Fabio Borini (left) plays a pass under pressure from United full back Antonio Valencia

Jesse Lingard (left) and Didier Ndong stretch out a leg each to battle for the ball in the middle of the pitch

Phil Jones (left) rises high to head away a ball as Sunderland look towards captain Jermain Defoe

Red Devils goalkeeper David de Gea flies to his right to make a great save to keep the scoreline goalless in the first half

The hosts felt they should've been awarded a penalty early on when Juan Mata was barged by Lamine Koneu00a0 — The hosts felt they should've been awarded a penalty early on when Juan Mata was barged by Lamine Kone

Borini tries his luck from close range but is denied by De Gea with the goal gaping shortly afterwards

Defoe controls the ball in the middle of the pitch as Sunderland look to go on the attack at Old Trafford

Mourinho watches on from the sidelines as his United side mount some pressure on the Sunderland defence

World-record signing Paul Pogba (right) came close to breaking the deadlock for United in the first half with this volley

The France international was close to scoring at the start of the second half too but his header just flew over the crossbar

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (right) comes close to doubling United's lead but is denied by a brilliant save from Jordan Pickford

There was a welcome sight for United midway through the second half when fit-again Henrikhu00a0Mkhitaryan (centre) came onu00a0 — There was a welcome sight for United midway through the second half when fit-again Henrikh Mkhitaryan (centre) came on