Anthony Martial 9 out of 10, Bruno Fernandes 8, Oliver Norwood 4: Manchester United v Sheffield United player ratings

Martial scores first hat-trick of his career as Solskjaer's side make it 13 unbeaten

• 

  MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 6, Waited till the 83rd minute for his first shot to save. He managed it comfortably. Roy Keane will be pleased. EPA

• 

  Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 8, A constant threat on the hosts’ right flank, and his cross set up the second goal Reuters

• 

  Harry Maguire – 7, Denied a goal against his hometown club for shoving at a corner. He was otherwise untested EPA

• 

  Victor Lindelof – 7, Untroubled, but vigilant enough to head away a Blades attack in injury time with the game already well won. Reuters

• 

  Luke Shaw – 5, Booked and gave away a soft corner, as he made hard work of what was otherwise a stroll in the park for his team. Reuters

• 

  Nemanja Matic - 8, Restored to the starting XI, he was an assiduous water carrier for Fernandes and Pogba. Just what Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would have wanted. EPA

• 

  Paul Pogba - 7, Generally played the supporting role in his midfield double act with Fernandes, but did produce one delicious solo run.. EPA

• 

  Mason Greenwood – 7, Enjoyed his license to roam inside, and linked up with Wan-Bissaka well. Reuters

• 

  Bruno Fernandes – 8, They will face tougher tests than this, but his partnership with Pogba flourished. EPA

• 

  Marcus Rashford – 8, A crisp assist and two glaring misses within the first 20 minutes, then another assist later on. Dovetailed magnificently with Martial. EPA

• 

  Anthony Martial – 9, A first career hat-trick comprised two smart finishes to right wing crosses early on, then a deft finish in the second. AFP

• 

  SUB: Andreas Pereira - NA, Like the other four players who came on with him in the 80th minute for the home side, chances to excel were minimal. Reuters

• 

  SUB: Scott McTominay - NA, Celebrated a new five-year contract by being among a five-player substitution by Solskjaer. AFP

• 

  SUB: Daniel James – NA, Made way from the starting XI against Tottenham, but got 10 minutes to have a run at the end. Reuters

• 

  SUB: Odion Ighalo - NA, Only given 10 minutes to impress, but still forged two chances for himself. EPA

• 

  SUB: Juan Mata – NA, Known to be charitable with his money, so he might be minded to give away all his appearance fee for his 10 minutes here. Reuters

• 

  SHEFFIELD UNITED RATINGS: Simon Moore - 5, Making his second Premier League start, he had little chance with the three goals. AFP

• 

  Jack Robinson – 5, Part of a back three who couldn’t cope with Manchester United’s jet-heeled front two. EPA

• 

  Chris Basham – 6, Did his best to spark some life into the away side’s attacks, but the doors were wide open too often at the back. Reuters

• 

  Phil Jagielka – 5, Well into his footballing dotage, so could have done without having to try to keep up with whippersnappers like Martial and Rashford. Reuters

• 

  George Baldock – 7, Tenacious, and perhaps the only Blades player who could say he got the better of his direct match up, and he showed up well against Shaw. Reuters

• 

  John Fleck – 5, It is no crime finishing second best in a midfield battle with Pogba and Fernandes, which is what happened. EPA

• 

  Oliver Norwood – 4, Rarely spotted in the first half, and hooked at the break, which added up to a sad return to the club where he started his career. Reuters

• 

  John Lundstram – 6, Looked the most able of the Blades midfielders – but that wasn’t saying much on a tough day out. Reuters

• 

  Enda Stevens - 5, Given the run-around by Wan-Bissaka and he looked exhausted as a result. EPA

• 

  David McGoldrick – 5, Did not even have morsels to work with, so it was no wonder he struggled to make an impression. Reuters

• 

  Lys Mousset – 4, The French forward scarcely saw the ball before being replaced at the break because of injury. Reuters

• 

  SUB: Oli McBurnie - 5, Had an air shot at a header as soon as he was introduced as a half-time sub, and that was about as good as it got. Reuters

• 

  SUB: Sander Berge – 4, An ignominious display, after he was introduced for Norwood at the interval, was typified when he was nutmegged by Pogba. Reuters

• 

  SUB: Richairo Zivkovic- 7, On loan from the Chinese second division, he was the away side’s busiest player after his second-half introduction. Reuters

Anthony Martial scored the first hat-trick by a Manchester United player in a Premier League fixture since Alex Ferguson was manager as they outplayed Sheffield United.

The Red Devils' 3-0 win meant they maintained their grip on fifth place in the league, and kept the pressure on Chelsea in fourth.

It was the latest loss in a miserable return to competition since lockdown for the away side, whose prospects of European football appear to be diminishing.

Here is how the players fared.