Alexis Sánchez had been honest enough to admit that his struggles at Manchester United had left him “psychologically exhausted” so it was no surprise to see such an outpouring of emotion as he claimed his first goal for almost two months and only his second for the club.
It has been a trying 68 days for the Chile striker since his move from Arsenal but he, like his manager Jose Mourinho, not to mention United supporters, will hope this proves the start of a very belated upward curve. Sánchez also set up Romelu Lukaku for the goal that put United on the way to an ultimately comfortable victory that returned them to second position at Liverpool’s expense and inflicted only a second league defeat on Swansea City since Jan 2.
Swansea have been on a fine run of form since the turn of the year but they were second best for long periods here. Like Sánchez, Paul Pogba, dropped for the FA Cup win over Brighton, was restored to the starting line-up and delivered a couple of flashes of inspiration without ever really imposing himself in the way, say, Lukaku did. The Belgium striker now has 100 Premier League goals to his name and is becoming one big name Mourinho can consistently rely upon.
Too often United have looked like a side trying to force the issue – workmanlike and disjointed – but it all came much more easily in a one-sided first half when two goals inside the first 20 minutes effectively killed Swansea’s aspirations of an upset.
Pogba never really got to the beat of the game, a couple of lovely floated passes for Juan Mata and Lukaku in the second period aside, but Sánchez and Lukaku, Mourinho’s two other most high profile signings, enjoyed themselves and there was more structure and cohesion to United’s football. For Lukaku, it was merely a continuation of his impressive form but, for Sánchez, this felt like a marked step in the right direction after a chastening start to his Old Trafford career. He has given the impression of a man battling a few demons but a cloud was partially lifted here, and while he could and should have scored more than the one, neither his goal nor his assist for Lukaku’s early opener were to be sniffed at given his recent struggles.
Swansea had held firm for 79 minutes with 10 men against Huddersfield to claim a precious point in their battle against relegation but they wilted here, at least until the introduction of Tammy Abraham and Tom Carroll gave them some much needed cut and thrust going forward.
Abraham certainly gave United’s centre-halves something to chew over, the striker forcing two excellent saves in quick succession from David De Gea as the hour mark approached, but Swansea were already facing a huge uphill task by then.
The game was only five minutes old when Jesse Lingard squeezed the ball through to Sánchez who, in turn, fed Lukaku in the penalty area. Lukaku’s shot was on target but fizzed into the top corner courtesy of a sharp deflection off Alfie Mawson’s outstretched boot. It brought up a century of Premier League goals for Lukaku, who dropped to his knees and raised both arms to the sky in celebration.
The Belgium striker was denied a second when he latched on to Lingard’s delicious flick on from Nemanja Matic’s brisk pass, with Lukasz Fabianski down quick to his right to push the shot away, but it wasn’t much longer before United found the net again and there was not a more relieved scorer than Sanchez.
Pogba picked the ball up from defence and found Mata who played a quick pass into the feet of the onrushing Lingard. Lingard’s pass took a slight deflection off the foot of Federico Fernández, which wrong-footed Mike van der Hoorn, the ball sliding through his legs and into the path of Sánchez, who steered a calm finish into the bottom corner. The Chilean seemed to unload weeks of pent up frustration with his celebration, rushing to the corner and sliding to his knees, fists pumping. It was his first United goal since Feb 3.
It was not a flawless performance by any stretch. When Lukaku muscled Fernández off the ball down the right channel he ran so well and swung over a fine cross that Young headed back, the ball set up kindly for Sánchez but, taking his eye off the ball, he swung at thin air and the opportunity went begging. Later he headed over from close range, albeit with the ball just behind, after Lukaku had headed across Mata’s ball but Sanchez was at least in the thick of things and in the right places to effect the game.
Pogba? A wonderful flighted pass for Mata in the 57th minute should have yielded a goal but the Spaniard, swivelling to face the ball, volleyed over from eight yards, and he also picked out Lukaku with a nice pass that the Belgian could not dispatch. Yet while this was better than some of his turgid showings since the turn of the year, the Frenchman still looks like a player going through the motions, short of confidence and not entirely comfortable with his position in the team.
