Roll on New Year's Eve!
Thanks for joining us today - we'll be back with live coverage of Middlesbrough's visit to Old Trafford on Saturday, New Year's Eve, as the Reds look to maintain the current run of good form.
Jose's verdict on the win
Read and watch what the manager had to say to MUTV after the 3-1 success over Sunderland.
Congratulations, Zlatan!
Man-of-the-Match options
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba and Antonio Valencia are MUTV's options for Man of the Match. Vote now on Twitter.
Zlatan influential again
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Arsenal needed an 86th-minute winner by Olivier Giroud to see off West Brom while Chelsea cruised past Bournemouth 3-0. West Ham, United's first opponents of 2017, won 4-1 at struggling Swansea, Burnley beat our next visitors here, Middlesbrough, 1-0 and Everton defeated champions Leicester 2-0.
Full-time
FT: United 3 Sunderland 1. The Reds make it four wins in the league on the spin after Blind's opener is added to with second-half goals by Ibrahimovic and Mkhitaryan. Borini's consolation was simply that for David Moyes's men.
94: Ibrahimovic's free-kick whistles through the wall and approaches the goal with real power but Pickford gets down to save - and hold it.
Yellow card - Lamine Kone
93: Kone is booked for a cynical foul on Mkhitaryan as the Armenian raced clean through on goal again. It could easily have been red but Martin Atkinson was lenient.
92: We are deep into the three minutes of injury time and that strike cannot take the gloss off another fine win for United.
Goal - Fabio Borini
90+1: Fabio Borini pulls one back with a tremendous dipping volleythat ruins De Gea's clean sheet by nestling in the far corner of the net. 3-1.
88: That piece of skill was further evidence of what we already knew - Henrikh Mkhitaryan is made for Manchester United. After being flagged offside when going through again, he is afforded a fine ovation when later taking a corner. Pogba heads over from the flag-kick.
Substitution
86: Donald Love, a former Red, comes on for Didier Ndong.
86: What a goal! Mkhitayran converts Ibrahimovic's centre with the most audacious of flicks. This is a strike that will be replayed again and again. He may have been slightly offside but it was stunning!
Goal - Henrikh Mkhitaryan
84: United needed that second goal and it was expertly taken by Zlatan, who now has 11 in his last 10 games for the club.
Substitution
84: Marouane Fellaini enters the fray, in place of Ander Herrera.
Substitution
82: Wahbi Khazri is on for Henrik Larsson.
81: Ibrahimovic stayed onside to collect Pogba's through ball after the Frenchman robbed Didier Ndong in midfield. It was a calm finish as he drew Pickford before slipping home superbly.
Goal - Zlatan Ibrahimovic
79: Valencia zips past Larsson but Ibrahimovic hangs out a leg and succeeds in only diverting the ball tamely to Pickford.
78: Borini buys a free-kick from Martial which Mourinho suggests is a blatant dive.
75: Martial latches onto Pogba's astute through ball but is given offside. 75,325 is today's attendance.
Substitution
74: Anthony Martial is on for Mata for the final quarter of an hour or so.
71: An offside flags ends a dangerous attack by the visitors after Carrick got an important touch in his own box. Sunderland are getting up another head of steam after being under the cosh.
Zlatan competes for the ball
68: United are really pressing for a second goal now. The Black Cats are struggling to get out of their own half but are hanging on.
Herrera in control
65: Ibrahimovic should have doubled the lead but fires too close to Pickford afer being wonderfully fed by Mkhitaryan. The Swede then fails in an appeal for a penalty but it was a glorious chance.
64: Ibrahimovic and Pogba do well on the right but Mata's shot is blocked at source from the Frenchman's cross. Sunderland win a corner at the other end.
63: Almost an instant impact as Mkhitaryan controls a fine pass by Mata and bends his right-footed drive just the wrong side of the far post.
Substitution
62: Mkhitaryan comes on to a great ovation, in place of Lingard, who did seem to be struggling with a knock.
Yellow card - Fabio Borini
61: Borini is cautioned for a foul on Herrera in midfield.
60: Henrikh Mkhitaryan is preparing to come on as a substitute.
59: It's gone a bit scrappy here. Lingard played Ibrahimovic through but he was stopped in his tracks. A second goal would surely clinch it for the Reds but Sunderland are still in this game.
57: Sunderland enjoy their best spell since the interval but Blind makes a timely interception and United carry the ball forward.
Rojo on the ball
52: Phil Jones deals with Defoe competently - the defender has continued his impressive form today. Ibrahimovic then profits from some neat play by Mata but fires over the top.
49: Lingard plays in Herrera but Djilobodji is across to snuff out the danger, at the expense of a corner. When the ball is worked back into the area, Pogba rises but heads too high.
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Chelsea now lead Bournemouth 2-0 thanks to an Eden Hazard penalty. West Ham are also 2-0 up at Swansea.
47: Ibrahimovic wins the ball well and picks out Pogba but the momentum is lost and, via Liingard, the shot comes from Herrera and is wide.
