Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind, Herrera, Pogba, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Martial, Ibrahimovic
Subs: Romero, Darmian, Carrick, Fellaini, Lingard, Rashford, Rooney
Watford: Gomes, Cathcart, Kaboul, Prödl, Britos, Cleverley, Capoue; Niang, Zárate, Holebas, Deeney.
Subs: Arlauskis, Mariappa, Janmaat, Behrami, Doucouré, Success, Okaka.
5. Watford rue missed chances
After victories over Arsenal and Burnley, winning at Manhcester United was a step too far for Walter Mazzarri’s side.
Watford got in behind United’s defence on a few occasions, but there was no-one in the box to meet the ball or, as in the case of sub Daryl Janmaat, who blasted high and wide from close-range, no-one with the composure to keep the ball down and on target.
4. Mata majestic in midfield
Juan Mata divides opinion, some viewing him as a luxury player who doesn’t work hard enough off the ball, while others lauding his creative vision and goalscoring prowess.
Here, Mata was the latter, influencing the game from the right side, linking well with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and scoring for the second game in succession to take his season tally to nine.
3. Martial back on form
Anthony Martial has spent much of the season trying to convince a sceptical Jose Mourinho of his enduring worth, with the forward struggling to do so, judging by his manager’s scathing appraisals of him at times.
Here, Martial was lively and effective, providing the assist for Mata’s opener and scoring United’s decisive second goal to cap a man-of-the-match display.
2. Shaw's continued omission a worry
Luke Shaw was again absent from United’s matchday 18, despite being fit and available to play.
In a team where left-back is a position up for grabs, Shaw’s continued omission, failing to even make the bench, does not bode well for the England international’s United future, with Jose Mourinho almost certain to buy a specialist left-back this summer.
1. De Gea shows enduring value
He had little to do for much of the game, with his side dominant, but like all goalkeepers of stature, David De Gea produced when called upon, diving full-stretch to his right to palm away a goal-bound free-kick from Mauro Zarate early in the second-half.
With Real Madrid courting De Gea once again, United must do all they can to ensure he stays put.
Manchester United 2-0 Watford: 5 things we learned
Manchester United extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 16 games with a comfortable win over Watford at Old Trafford.
Juan Mata and Anthony Martial opened the scoring as Jose Mourinho’s side moved up to fifth place, the first time they have moved from sixth spot since early November.
Martial, restored to the starting line-up, was man of the match, providing the assist for Mata’s opener, then scoring himself on the hour with a cheeky near-post finish.
Skipper Wayne Rooney, ruled out of last weekend’s 3-0 win at Leicester through illness, returned to the bench but remained an unused sub, as United maintained their push for a top-four spot.
Here are five things we learned from today’s encounter at Old Trafford...
Full-time: Manchester United 2-0 Watford
United move into fifth after this second successive win.
Martial, Mata, Zlatan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan the stars for United. Comfortable afternoon’s work.
Watford have toiled away, they just didn’t have the quality to cope with United’d dynamic forward line.
Mata opened the scoring, Martial added the second. A string of saves from Gomes kept the scoreline day.
Strong performance from United. Unbeaten in 16 in the Premier League.
More praise coming in for Martial.
He got a warm applause from the crowd when he came off for Marcus Rashford.
His best performance for some time.
CHANCE! Gomes saves from Mkhitaryan!
More excellent hold-up play from Zlatan. The Swedish striker lays the ball off to Mkhitaryan who zeroes in on goal and smashes a shot into the sprawling legs for Gomes. The Watford goalkeeper has been excellent.
Zlatan hasn’t scored, but his approach play has been tremendous.
Former Manchester United and France defender Mikael Silvestre paying homage to his countryman.
Fully deserved, Martial has been brilliant.
Has he been the man of the match? Let us know on twitter @MirrorFootball
Another lull in the action after a goal, so here’s some more pictures of Martial’s goal.
He has been superb today - terrorising the Watford defence.
When he’s up for it, he’s a formidable force.
Here’s the moment Martial made it 2-0.
A whole bunch of Watford players not knowing which way he’s going to twist and turn.
His composure at the decisive moment was impressive.
Anthony Martial has answered a few critics with his recent performances.