United’s only real fright in the game came after Mata’s missed chance. Carroll rolled the ball into Abraham, who turned Victor Lindelof inside out in the penalty area before rifling in a shot that was heading for the top corner before De Gea’s outstretched hand appeared to tip it aside. Moments later, Martin Olsson zipped in a low cross that Abraham, finding space between United’s two centre-halves, hit first time but De Gea dived low to save. Abraham slammed the ground in frustration. He is not the first striker to feel that way about De Gea and he will not be the last.
Full time
Manchester United, utterly dominant in the first-half- completed a comfortable victory in the second when Swansea improved but not enough to make amends for a hopeless first 45 minutes. Nemanja Matic played well and Jesse Lingard's energy and appetite carried United's standard. Routine stuff, generally, but a fourth league victory on the bounce for the home side, the first time they've done that since Christmas 2016.
90+1 min
Swansea corner, swung in at the back post where it's knocked behind.
90 min
It was Mata's last touch. Off he goes to be replaced by McTominay. We'll have two more minutes.
89 min
United ready McTominay for the fray. Meanwhile Pogba plays Rashford in down the left. Van der Hoorn slides in but Rashford skips past and crosses. Naughton knocks it behind for a corner. Mata takes to the back post, picks out Lukaku's run but the centre-forward's control lets him dolwn.
86 min
Again Carroll sprays a long pass to free Olsson down the left and again his cross lacks the requisite precision.
85 min
United have decided to draw the Swans' sting by hanging on to it at the back but they come undone with one wayward pass and Swansea come back at them up the left. Olsson's cross is shepherded out uncertainly by Rashford for a goalkick.
82 min
Strange decision from Abraham on the end of a deep Olsson cross. He has to shoot and had the time to take a touch but chooses to centre it on the volley back where bodies are plentiful and without the direct line to goal he just gave up.
80 min
Good save from Fabianski from eight yards. Lukaku had trapped the diagonal on the right of the box with his chest from where it rebounded on to his left hand and bounced on to the ground. He larruped his shot and the Swansea keeper dropped to his left to save smartly from close range.
79 min
Ayew steps on Pogba's heel and deshoes him. The only place where walking around with one shoe on, one missing, isn't tragic is the sports field.
77 min
Pogba drills a 60-yard pass straight into Fabianski's arms, bypassing Rashford and Lukaku by a mile.
75 min
Mourinho is trying to address Swansea's grip on midfield this past 15 minutes or so by deploying Herrera.
Double Manchester United substitution
Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford replace Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard.
73 min
Smart save from De Gea when Routledge spanks a low right-foot shot but Abranham's cute lay-off was instigated from an offside position.
71 min
Better from Olsson who skates past Valencia on the outside then scoots inside to turn a pass towards Tammy on the spot. Lindelof reads it and sticks his leg in to flay it clear.
68 min
Swansea are spraying passes around and pushing United further and further back. Carroll's astute ball frees Olsson down the left but his cross is crummy and balloons behind.
65 min
Swansea are at it at last. Carroll giving Ayew a hare to chase. Lindelof lengthens his stride and beats him over 50 yards. Then he finds Routledge who batters his shot at a defender's legs and earn a corner. Rip van Winkle had nothing on the Swans. From no shots on goal in 45 minutes to two and far more penetration.
63 min
Swansea have finally woken up and inspired a rousing refrain of Hymns and Arias. Olsson even prods the ball into the United goal but from a blatantly offside position.
61 min
Two saves in half a minute from De Gea to thwart Abraham, the first a superb one froa a blistering right-foot strike after Abraham turned Lindelof and sent him off to buy a paper and a pint of milk, the second a parry from a half-volley on the lunge as the forward met a left-wing cross.
59 min
Fine pass from Pogba finds Mata in the six-yard box. Should have scored. In so much space.
57 min
Manchester United stroll through Swansea again, this time on the right. Mata cuts back on to his left and whips a cross to the far post. Lukaku cranes his neck and steers a header back across goal. Sanchez dives to meet it but can't ram it past Fabianski.
