Manchester United will end the current Premier League round top for the first time since Six Alex Ferguson made the club champions in May 2013 following this stroll of a victory over Sunderland.


United have led the competition three times since Ferguson retired, but only due to playing before other sides and were subsequently overtaken. Now, Louis van Gaal’s team will spend at least a week as the leaders and as Wayne Rooney ended his league drought on 999 minutes with United’s second this was a satisfying day all-round.


Given Manchester City’s September capitulation – they are to close the month with only one league victory – and Chelsea’s struggles, United deserve to be at the summit, and deserve to be taken seriously as real contenders to claim a 21st title.