2012/13 MAN UTD 3 SUNDERLAND 1
22. Simon Mignolet 24. Carlos Cuellar 14. Jack Colback 85' 16. John O'Shea 19. Titus Bramble 7. Sebastian Larsson 8. Craig Gardner 21. Adam Johnson 68' 23. James McClean 28. Stephane Sessegnon 26. Steven Fletcher 46'
Subs: 20. Keiren Westwood 9. Fraizer Campbell 68' 10. Connor Wickham 46' 11. James McFadden 85' 12. Matthew Kilgallon 15. David Vaughan 25. Louis Saha
Robin van Persie's 15th goal of the season ensured Manchester United will spend Christmas Day on top of the Premier League tree as the Red Devils eased past Sunderland.
Tom Cleverley's first league goal at Old Trafford and Wayne Rooney's fifth in four games were enough to keep United six points clear of neighbours City, with Fraizer Campbell's header against his old club scant consolation for the Wearsiders, who remain deep in relegation trouble.
Yet perhaps the most significant moment of the entire game came with Nemanja Vidic's introduction midway through the second half.
Plagued by injuries since August 2011, Vidic's absence during last season's run-in contributed to United's defensive wobbles and the Serbian is viewed as the main way of plugging the leaks that have been so obvious for a side who have still only kept three clean sheets all season.
Not for the first time, Sir Alex Ferguson used the build-up to offer support to an under-fire colleague, only for his team to dismantle them 24 hours later.
In ridiculing those who questioned Martin O'Neill's credentials, Ferguson was ignoring statistics that showed the Black Cats had won just twice in the Premier League this season, both on home soil against teams - Wigan and Reading - that are alongside them in the mire.
Within 20 minutes here, it had become apparent this was not going to be number three.
Ferguson had insisted those cheeky celebrations by Sunderland fans when the title was snatched away from their last-day visitors in May would play no part in the outcome.
Nevertheless, there was a sense of purpose about United's start which has rarely been matched this season.
Patrice Evra had already wasted one excellent opportunity when Ashley Young wriggled away from Carlos Cuellar close to the dead-ball line, then cut a cross back which Van Persie finished expertly.
Yet the goal also needed significant assistance from John O'Shea, who got himself into a muddle as he tried to clear Young's cross, which allowed Van Persie to profit.
Given Wes Brown's own-goal was the difference in last season's corresponding fixture, Sunderland's ex-United contingent have not had the happiest of returns to old haunts.
Within three minutes, the hosts had their second.
If Cleverley wants to assume the Paul Scholes mantle, he needs to start finding the net more consistently. And after two goals against Newcastle earlier in the campaign, the England man finally got his first in the Premier League at Old Trafford.
It was a gem too as Cleverley exchanged passes with Michael Carrick before drilling an excellent effort past Simon Mignolet from 12 yards.
With United scenting blood, Rooney wasted a glorious chance when he volleyed wide from Van Persie's knock-down.
The England striker then steered a near-post header wide from Evra's cross as the Red Devils threatened to run riot.
Half-time was approaching before Sunderland carved out their first meaningful opportunity, which Stephane Sessegnon struck Evra with before it flew over.
The interval introduction of Conor Wickham for the injured Steven Fletcher did trigger a flurry of activity around the United goal as David de Gea denied Craig Gardner and Sessegnon.
Yet the clear chances kept falling to the hosts. Rooney's shot rattled the bar after flicking off Titus Bramble, with Young blazing the rebound over.
Then, given the number of goals he has scored so far this season, came the somewhat surprising sight of Van Persie lobbing wide after Young had sent the Dutchman running clear of an over-stretched Sunderland defence.
There was little argument to be made for a Black Cats comeback and any pretence was ended just before the hour when an unselfish overlapping run by Van Persie was followed by a deft piece of skill that took him between Cuellar and Bramble before he set up Rooney, who tapped home from close range.
With victory assured, Ferguson felt sufficiently confident about easing Vidic back into the fray.
After only 13 appearances in a 16-month period that included a calf injury and two lots of knee surgery, the 31-year-old desperately needs to stay injury free in order to rediscover his old form.
Evidently, Vidic has plenty of work in front of him too judging by the uncharacteristic mistake that eventually led to United old-boy Campbell heading home from close range.