The Frenchman has made one and scored one today - adding to some impressive stats.
Are we going to see the best of him now?
GOAL! Manchester United 2-0 Watford (Martial, 60)
Another free flowing move, another goal. Martial finishes off a swift counter-attack.
Pogba won the ball off Etienne Capoue, fed Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who played the ball into Zlatan. The Swedish striker put Martial through, he cut inside, wrong-footed the defence and goalkeeper and slotted the ball in at the near post. Calm finish from the Frenchman.
Some action shots for you to enjoy from the game so far.
United’s quality has shone through, but Watford have competed and kept their shape, making it hard for the home side to create goalscoring opportunities.
Just over half an hour to play, score remains 1-0 to United.
Not much service for Troy Deeney this afternoon.
Watford sitting back, understandably.
If he does get a chance, you can bet he’ll be ready.
Can Walter Mazzarri find a solution?
Here another angle on that Mata goal.
It was a lovely move from United. Watford just had to look on as the home swept through their defence.
Zlatan missed it, but Mata was on the spot to apply a crisp finish, giving Gomes now chance.
Had it not been for the heroics of Gomes in the first half, Watford would be further behind.
The Watford goalkeeper denied Zlatan and Pogba on multiple occasions.
Here are some of this best saves and United’s worst misses.
Second half: Manchester United 1-0 Watford
We’re back underway at Old Trafford.
After the first half, it’s hard to see Watford getting back into this.
United excellent at defending a lead - now they’re go after more goals.
Half-time: Manchester United 1-0 Watford
Mata’s goal the difference at half-time.
Manchester United in complete control. Had it not been for Gomes, United would be out of sight here.
Jose Mourinho will be pleased with the first half performance.
Lull in play after United took the lead. Atmosphere a bit flat at Old Trafford.
United have been impressive, playing some free-flowing football against a defensive Watford.
Expect to see more goals in the second half.
GOAL! Manchester United 1-0 Watford (Juan Mata, 32)
A flowing move ends with Martial picking out Mata arriving in the box and he side-foots the ball past a helpless Gomes. 1-0 to Manchester United.
The pressure finally told. The Watford goal was leading a charmed life after Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Ander Herrera and Zlatan Ibrahimovic all missed chances in quick succession.
CHANCE! Gomes saves from Pogba!
Antonio Valencia slides the ball across to Pogba who can’t steer his effort part Gomes. Another good save.
Manchester United starting to turn the screw.
Hard to see United not scoring soon....
CHANCE! Zlatan blazes over!
Pogba scoops a through ball to Zlatan Ibrahimovic who brings the ball down and then whallops a volley goalwards with his left foot.
He can’t keep it down and flies over.
You’d expect a player of his quality to do better once he teed up the shot with this first touch.
CHANCE! Spectacular overhead kick from Zarate!
The Argentine striker tries an audacious effort that flies into the grateful arms of De Gea.
Moments later Gomes gets down low to his right to save from Pogba.
Hopeful efforts either end, but nothing clearcut. United just playing in front of a deep-lying Watford.
CHANCE! Gomes saves from Paul Pogba!
Play opens up on front of the French midfielder 30 yards from goal and he accepts the challenge to shoot from distance.
His shot right-footed shot his turned around the post by Gomes who was at full-stretch.
Manchester United restricted to shots from long-range.
CHANCE! Jose Holebas lets fly from distance!
Jose Holebas picks the ball up on the left and pulls the trigger.
His fierce shot flies past De Gea and wide of the left hand post.
Brilliant effort, De Gea was scrambling across his goal.
CHANCE! Sebastian Prodl blocks effort from Anthony Martial!
Martial gives us a flash of his ability.
The Frenchman picked the ball up and ran out the Watford defence with purpose, cutting inside and getting a shot off, that was deflected wide by the outstretched leg for Prodl.
Zlatan has had to drop deep to get the ball with Watford dropping deep to close the space in behind.
United to draw them out and get runners beyond Zlatan.
Watford’s game plan working well so far.
United dominating possession in the opening exchanges.
Gomes had to be on his toes to come off his line and clear as Juan Mata tried to latch on to a through ball.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had the only shot of the game so far.
Watford sitting deep, challenging the home side to break them down. Tight and congested out there.