So often lauded for its defensive strength, Manchester United issued another reminder of its attacking talent by scoring four goals in a Premier League game for the sixth time this season.
On the receiving end this time was Watford, which had already been pummeled 6-0 by Manchester City — the team that second-place United is striving to reel in.
Ashley Young scored twice in the first half and Jesse Lingard ensured there would be no late fightback from Watford with a 60-meter solo goal to complete a 4-2 win at Vicarage Road on Tuesday.
United had already scored four goals against West Ham, Swansea, Everton, Crystal Palace and Newcastle, showing that manager Jose Mourinho has no problem unleashing his attacking riches at times. "We should have scored seven," he said. "We were very dangerous for 90 minutes."
It's in the big games, against United's title rivals, where Mourinho chooses to keep it tight and two of them are coming up: Arsenal away and then City at home. United has nine clean sheets from 14 games so far. United is currently five points behind City, which plays Southampton in its game in hand on Wednesday, and looks to be the team best-positioned to challenge Pep Guardiola's team.
Tottenham might already be out of the title race. A 2-1 loss at Leicester was Spurs' third loss in its last five games, and followed a disappointing home draw against West Bromwich Albion. The team is now 13 points adrift of City having played a game more.
SECRET WEAPON
Ashley Young is turning out to be a secret attacking weapon for Man United. The left back's deflected shot looped into the top corner for the winning goal against Brighton on Saturday, and he was scoring again three days later against former club Watford.
Both were great strikes, too, his first being a fierce low inside the near post from outside the area in the 19th. Then he curled a free kick into the top corner in the 25th for 2-0. When Anthony Martial scored in the 32nd, United was cruising but Watford mounted a late fightback to score through Troy Deeney — from the penalty spot — in the 77th and Abdoulaye Doucoure in the 84th.