Neutral football fans expecting a close-fought game between two of the Premier League's top four contenders on Sunday will have been surprised to witness such a one-sided affair between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur as the Red Devils steamrolled Spurs 3-0 in a thoroughly deserved victory. Entertaining though the match was, there were also ample talking points to ponder over by the time the referee finally put Spurs out of their misery and blew the final whistle. So what have we learned from the game?
1. United pose a real threat to the blue half of Manchester
Prior to the game - and indeed for a number of weeks now - the general narrative surrounding Manchester United has been whether Louis van Gaal can really be considered an upgrade on David Moyes and the danger of the Red Devils slipping out of the top four following a series of uninspiring performances. With this win, however - arguably their best of the season - talk may now centre on whether United can end the season as runners-up. They are just two points behind second-placed Man City, and with the fierce rivals playing each other next month, this emphatic victory against Spurs will have given United great belief that they can turn on the style when it matters in the big games.
2. Spurs bottle it yet again
It must be hard being a Tottenham fan. The club is so close to becoming a serious threat to the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool, but when it comes down to the momentous, season-defining games that could take the club to the next level, they always seem to bottle it. Granted, famous victories over Chelsea and Arsenal in the league earlier this campaign may be a sign that Pochettino is instilling a winning mentality into his side. but since that win in the North London derby they have lost crucial games to Liverpool and now Manchester United, not to mention the Capital One Cup final against Chelsea. They're nearly there, but in the unforgiving, ultra-competitive world of Premier League football, that simply isn't enough.
3. Carrick shows United what they've been missing
£60 million star Angel di Maria may have been absent through suspension for this game, but the inspired performance of a certain Michael Carrick showed who is really the most crucial component of this United side. His sublime through ball to Marouane Fellaini led to the first goal of the game, and by the time the long-serving midfielder was substituted in the second half, he had done enough to earn a standing ovation from the Old Trafford faithful. They will need his excellence in the middle of the park for the crucial denouement of the Premier League season.