Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney orchestrating, United were always in control of this match as the Reds maintained the six-point lead over Chelsea with a comprehensive 4-0 win over struggling Watford.

Despite a slow start, United took the lead through a Ronaldo penalty, but it was a ten-minute second-half spell which gleaned an own goal and one apiece for Wayne Rooney and substitute Henrik Larsson to secure all three points.

Sir Alex made five changes to the team that beat Portsmouth 2-1 in the FA Cup on Sunday, most notably promoting United’s two-goal hero Rooney to the starting line-up along with Ronaldo, back from a week-long mid-season break. Gabriel Heinze, Kieran Richardson and John O’Shea were also called upon as the Reds boss rotated his squad, while Tomasz Kuszczak retained his place in goal ahead of Edwin van der Sar.

Watford, still rooted to the bottom of the table, were without influential goalkeeper Ben Foster, who could not play against his employers due to Premier League rules. They also lacked the pace in attacking areas of Ashley Young, recently departed to Aston Villa for nigh on £10million. There were clear signs of the problems facing Hornets boss Aidy Boothroyd, who had to select 37-year-old left-back Chris Powell in central midfield.

United’s early play was neither slick nor incisive in the first ten minutes, but as the half progressed the Reds began to assert more pressure on a Watford side set up merely to survive. Rooney sent a header looping narrowly wide on 13 minutes,