Manchester United win again as stars return

APD NEWS

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Manchester United had little room to maneuver in pursuit of the English Premier League title when they faced Newcastle United on Saturday.

The loss of their previous match to Chelsea meant that while the Red Devils were in second place coming into the match, they were 11 points behind local rivals Manchester City at the start of the match as City had earlier beaten Leicester.

But they responded brilliantly with a 4-1 victory against Rafael Benitez's side to stay eight points off the pace.

Yet it was Newcastle who scored first with Dwight Gayle capitalizing on a defensive mistake in the 14th minute.

Paul Pogba, back after over two months out with a hamstring injury, created the equalizer in the 37th minute as he earned some space for himself before chipping a cross to French compatriot Anthony Martial, who headed home at the back post. United went ahead before the break when Chris Smalling rose well at the back post to head in a superb deep cross from Ashley Young.

Romelu Lukaku scored the fourth goal in the 70th minute.

Pogba, who looked confident from the outset, made it 3-1 in the 54th minute with a tap-in after Marcus Rashford had headed down a Romelu Lukaku cross. Lukaku, who had not scored in his seven previous games in all competitions, grabbed his 12th of the season 20 minutes from the end, blasting home in front of the Stretford End.

United's Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench for the final 14 minutes after seven months out with a cruciate knee ligament injury.

The Red Devils are now unbeaten in 38 games at home in all competitions.

(CGTN)