Manchester United has returned to winning ways in the Premier League courtesy of a 3-1 victory over struggling Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday.
Paul Pogba broke the deadlock for the visitors before a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent them into the halfway stage with a deservedly convincing lead, and held out despite a Mike van der Hoorn consolation to condemn Swansea to a 10th straight Premier League match without a win.
Swansea’s increasingly passive display soon made it evident that there were more goals in the game for United, and Marouane Fellaini almost made it two in as many minutes when he hooked Matteo Darmian’s delivery past the far post.
Ibrahimovic’s recent troubles in front of goal had served as the perfect microcosm for the team’s lack of cutting edge over the last few weeks, but he too ended his individual drought to double United’s advantage after 21 minutes, working space to shoot on the edge of the box before squeezing his finish past Lukasz Fabianski.
Ibrahimovic would have been fancying a flood of goals to follow the drought when he doubled his personal tally shortly after the half-hour mark, exchanging passes with Rooney before bundling through three white shirts and lashing his finish beyond the keeper.
The goal brought up another landmark as Ibrahimovic reached 400 career goals at club level, while it was also Rooney’s 100th Premier League assist, making him only the third player to reach that milestone after Ryan Giggs and Frank Lampard.
Bob Bradley made two changes at half time to try to breathe life into his side following a abject first-half display, but United once again had things all their own way in the opening exchanges.
The hosts did almost set up a grandstand finish with seven minutes remaining when Montero’s cross found Modou Barrow at the back post, but the winger could not get enough on his volley and David de Gea got down to make the save at his near post.
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