54 min
Rotten header from Mawson almost allows Lukaku in on goal. Sanchez had stood up a wishy-washy cross devoid of pace towards the right of the box and Mawson headed it straight up. Lukaku raced round the back but the angle was too tight to threaten the goal with his shot.
53 min
Clucas is led away down the tunnel. Routledge is coming on to replace him.
51 min
Lengthy delay while Clucas receives treatment for a sore left knee. It's bee so easy for United so far, their urgency seems to have dissipated.
49 min
Pogba hits a 50-yard ball over the top as he spots Swansea's back three pushing up. Fabianski races out to grab it ahead of Lingard.
47 min
Sanchez and Lukaku team up on the right and try to pierce the gap between Olsson and Mawson but Clucas was alive to their threat and came back to help.
46 min
Jose Mourinho is conversing with Carlos Carvalhal while covering his mouth. Wary of Portuguese lip-readers no doubt. Swansea have gone to 3-4-3 with Clucas wide left, Ayew major on the right and Abraham through the middle.
Half-time subs
Abraham and Carroll on for Swansea, Dyer and Ki go off.
Half time
It's a cakewalk so far for Manchester United and a lacklustre, defeatist Swansea. Jesse Lingard is electric, Sanchez is doing the same and Romelu Lukaku is irrepressible but it has to be emphasised that they're playing against a side that's sitting off them and letting them run rings around and through them.
45+2 min
Pogba dazzles with his footwork at the edge of the box then works it out to Lingard. Corner that is swung straight into Fabianski's grasp.
45 min
We'll have two more minutes and David De Gea gets to touch the ball for perhaps the second time, both by virtue of a backpass.
44 min
Swansea seem like they surrendered before they started. There's no pressure on the ball and far too much space being ceded.
41 min
A long, dipping, left-foot cross from Lukaku swung in from the right is headed back from the touchline by Young to tee up Sanchez for a second but he airkicks and the gilded chance goes begging. Seconds later United have it in the net when lingard converts Lukaku's cross but the centre-forward was offside when he squared it.
40 min
He seems OK and carries on.
38 min
Lengthy delay while Ayew nurses a sore left ankle.
35 min
Slight positional change to 3-4-2-1 gives Swansea some respite but only momentarily.
33 min
United free-kick when Ayew tussles with Pogba much to Ayew's bemusement. Young takes it, floats it beyond the back post where it's hit first time into the six-yard box and Swansea smother it before Sanchez can pivot and shoot.
31 min
Lingard, who played well for England twice last week, is maintaining his excellent form, buzzing around and latching on to any clearance dropping into midfield. Now he strides forward, drawing away from King and slices a shot wide from 20 yards.
29 min
You can tell Mourinho wasn't expecting much in the way of a Swansea threat by his decision to pick Lindelof ahead of Bailly. The Sweden centre-back is good on the ball but flakey whenever there's a chance of a rough-housing.
26 min
Van der Hoorn, beaten by Sanchez, does a retrieving slide tackle and brings him down. Mata takes the free-kick from the left and King heads it clear.
24 min
Swansea are inviting disaster with their positioning. Ayew just took the ball 30 yards from his own goal, utterly isolated save for four red shirts who swarm around him and hustle him out of possession.
21 min
Lingard bombs forward with one of those purposeful, scurrying runs, veering diagonally from right to left. He sees Sanchez cutting in from the left wing and threads the ball through Van der Hoorn's legs, nutmegging him, which puts Sanchez clear through and he wraps his instep around it to whisk a shot past Fabianski.
Goal!!
Manchester United 2-0 Swansea (Sanchez)
18 min
Swansea's defence is far too deep and flat.
16 min
Lukaku chases down a ball he had no right to get and hounds Swansea into a mistake, a shanked clearance. Valencia gets it and sends a centre across the 18-yard line where Lingard hits it on the swivel first time and steers it two yards wide of the left post.
14 min
Dyer picks out King's run down the right and the on-loan Leicester midfielder improvises a cross as the balkl races away from him, hooking it behind.