Skip to Main NavigationSkip to content
Tuesday 30 September 2025 09:45
A lot has changed for both teams since Sunderland’s last visit to Manchester United, back in 2016.
The Boxing Day encounter provided some real festive cheer for the home fans as Henrikh Mkhitaryan scored a goal that will long be remembered during a 3-1 victory.
The Armenia international made an unorthodox connection with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s 86th-minute cross, sending the ball looping into the net via a scorpion kick.
Although it would have been disallowed in the VAR era for offside, it was a moment of improvised magic.
United 3 Sunderland 1 Video
United 3 Sunderland 1
26 December 2016: The Reds faced Sunderland on Boxing Day, featuring a stunning acrobatic strike from Mkhitaryan…
By then, the Reds were already well on the way to a fourth successive league win, with Daley Blind and Ibrahimovic on the scoresheet.
Netherlands defender Blind bagged his first goal of the campaign with a low finish from an Ibrahimovic pass in the first half.
The hugely influential Zlatan doubled the lead by expertly beating Jordan Pickford, after being released by Paul Pogba, before creating Mkhitaryan’s third.
Fabio Borini smashed a consolation effort into the top corner in the closing stages to make it 3-1 to United.
If you take a closer look at the two sides on view that afternoon, it is possible to see just how long it is since we last met in Manchester.
Jose Mourinho selected a back four of Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo and Daley Blind, with David De Gea behind them in goal.
Michael Carrick, Pogba and Ander Herrera formed the midfield, while Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard were wide of central attacker Ibrahimovic.
Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial came off the bench for the hosts.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s memorable scorpion kick against Sunderland.
As for the Wearsiders, Pickford kept goal, and a five-man defence consisted of Billy Jones, Patrick van Aanholt, Papy Dijlobodji, Lamine Kone and Jason Denayer.
Didier Ndong, Borini, Sebastian Larsson, Victor Anichebe and Jermain Defoe made up the rest of the team.
Ex-Red Donald Love was an unused substitute.
The personnel will be completely different this weekend, but let’s hope the Reds can produce a similar result heading into another international break.
Recommended:
Tuesday 30 September 2025 09:45
Back to Top
