Man Utd maul Sunderland

Beckham and Keane at the fore of United's best moves

Manchester United 4-1 Sunderland
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Manchester United produced a ruthless display of attacking football to take apart a shell-shocked Sunderland at Old Trafford.

A pulsating encounter saw the goals pour in from all quarters - Phil Neville, man-of-the-match David Beckham and striker Ruud van Nistelrooy twice - as the home fans were treated to a vintage display.

  Key incidents

6 mins: Phil Neville thunders in United's opener

12 mins: Kevin Phillips scores Sunderland equaliser out of nothing

25 mins: David Beckham free-kick restores United's lead

28 mins: Ruud van Nistelrooy scores a fabulous third

44 mins: Van Nistelrooy gets his second of the day from the penalty spot

Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips briefly threatened some sort of contest with a superb equaliser in the game's opening stages.

But the Black Cats were simply outclassed by United, who were presented with the Premier League trophy just before kick-off to mark their achievement of winning three titles in succession.

And on this performance, the league's organisers may have unwittingly staged a dress rehearsal ahead of May.

The floodgates were opened by an unlikely source.

Phil Neville raced onto to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's carefully-threaded through ball after a clever back-heel by Van Nistelrooy and his well-struck shot appeared to go through the body of stand-in goalkeeper Jurgen Macho.

But Sunderland's riposte followed soon after.

It was marvellous - the first 45 minutes was a top-class performance and the passing, movement and desire were brilliant

Man Utd boss Sir Alex Ferguson

Phillips' predatory instincts have not been dulled despite his distinct lack of service recently.

His equaliser was an excellent 25-yard strike, a goal out of nothing as the United defence stood off the forward.

Yet the urgency with which United had started the game suggested that it would not be too long before the home side restored their lead.

Beckham forced Macho to make a good save, giving the Sunderland keeper a taster of what would come on 25 minutes.

The Beckham free-kick was a major turning point in the game because I thought at that point we had a foothold in the game

Sunderland manager Peter Reid

United were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area - which referee Rob Styles moved forward after Sunderland's reluctance to accept his initial decision - and Beckham duly unleashed an unstoppable effort.

It may be no coincidence that Beckham produced one of his best United peformances for some time under the gaze of England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

A driving force for England, Beckham was in irrepressible mood for Sir Alex Ferguson, setting up the equally unstoppable Van Nistelrooy for United's third.

The Dutch striker maintained his superb scoring rate with a goal of sheer class, first controlling Beckham's pass with his right before dispatching a wonderful left-foot volley past Macho.

Phil Neville put United on their way

Sunderland were in disarray and could do nothing to resist a rampant United.

Pushed forward by the inspirational Roy Keane and the electric Ryan Giggs, United posed a constant threat in attack.

Giggs won United a penalty on the stroke of half-time, which Van Nistelrooy fired in.

That the home side failed to extend their lead after the interval will have disappointed the demanding Ferguson.

But the damage had already been done in a devastating first-half demolition of Peter Reid's side, who now lurch ever nearer the relegation zone.

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Man Utd: Barthez, Phil Neville, Gary Neville, Blanc (O'Shea 64), Silvestre, Beckham, Keane (Butt 79), Scholes, Giggs (Forlan 64), Solskjaer, Van Nistelrooy.
Subs Not Used: Carroll, Irwin.
Booked: Blanc.
Goals: Phil Neville 6, Beckham 25, Van Nistelrooy 28, 44 pen.

Sunderland: Macho, Haas (McCartney 61), Craddock, Varga (Arca 45), Bjorklund, Gray, Williams, Reyna, McAteer (Quinn 61), Kilbane, Phillips.
Subs Not Used: Ingham, Bellion.
Booked: Bjorklund, Varga, Reyna.
Goals: Phillips 12.

Att: 67,587

Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).