46: Pogba's outrageous pass finds Valencia and the cross is an accurate one but Ibrahimovic miskicks. Pogba, who has started the half in majestic fashion, forces a routine stop out of Pickford.
Match Restarts
Match Restarts
46: The second half gets under way through Ibrahimovic.
Match Restarts
Reds in front
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It's been quiet in the 3pm kick-offs with only two other goals up and down the country. Pedro has put leaders Chelsea 1-0 up on Bournemouth while West Ham are in front at Swansea City, thanks to Andre Ayew's goal against old club.
Pogba hits the woodwork
Half-time
HT: United 1 Sunderland 0. Blind's goal separates the two sides but the Black Cats' display has belied their lowly league position and there is still much work to be done to get the three points.
45+3: Mata's set-piece works Pickford, who dives to his right to push the shot to safety,
45+2: An intricate move ends with Ibrahimovic wedging a ball through to Pogba, who turns and shoots but Pickford saves well. A free-kick is now awarded for a foul on Mata.
45: Three minutes of stoppage time will be played. Still 1-0 to United.
Valencia in good form
42: Anichebe catches Ibrahimovic inside the box but play continues and Lingard fires over the bar.
41: "1-0 and you still don't sing" taunt the away fans. The response is: "1-0 and you're going down!"
40: United lead 1-0 thanks to Blind's assured finish, arriving on to Ibrahimovic's well-timed pass and beating Pickford in style. It's the Dutchman's first goal of the season.
Goal - Daley Blind
39: Goal! Daley Blind collects Ibrahimovic's pass and rifles in the opener!
Mata chases the ball
37: Pogba tries a volley that dips just too late after a cross was cleared to the record buy. It's good to see him getting forward like this.
36: Pogba breaks but the move comes to nothing. Sunderland are growing in confidence and have not been too severely tested at the back yet while they're finding their front players with relative ease.
Aerial challenge
34: Borini is afforded too much space and gets in a deflected shot that, fortunately, powers straight through to De Gea's grateful clutches.
31: Larsson drifts a free-kick into the Stretford End. It's still goalless but both teams have had a chance to score in the past few minutes.
29: Sunderland nearly break the deadlock against the run of play. Anichebe's shot was blocked by De Gea at close range and Borini miskicked the rebound. A warning sign.
27: Pogba does muster the first real effort from United but it deflects onto the left-hand post with Pickford beaten. The corner comes to nothing but that was close!
26: Mata had the ball on the edge of the box and must have had around seven defenders around him. Breaking the Black Cats down is proving tricky.
24: The boss gives Carrick some instructions as he prepares to take a throw-in. You feel the midfielder is key here as his passing can find gaps in the packed Sunderland rearguard.
21: Lamine Kone clatters in to Mata as the pair chase a Valencia pass inside the box. There are justifiable shouts for a penalty but referee Atkinson allows play to continue.
Yellow card - Daley Blind
19: Blind goes into the book for a careless shove on Anichebe on the edge of the box. Van Aanholt's free-kick is on target but De Gea dives to save.
18: Herrera helps the ball into the box and Phil Jones meets it with a header but there is no real danger and Pickford collects. A quick punt upfield finds Defoe, who shoots off target from an ambitious distance.
17: Excellent defending by Valencia who beats Patrick van Aanholt with ease and keeps possession. The Ecuador international then bursts up the other end to cross and win a corner.
15: Lingard pulls off a nutmeg close to the left touchline but Sunderland mop up the threat. Ibrahimovic is heavily involved as the Reds recover the ball and maintain some pressure.
13: Fabio Borini gets behind Blind to run onto a ball down the line by Billy Jones. The first corner of the afternoon goes to the Wearsiders and it's cleared after a couple of attempted shots.
12: After a lengthy stoppage, Anichebe comes back on but he is holding his shoulder. United will look to start building momentum all over again.
9: Victor Anichebe is down after an aerial duel with Phil Jones. The former Everton man is receiving treatment.
8: Carrick's precise passing and the fact Mata and Lingard are finding pockets of space spells trouble for the Black Cats. Carrick has a shot that hits Herrera and rolls out for a goal-kick.
5: Pogba spins inside the box and warms the hands of Jordan Pickford with his cross. Papy Djilobodji clears but you get the impression the keeper is in for a busy afternoon.
3: Marcos Rojo finds Ibrahimovic with a hefty clearance and the Swede feeds Lingard but the midfielder's pass is overhit towards Paul Pogba.
2: A fast and furious start with Ibrahimovic ignoring a decent run down the left by Lingard, who has begun on that flank as expected. United are looking positive already.
Match Started
Kick-off
1: The game kicks off to a chorus from the away fans of 'David Moyes' red-and-white army' - United's support drowns that out and the Reds immediately win a throw-in.