BLACK CATS v RED DEVILS - THE HISTORY
2013/2014 Sat 05 Oct Sunderland 1 - 2 Man. Utd. Premier League
2012/2013 Sat 30 Mar Sunderland 0 - 1 Man. Utd. Premier League
Sat 15 Dec Man. Utd. 3 - 1 Sunderland Premier League
2011/2012 Sun 13 May Sunderland 0 - 1 Man. Utd. Premier League
Sat 05 Nov Man. Utd. 1 - 0 Sunderland Premier League
2010/2011 Sun 26 Dec Man. Utd. 2 - 0 Sunderland Premier League
Sat 02 Oct Sunderland 0 - 0 Man. Utd. Premier League
2009/2010 Sun 02 May Sunderland 0 - 1 Man. Utd. Premier League
Sat 03 Oct Man. Utd. 2 - 2 Sunderland Premier League
2008/2009 Sat 11 Apr Sunderland 1 - 2 Man. Utd. Premier League
Sat 06 Dec Man. Utd. 1 - 0 Sunderland Premier League
2007/2008 Wed 26 Dec Sunderland 0 - 4 Man. Utd. Premier League
Sat 01 Sep Man. Utd. 1 - 0 Sunderland Premier League
2005/2006 Fri 14 Apr Man. Utd. 0 - 0 Sunderland Premiership
Sat 15 Oct Sunderland 1 - 3 Man. Utd. Premiership
2002/2003 Wed 01 Jan Man. Utd. 2 - 1 Sunderland Premiership
Sat 31 Aug Sunderland 1 - 1 Man. Utd. Premiership
2001/2002 Sat 02 Feb Man. Utd. 4 - 1 Sunderland Premiership
Sat 13 Oct Sunderland 1 - 3 Man. Utd. Premiership
2000/2001 Wed 31 Jan Sunderland 0 - 1 Man. Utd. Premiership
Tue 28 Nov Sunderland 2 - 1 Man. Utd. League Cup
after extra time, 90 minutes 1-1
Sat 09 Sep Man. Utd. 3 - 0 Sunderland Premiership
1999/2000 Sat 15 Apr Man. Utd. 4 - 0 Sunderland Premiership
Tue 28 Dec Sunderland 2 - 2 Man. Utd. Premiership
1996/1997 Sat 08 Mar Sunderland 2 - 1 Man. Utd. Premiership
Sat 21 Dec Man. Utd. 5 - 0 Sunderland Premiership
1995/1996 Tue 16 Jan Sunderland 1 - 2 Man. Utd. F.A. Cup
Sat 06 Jan Man. Utd. 2 - 2 Sunderland F.A. Cup
1990/1991 Sat 12 Jan Man. Utd. 3 - 0 Sunderland First Division
Sat 01 Sep Sunderland 2 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1984/1985 Sat 27 Apr Man. Utd. 2 - 2 Sunderland First Division
Sat 24 Nov Sunderland 3 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
1983/1984 Sat 25 Feb Man. Utd. 2 - 1 Sunderland First Division
Sat 22 Oct Sunderland 0 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1982/1983 Mon 04 Apr Sunderland 0 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
Mon 27 Dec Man. Utd. 0 - 0 Sunderland First Division
1981/1982 Sat 27 Mar Man. Utd. 0 - 0 Sunderland First Division
Sat 07 Nov Sunderland 1 - 5 Man. Utd. First Division
1980/1981 Wed 28 Jan Sunderland 2 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 30 Aug Man. Utd. 1 - 1 Sunderland First Division
1976/1977 Mon 11 Apr Sunderland 2 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
Wed 10 Nov Man. Utd. 3 - 3 Sunderland First Division
1974/1975 Sat 18 Jan Sunderland 0 - 0 Man. Utd. Second Division
Sat 30 Nov Man. Utd. 3 - 2 Sunderland Second Division
1969/1970 Sat 27 Dec Sunderland 1 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 30 Aug Man. Utd. 3 - 1 Sunderland First Division
1968/1969 Sat 18 Jan Man. Utd. 4 - 1 Sunderland First Division
Sat 09 Nov Sunderland 1 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1967/1968 Sat 11 May Man. Utd. 1 - 2 Sunderland First Division
Wed 06 Sep Sunderland 1 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1966/1967 Sat 22 Apr Sunderland 0 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 26 Nov Man. Utd. 5 - 0 Sunderland First Division
1965/1966 Sat 08 Jan Man. Utd. 1 - 1 Sunderland First Division
Sat 11 Dec Sunderland 2 - 3 Man. Utd. First Division
1964/1965 Wed 24 Feb Sunderland 1 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 10 Oct Man. Utd. 1 - 0 Sunderland First Division
1957/1958 Mon 07 Apr Sunderland 1 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
Fri 04 Apr Man. Utd. 2 - 2 Sunderland First Division
1956/1957 Sat 20 Apr Man. Utd. 4 - 0 Sunderland First Division
Sat 13 Oct Sunderland 1 - 3 Man. Utd. First Division
1955/1956 Sat 14 Apr Sunderland 2 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 03 Dec Man. Utd. 2 - 1 Sunderland First Division
1954/1955 Mon 11 Apr Man. Utd. 2 - 2 Sunderland First Division
Fri 08 Apr Sunderland 4 - 3 Man. Utd. First Division
