Goals from Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko saw Manchester United beat Aston Villa 3 - 1 in what turned out to be a comfortable afternoon at Old Trafford. The result sees United go three clear of Villa at third, while Michael Carrick maintains his 100% record at home as a United manager.
After a first half filled with half-chances and wasteful United finishing, Casemiro opened the scoring in the 53rd minute, running onto a Bruno Fernandes corner at the near post, and glancing brilliantly home. The goal came after a spell of pressure from kickoff that had United pegging Villa back into their half.
Unai Emery's men clawed their way back with a superb goal, rather out of nowhere, when Ross Barkley seized onto a Digne ball across the face of the box after United clear a corner and passed it into the back of the net in the 64th minute.
With Villa battling, United then countered brilliantly just seven minutes later as Fernandes unleashed Cunha in behind one-on-one with Emiliano Martínez and the Brazilian took a touch before shooting calmly into the bottom corner.
United took control again, and super-sub Sesko made it three after Villa failed to clear a low Cunha cross and the big striker seized on the ball pinballing around the area and stroked it into goal.
United now travel to Bournemouth for a late kickoff on Friday night while Villa host Lille for their Europe League Ro16 second leg before hosting West Ham United on Sunday afternoon.
You can relive all the action right here: