Manchester United took time off from their pursuit of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez to coast to a comfortable 3-0 victory against Stoke at Old Trafford on Monday. Antonio Valencia and Anthony Martial in the first half, and Romelu Lukaku after the break, were on the score sheet as Jose Mourinho finally beat struggling Stoke as United manager at the fourth time of asking. But this performance, and numerous missed chances, still gave Mourinho plenty of evidence he needs to add Sanchez to his squad during the January transfer window, despite cutting neighbours Manchester City's lead at the top of the Premier League table to 12 points after their unbeaten league run was ended by Liverpool on Sunday.

"They are first so we always want to catch them, so it was good that they lost, so for us we have to think about ourselves. It's good that they lose points but we have to go back to winning because we want to catch them again. We just want to catch City. We just have to focus on ourselves, keep winning and I think we will be allright"

United believe they have won the battle for the Euros 35 million-rated Sanchez, who is out of contract with Arsenal at the end of the season, especially after City let the Gunners know on Monday that they are no longer interested in Sanchez, given his fee and salary demands.