Manchester United enjoyed a comfortable evening at Old Trafford as they saw off Stoke 3-0.
Wonder strikes from Antonio Valencia and Anthony Martial put Jose Mourinho's side two goals to the good at the break on a wet and windy evening in the north west.
And Romelu Lukaku rounded off the scoring after the break to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table to 12 points as United bid to hunt down Manchester City.
Paul Pogba shone for the Red Devils as they pulled clear of Liverpool and Chelsea to claim second place outright.
Here's how the action unfolded from the Theatre of Dreams...
Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Martial, Lukaku
Subs: Pereira, Lindelof, Rojo, Fellaini, Herrera, McTominay, Rashford
Stoke: Butland, Bauer, Zouma, Martins Indi, Tymon, Fletcher, Allen, Shaqiri, Ireland, Choupo-Moting, Crouch
Subs: Grant, Wimmer, Afellay, Adam, Diouf, Ramadan, Edwards.
Player ratings
Manchester United enjoyed a comfortable evening at Old Trafford as they saw off Stoke 3-0 to close the gap to table-topping Manchester City to 12 points.
First-half stunners from Antonio Valencia and Anthony Martial put United two goals to the good at the break before Romelu Lukaku scored in the second period.
Paul Pogba ran the game from midfield and drew level with Kevin De Bruyne in the assist charts on nine.
The Frenchman caught the eye of our man John Cross, but who was your man of the match at the Theatre of Dreams?
Here are the full player ratings...
Five talking points
Manchester United closed the gap on leaders City to 12 points with a rampant victory over Stoke at Old Trafford.
Antonio Valencia fired United into the lead early on but the hosts had to rely on David De Gea to keep the visitors out.
They went in 2-0 down at the break though after another fine finish from Anthony Martial.
United controlled the second period and wrapped it up through Romelu Lukaku.
New Stoke boss Paul Lambert was in the stands to watch his new side in action as they conceded their 50th goal of the season.
They face a big task now as they bid to stay up while United will hope to close the gap on City further this weekend.
Here are the key talking points.
Lambert in the stands
New Stoke boss Paul Lambert which watch from on high this evening.
He will officially take charge on Tuesday morning.
Will his side give him three points to start with?
Mourinho explains Mkhitaryan snub
Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been left out of the Manchester United squad to face Stoke.
United are ready to offer the Armenian to Arsenal in a bid to land Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal.
The Red Devils have emerged as favourites to sign Sanchez, despite him seemingly being on his way to rivals City earlier this month.
Mkhitaryan could make the move in the opposite direction and Mourinho has opted to leave him out, claiming he is not mentally ready to feature amid the speculation.
He said: “I would be lying if I say it’s a pure tactical decision.
“It was just a choice of the players that we know, in this moment, they have 100 per cent their heads in Manchester United.
“No doubts about the future. I don’t think it’s easy for a player to play when there are doubts about his future. It’s added pressure that a player doesn’t need, so I think it’s the best for him and for us, while the doubt is in the air, to protect him.”
Here come United...
United’s players have arrived at Old Trafford ahead of the game.
A very wet and very windy Old Trafford.
Should play right into Stoke’s hands, right?!
Team news!
Here’s how the two sides will line up this evening...
United: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Shaw, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lingard, Martial, Lukaku
Stoke: Butland, Bauer, Zouma, Martins Indi, Tymon, Fletcher (C), Allen, Shaqiri, Ireland, Choupo-Moting, Crouch
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is set to be named in the Manchester United squad for the clash with Stoke City, despite speculation over his future.
The Armenian was all smiles after arriving at the Lowry Hotel on Monday afternoon.
The 28-year-old has started only two of United’s last 15 matches and was substituted at half-time in United’s last match - the 2-0 FA Cup win over Derby.
The former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has experienced some fall from grace this term, having scored the opener in last season’s Europa League final win.
Mkhitaryan was bought from Dortmund in a £26.8million deal 18 months ago after being named the Bundesliga players’ player of the year.
But his inconsistencies at Old Trafford have irked Mourinho, who has admitted that he could leave this month.
Mourinho said: “My approach is that every player has a price. And I am not the kind of blind manager.
“Blind in the sense that this player is untouchable, this one can never be sold. I think every player has a price.
“So when the transfer window is open it’s also open for any club that is interested in our players. Then it’s up to us to make the decision yes or no. It’s up to us to make the right price.
“Mkhitaryan played the last match in the FA Cup against Derby. He probably will play the next one against Stoke. He is our player and a very good player. So tomorrow training, then Sunday selected and Monday play.”