Zlatan Ibrahimovic was again at his irrepressible best with another double earning Jose Mourinho's increasingly confident Manchester United a 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League on Saturday.
The 35-year-old Swede told the TV cameras beforehand that he felt as sprightly as a 20-year-old kid before going out and silencing the Hawthorns within five minutes when nodding home Jesse Lingard's superb half-volleyed cross.
Wayne Rooney was denied the chance to equal Bobby Charlton's all-time United record of 249 goals when his 23rd-minute shot was tipped brilliantly on to the bar by Ben Foster.
After Lingard volleyed another chance high and wide just before halftime, Ibrahimovic sealed the win in the 56th minute, skipping between two defenders before firing a deflected shot into the corner for his 16th goal of the season in all competitions.
It was the first time since the start of the season that sixth-placed United had strung together four wins in a row and it thrust them on to the same points total as Tottenham Hotspur who are fifth.
Sunderland off bottom as Van Aanholt sinks Watford
Sunderland clambered off the bottom of the Premier League after Patrick van Aanholt's second-half goal secured what manager David Moyes described as a "massive" 1-0 victory over Watford at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
The Dutch defender finished off a rare move of quality four minutes after the break, poking a shot past keeper Heurelho Gomes after being found in the area by Jermain Defoe
The win moved Sunderland above Swansea City and Hull City, leaving them a point behind fourth from bottom Crystal Palace.
"I thought it was a massive win," said Moyes. "It was one of the games you look at and say, yeah we need to try and win it.
"It wasn't the prettiest but we have to try and grind out wins and some will be more ugly than I would like."
Sunderland grew in confidence after taking the lead and Victor Anichebe went close to doubling their lead with a piledriver that flew just wide.
"The second half we looked a bit more like it," said Moyes whose side travel to Manchester United on Boxing Day.
Troy Deeney wasted a chance to level for Watford but Sunderland held out for their third home win of the season.
Watford manager Walter Mazzarri was unhappy with his side's display as they lost for a fourth time in five matches.
"I'm very angry. We missed many chances in the first half and we gave them the goal easily," he said.
"Sometimes you make mistakes but it's only our fault. I've spoken with the guys, they know what they did, and we will have to sort it out."
