Manchester United welcomed Stoke City in what was a very important fixture for both the clubs. While United needed a win to help Louis van Gaal keep his job, Stoke wanted the three points to stay in the hunt for a possible European birth. Michael Carrick and Matteo Darmian made a return to the starting eleven for the hosts and Peter Crouch made a start for the Potters.
The Red Devils played exactly how the fans have been demanding from them since the past few months. Goals from Lingard, Martial and Rooney assured that United win the match 3-0 and start the month of February on the front foot.
Here are the Player Ratings from the Premier League clash:
Manchester United
David de Gea - 6/10
The Spaniard didn't have much to do in the match. He was forced to make a couple of regulation saves but that was it.
Matteo Darmian - 7/10
The Italian had some trouble dealing with Arnautovic and Bojan in the initial stages of the match but he recovered well and displayed a good overall performance.
Chris Smalling - 7/10
The English international was solid at the back for the hosts. He won the majority of duels against Peter Crouch and helped his team keep a clean sheet.
Daley Blind - 7/10
This was a much balanced performance from the former Ajax player. Blind played some good penetrating passes upfront and also restricted the Potters from troubling the United goal.
Cameron Borthwick-Jackson - 7.5/10
The fullback, who turned 19 today was phenomenal to say the least. His tempting cross to Lingard led to United's first goal of the match. He, along with Martial wreaked havoc from the left channel.
Marouane Fellaini - 6.5/10
The midfielder had a decent outing. However, he did misplace some passes but that did not stop the Old Trafford faithful from giving him a standing ovation when he was taken off for Herrera.
Michael Carrick - 7/10
The veteran midfielder returned to the starting XI after recovering from a knee injury. He gave a sense of calmness to the United midfield which allowed the forwards to play their natural game.
Jesse Lingard - 7.5/10
The youngster impressed yet again. His pace caused a lot of trouble for Pieters. Lingard opened the scoring for United as he latched on to a beautiful cross from Borthwick-Jackson.
Juan Mata - 8/10
The Spanish playmaker showed how much havoc he can wreak when deployed in his favourite No. 10 role. He linked well with Rooney and Martial throughout the match. The 27-year-old was taken off for Andreas Perreira.
Anthony Martial - 9/10
The French prodigy was probably the best player on the pitch. He dazzled the Theater of Dreams with his penetrating runs. He scored the second goal for United which was the culmination of a trademark United counter attack. The centre-forward also assisted Rooney in what was Red Devil's third goal of the night. He was substituted for Memphis later in the tie.
Wayne Rooney - 8.5/10
The United skipper has been in great from since the start of the year. He scored his 244th goal for United and gave a complete performance. His perfect pass which picked out Martial on the left flank resulted in United's second goal.
Substitutes:
Memphis - 6/10
The Dutch winger came in late for Marital. He got himself into a decent position to score but his shot just missed the goal.
Ander Herrera - 5/10
Came on for Fellaini in the 80th minute and didn't have much to do.
Andreas Perreira - N/A
Came on for Mata in the 89th minute.
Stoke City
Jack Butland - 4.5/10
The English goalkeeper who is widely believed to be the best shot-stopper thus far in the current Premier League had a below par outing. He was outclassed by the United attack on the night.
Erik Pieters - 5/10
The Potters left back did decently going up front but Lingard's pace troubled him on a number of occasions.
Muniesa - 4/10
The Spaniard was no match to United's attacking prowess as he was opened up a lot of times by Mata's precise passes to Martial and Rooney.
Philipp Wollscheid - 4.5/10
The 26-year-old did well to deny United a couple of chances early in the match but he couldn't stop them from scoring two goals in a span of 10 minutes. He was taken off due to injury in the 30th minute.
Glenn Johnson - 4/10
The former Liverpool player was left reeling by Martial's penetrating runs and moves. He struggled throughout the match.
Ibrahim Afellay - 5/10
The Dutch international started the match well but sometimes he failed to show composure on the ball. He also wasted a good chance.
Glenn Whelan - 5.5/10
Probably Stoke's best player on the night. Whelan tried his best to give his defence a much-needed protection but couldn't do much in front of a spirited Manchester United.
Marko Arnautovic - 4.5/10
Arnautovic, who tormented United when the two teams last met in the league on boxing day was nowhere near the level he showed last time. He had some poor touches on the ball and also looked a bit sluggish.
Bojan - 5/10
The former Barcelona player linked well with Arnautovic in the early parts of the match. However, his influence faded away with time and he was subsequently substituted by Mark Hughes for Steven Ireland.
Jonathan Walters - 5/10
Walters tried to make some decisive moves for his teammates but none of them materialised. He tried his best to help Johnson in keeping Martial quiet but it was just not meant to be.
Peter Crouch - 5/10
The towering striker had some balls played towards him but Smalling managed to restrict him from getting any clear chance on the goal.
Substitutes:
Phil Bardsley - 5/10
Brought on for Wollscheid, Bardsley had a decent outing. His work rate was commendable.
Steven Ireland - 5/10
Came on for Bojan in the latter stages of the match. Tried to get his team back in the match but did not succeed.
