United looking for a third. First a cross is slightly too high for Anthony Martial and then the teenage striker cannot get on the end of Juan Mata's cut-back. The Spaniard might have been advised to strike himself.

Manchester United's David De Gea is the saviour again. This time it is Patrick van Aanholt who gets in around the back but when the Sunderland left-back approaches the United goal, De Gea saves with his feet again. 

Image source, Getty Images

John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator

"Manchester United are not quite playing with the flow and artistry that we come to associate with them." 

Martin Keown
Former Arsenal defender on Final Score

"To see Manchester United be top of the table tonight, it's quite remarkable, and for City now it seems the wheels are coming off for them."

Manchester United happy to knock the ball around now. Antonio Valencia is seeing plenty of the ball on the right but has not quite delivered so far when it has been given to him. 

Jermain Defoe sits as an interested spectator on the Sunderland bench, although he's reported to have had a hamstring problem. 

The Sunderland corner is cleared at the near post. Wasteful. 

Sunderland pressing higher up the pitch now and win a corner. 

Image source, Getty Images

The free-kick is clipped to the back post, the ball arrives in a bundle of players, drops to the floor and Ola Toivonen pokes towards goal from about two yards out. But guess what? David De Gea saves from point-blank range. 

Sunderland are going to come out of their shell now and Steven Fletcher is brought down by Morgan Schneiderlin as he breaks forward. Free-kick to Sunderland.

A couple of goals and the picture looks a lot more rosey. 

Billy Jones hacks Memphis Depay down. Sunderland look shot. 

What must Dick Advocaat be thinking? Two goals conceded in two minutes either side of the break. Wayne Rooney ends his longest Premier League goal drought and is now joint-third with Denis Law on the list of United's all-time leading league scorers with 171 goals.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland make a change and Steven Fletcher is on for Adam Johnson. We are under way. 

Whatever you think of the performance at Old Trafford today, this must make quite nice viewing for Manchester United fans. Manchester City were beaten 4-1 by Tottenham earlier today. 

Image source, Opta

Jon: If Sunderland are the worst side in the league, then United are the second worst on this showing! Really poor #MUFC, external GOAL!

Raymond: Get in there. Memphis finally gets his goal.

Have your say using #bbcfootball, external now.

If Sunderland are going to find a way back into this game, they need to find a way of getting near the United area. They have been penned back in their own half for most of the first 45 minutes and only managed 15 touches in the final third of the field (see graphic on the right). United, who have spent most of the game camped outside the Sunderland box, have made significantly more (see graphic on the left).

Image source, BBC Sport/Opta

That goal also takes Manchester United to the top of the Premier League as it stands. 

That's 11 of Sunderland's 14 Premier League goals conceded before the break. Memphis Depay now has four goals this season.