Manchester United eased to a 3-0 victory against Tottenham at Old Trafford on Sunday to move to within a point of third-placed Arsenal.
The hosts made three changes, with Phil Jones, Michael Carrick and Juan Mata coming in for Luke Shaw, Marcos Rojo andAngel Di Maria, while Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino selected Danny Rose at left-back in place of Ben Davies.
United made much the brighter start and hit the front with just nine minutes on the clock, as Carrick fed in Marouane Fellaini down the left flank and he advanced before firing a low, left-foot shot into the far corner of the net.
Ten minutes later it was 2-0 as a corner from the left was only half-cleared and Carrick cleverly steered a header inside thefar post past the outstretched hand of Hugo Lloris.
The visitors responded by bringing on Mousa Dembele for Andros Townsend, but11 minutes before half-time they fell 3-0 behind when the ball was given away in midfield and Wayne Rooney advanced past the challenges of three defenders to beat Lloris with a low finish.
Rooney went close to adding a fourth froma Fellaini pass as United ended the first half in total charge of the game.
The second half was an anti-climax after the opening 45 minutes, with the Red Devils content to sit back and control the game with some ease.
Just past the hour mark Ander Herrera flashed a shot into the side-netting as United pressed again while, at the death, Harry Kane finally found an opening, only to slip on contact to allow David de Gea to make the save with his feet.