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A meeting between two clubs sitting side-by-side in the Premier League table turned out to be a thoroughly one-sided affair, Manchester United traveling to the Hawthorns to play West Bromwich Albion and comfortably winning 2-0.
The gap between the top six sides in England and the rest of the division appears to be pretty large on the evidence of Saturday’s match between the Red Devils and the Baggies. United are now unbeaten in eight consecutive EPL matches, and they’ve drawn level, at least momentarily, with Tottenham, who have a game in hand.
Jose Mourinho's tactics were perfect, Paul Pogba and Michael Carrick were influential in midfield and the defense was rock solid, but the headlines will belong to Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The Swede took his tally to 11 goals in 16 EPL matches, including seven in his last six.
United’s first goal arrived in the 5th minute, and special mention has to be made for Jesse Lingard whose cross was sensational. The header from Ibrahimovic gave West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster no chance.
You can teach the 35-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimović new tricks #PLonNBC pic.twitter.com/x9KLuXYxmV
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 17, 2016
United’s second came in the 56th minute and this one was all Zlatan. Popping the ball between two defenders and breezing between them, Ibrahimovic then directed an arrowed shot into the far corner. The ease with which he conjured this goal was simply remarkable.
Brace for Ibrahimavic's second goal of #PLonNBC pic.twitter.com/vNdkgkiYqx
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 17, 2016
Manchester United return to action on December 26th against Sunderland. For West Brom, it doesn’t get any easier — their next match is away to Arsenal.