Match Started
Lingard okay
Jesse Lingard is still part of the line-up so he must have been deemed fit enough to start, despite that slight worry as he left the field. David Moyes shakes hands with Fred the Red and Jose Mourinho as he makes his way to the dug-out.
Kick-off approaches
The two sets of teams have re-emerged from the tunnel to a rousing reception. It's fair to say everybody is looking forward to this festive clash with added relish.
Ready for action
The players going through their paces earlier...
Lingard concern
A quarter of an hour to go before kick-off and the players have returned to the warmth of the dressing room. Jesse Lingard appeared to be having a minor injury problem as he left the field with Marcus Rashford. Let's hope he's okay.
Man in the middle
Martin Atkinson is today's referee while Sunderland will play in all-white strip. Michael Carrick and Jermain Defoe, former team-mates at West Ham, are the two captains.
De Gea heads off
As usual, David De Gea returns to the dressing room ahead of his colleagues. The rest of the team are engaging in a game of 'boxes' while the subs work separately. Closer to us in the press box, visiting keeper Jordan Pickford is practising his kicking.
Rivals Watch
The first top-flight fixture of the day has ended Watford 1 Crystal Palace 1. Troy Deeney's penalty in the second half rescued a point for the Hornets.
Players warming up
The two sets of players are out warming up and they'll need to as it's windy and more than a little bit chilly at Old Trafford. The Reds came out to a huge roar from the Stretford End.
Shaw backs colleagues
Luke Shaw on Twitter: "Good luck today, lads!" #MUFC
Rooney injured
Jose Mourinho has confirmed Wayne Rooney 'felt something' in training and was not risked for today's game with more matches on the horizon.
Fans streaming into Old Trafford
The view from outside the ground...
Former Reds involved
There are two former Reds on the bench for Sunderland - John O'Shea and Donald Love. Adnan Januzaj is ineligible due to his loan from Old Trafford. David Moyes, like Jose Mourinho, has made two alterations to his XI.
Black Cats' team
Sunderland: Pickford; Jones, Djilobodji, Kone, van Aanholt; Denayer, Ndong; Borini, Larsson, Anichebe; Defoe. Subs: Mannone, Love, O'Shea, Embleton, Khazri, Honeyman, Asoro.
4-3-3 the likely formation
We're expecting a 4-3-3 formation today with Zlatan Ibrahimovic spearheading an attack that also contains Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard as the wide players. Paul Pogba looks set to form part of a midfield three with Ander Herrera and Michael Carrick.
Two changes
Daley Blind and Juan Mata come into the side for Matteo Darmian and Wayne Rooney, who is not in the squad. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is back from injury and on the bench.
United's line-up
United: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Blind; Carrick, Herrera, Pogba; Mata, Lingard; Ibrahimovic. Subs: Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Fellaini, Mkhitaryan, Martial, Rashford.
Team news imminent
The two sides will be announced in 10 minutes' time - find out who Jose Mourinho has picked for today's encounter.
Paddy's memories
Paddy Crerand, in his programme column, writes: "I love coming to Boxing Day matches - provided I'm not too delicate from the day before. When I was a player we often faced the same team twice in a few days and I'll never forget losing 6-1 away at Burnley and then beating them 5-1 two days later here at Old Trafford. That shows the crazy nature of results over the festive period."
Super keeper
At the other end of the pitch, David De Gea will be striving to keep another clean sheet. Here's a pic of him arriving with Marcos Rojo.
Players arrive
The players are here - Zlatan Ibrahimovic is expected to be leading the line again against a team that tried to sign him during Peter Reid's reign.
Festive feeling
There's a great atmosphere around the ground today, as you would expect. Hopes are high the Reds will put on a show this afternoon.
Manager's programme notes
In his manager's notes, Jose writes: "Good afternoon and welcome back to Old Trafford. I would like to wish all our supporters a very merry Christmas. I hope you all had a great day yesterday and I am delighted that the players did their bit to make it an enjoyable festive period for you by winning at Crystal Palace and West Brom."
Rivals Watch
The early game has reached the halfway stage with Crystal Palace, managed by Sam Allardyce for the first time, 1-0 up at Watford. Yohan Cabaye scored the goal and Christian Benteke has also missed a penalty for the Eagles.
Rivals Watch
Sixteen of the 20 Premier League teams are in action today - Spurs, who are directly above United in the table, do not play until Wednesday with Southampton providing the opposition. Leaders Chelsea face Bournemouth at 15:00 GMT with Manchester City's trip to Hull City the late kick-off.
Latest standings
United are in sixth spot in the Premier League, three points behind Tottenham, while Sunderland sit third from bottom, three points adrift of 17th-placed Burnley.
In-form Ibrahimovic
Since the start of November, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has scored seven Premier League goals from only eight shots on target.
Welcome to Old Trafford
United face Sunderland this afternoon (15:00 GMT kick-off) with David Moyes returning to Old Trafford as manager of the Black Cats. We'll have all the build-up, the team news and live commentary on the action. Let's hope the festive mood continues with the Reds securing another three points.
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