1953/1954 Sat 27 Feb Sunderland 0 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 10 Oct Man. Utd. 1 - 0 Sunderland First Division
1952/1953 Wed 18 Feb Sunderland 2 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 27 Sep Man. Utd. 0 - 1 Sunderland First Division
1951/1952 Sat 08 Mar Sunderland 1 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 20 Oct Man. Utd. 0 - 1 Sunderland First Division
1950/1951 Tue 26 Dec Man. Utd. 3 - 5 Sunderland First Division
Mon 25 Dec Sunderland 2 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1949/1950 Sat 18 Feb Sunderland 2 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 01 Oct Man. Utd. 1 - 3 Sunderland First Division
1948/1949 Thu 21 Apr Man. Utd. 1 - 2 Sunderland First Division
Sat 02 Oct Sunderland 2 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1947/1948 Sat 06 Mar Man. Utd. 3 - 1 Sunderland First Division
Sat 18 Oct Sunderland 1 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
1946/1947 Sat 01 Mar Sunderland 1 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 26 Oct Man. Utd. 0 - 3 Sunderland First Division
1938/1939 Sat 04 Mar Sunderland 5 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 29 Oct Man. Utd. 0 - 1 Sunderland First Division
1936/1937 Wed 21 Apr Sunderland 1 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
Fri 01 Jan Man. Utd. 2 - 1 Sunderland First Division
1930/1931 Sat 04 Apr Sunderland 1 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 29 Nov Man. Utd. 1 - 1 Sunderland First Division
1929/1930 Sat 05 Apr Man. Utd. 2 - 1 Sunderland First Division
Sat 30 Nov Sunderland 2 - 4 Man. Utd. First Division
1928/1929 Sat 06 Apr Man. Utd. 3 - 0 Sunderland First Division
Sat 24 Nov Sunderland 5 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1927/1928 Wed 25 Apr Man. Utd. 2 - 1 Sunderland First Division
Sat 12 Nov Sunderland 4 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1926/1927 Sat 30 Apr Man. Utd. 0 - 0 Sunderland First Division
Sat 11 Dec Sunderland 6 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
1925/1926 Wed 21 Apr Man. Utd. 5 - 1 Sunderland First Division
Sat 05 Dec Sunderland 2 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1921/1922 Sat 28 Jan Man. Utd. 3 - 1 Sunderland First Division
Sat 21 Jan Sunderland 2 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1920/1921 Sat 05 Mar Sunderland 2 - 3 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 26 Feb Man. Utd. 3 - 0 Sunderland First Division
1919/1920 Sat 14 Feb Man. Utd. 2 - 0 Sunderland First Division
Sat 07 Feb Sunderland 3 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
1914/1915 Sat 06 Feb Sunderland 1 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 03 Oct Man. Utd. 3 - 0 Sunderland First Division
1913/1914 Fri 10 Apr Sunderland 2 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
Mon 08 Sep Man. Utd. 3 - 1 Sunderland First Division
1912/1913 Sat 15 Mar Man. Utd. 1 - 3 Sunderland First Division
Sat 09 Nov Sunderland 3 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1911/1912 Sat 27 Jan Sunderland 5 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
Sat 23 Sep Man. Utd. 2 - 2 Sunderland First Division
1910/1911 Sat 29 Apr Man. Utd. 5 - 1 Sunderland First Division
Sat 24 Dec Sunderland 1 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
1909/1910 Sat 16 Apr Man. Utd. 2 - 0 Sunderland First Division
Sat 04 Dec Sunderland 3 - 0 Man. Utd. First Division
1908/1909 Mon 15 Mar Man. Utd. 2 - 2 Sunderland First Division
Sat 31 Oct Sunderland 6 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1907/1908 Sat 14 Mar Man. Utd. 3 - 0 Sunderland First Division
Sat 16 Nov Sunderland 1 - 2 Man. Utd. First Division
1906/1907 Mon 25 Mar Man. Utd. 2 - 0 Sunderland First Division
Sat 20 Oct Sunderland 4 - 1 Man. Utd. First Division
1896/1897 Mon 26 Apr Sunderland 2 - 0 Newton Heath Test Match
Sat 24 Apr Newton Heath 1 - 1 Sunderland Test Match
1893/1894 Sat 03 Mar Newton Heath 2 - 4 Sunderland First Division
Wed 06 Dec Sunderland 4 - 1 Newton Heath First Division
1892/1893 Tue 04 Apr Sunderland 6 - 0 Newton Heath First Division
Sat 04 Mar Newton Heath 0 - 5 Sunderland First Division