Alexis Sanchez provides two assists on debut as Manchester United cruise past Yeovil
Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera, Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku on the score sheet.
- Alexis Sanchez provides two assists on his Manchester United debut.
- Marcus Rashford opened the scoring just before half-time before Jesse Lingard added his 12th of the season after 88 minutes.
- Romelu Lukaku lashed home a late fourth with 17-year-old Angel Gomes also coming on for the final few minutes.
Yeovil stung on the counter! Mata, sat in his own half, gets the ball and springs Sanchez down the middle, racing towards goal with support coming in the form of Rashford and Herrera. Sanchez lays a clever pass into the path of the Spaniard, who rifles a low effort across goal and into the back of the net.
A flurry of chances for United! Shaw feeds Sanchez down the left and he scoops a terrific ball in the middle which Mata is eyeing up on the volley. But just as he is about to pull the trigger, there is a terrific block from Dickson. The ball breaks to Shaw but he sees his effort blocked too and Yeovil clear.
Indecision costs Yeovil five minutes from half-time. Sanchez drives in from the left before sliding a clever ball into Rashford. He appears to take a touch too many and is quickly swarmed by Yeovil players, but James' decision not to hook the ball clear allows the United centre-forward to nip in behind him and convert from close range.
Sensational stuff from Sanchez, his turn takes two Yeovil players out of the game, leaving them on their backsides, before sliding a clever ball into McTominay, whose first touch lets him down. Moments later, the Chilean is taken out with a brutal late challenge from Nathan Smith, who gets a booking. Sanchez fancies the free kick.
Green is tormenting Darmian a tad here. The Yeovil forward takes him on and beats him with ease, drawing a foul that draws another decent stop out of Romero.
Up the other end, Rashford brilliantly dummies to free Herrera inside the box, but his attempt to prod the ball across goal to Mata is too tame and the home side clear.
Jose Mourinho on starting Alexis Sanchez tonight [via BBC One]
He had a couple of training sessions with us. But of course he is not in his best condition because last week, for him, he didn't train and didn't play. We think the best way for him to adapt to us and the best way to recover his normal fitness is to play.
"He loves to play. He wants to play – no doubts about it – so let's see. For us, it's not about Alexis, it's about the match against Yeovil in the FA Cup.
This chap is among the subs tonight. Angel Gomes made history when he came off the bench to replace Wayne Rooney in United's season-closing victory over Crystal Palace last May; becoming United's youngest player since the great Duncan Edwards. Since then, the attacking midfielder has signed his first professional contract with the club and remains hugely thought-of by club staff.
United might need to be a few goals up before Mourinho decided to introduce him, but his inclusion in the squad tonight is exciting stuff.
United's current longest serving player Michael Carrick is in the starting XI for just the second time tonight. After a calf problem and undergoing a procedure to treat an irregular heart rhythm, the evergreen midfielder is back match fit once again and with Paul Pogba given the night off, it will be up to him to pull the strings from the middle of the park.
Alexis has typically been at his most lethal operating down that left. As United learned first-hand in April 2015 when he lashed this effort past a helpless David de Gea, their new signing is perhaps his most potent when cutting inside onto his natural right foot. It's a position he prefers playing in the most, too.
I really like to play down the left, through the middle... but to tell you the truth, as long as I'm playing football, I'll fit in anywhere.
That's 10 changes we count for United. Juan Mata, the man many tipped to lose his place to make way for Alexis Sanchez, is the only player to retain his place from the side that beat Burnley last Saturday.
Antonio Valencia, Paul Pogba, David De Gea and Anthony Martial have all been given the night off and are not in the squad tonight. Michael Carrick starts his first match since September, he comes into midfield to partner Ander Herrera with Nemanja Matic in reserve on the bench.
Romelu Lukaku also starts among the subs with Marcus Rashford leading the attack. And after 100s of articles this week speculation on which role he would take, Alexis Sanchez makes his United debut starting on the left of an attacking three.
Among the subs is 17-year-old Angel Gomes, looking for just his second senior appearance.
Jose Mourinho stopped short of confirming Alexis Sanchez will start tonight but we are sure to see him in some capacity. The Chile international has not played since the 10 January when he came off the bench for the final 24 minutes of Carabao Cup clash against Chelsea.
Jose has promised a "strong team" tonight; but has failed to elaborate more much on that. We expect to see Sergio Romero reclaim his place in goal ahead of David de Gea, mind. A trip to Tottenham Hotspur awaits United on Wednesday, however, so perhaps will see a few of the manager's big names replaced if they can wrap the game up early doors.
Angel Gomes, who last season became United's youngest ever player when he came on against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, was also among that travelling contingent. Will we see the 17-year-old tonight? If United find themselves cruising late on, it could be the perfect opportunity to hand him some minutes.
Eric Bailly is United's only remaining injury absentee with his return after ankle surgery pencilled in for next month. Michael Carrick, who has played just one match back in September this season, was spotted travelling with the United group earlier this morning and will hope to be involved against the League Two outfit.
Tonight isn't quite a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with Manchester United for Yeovil Town. In fact, their last meeting with the 20-time English champions came just three years ago at Huish Park, where goals from Ander Herrera and a chap by the name of Angel di Maria secured a 2-0 win for the side then managed by Louis van Gaal.
Nevertheless, the old David vs Goliath narrative is in full swing with the League Two side also hoping to spoil Alexis Sanchez's debut this evening. The Chile international, who completed his move from Arsenal on Monday, has made the journey to Somerset with Jose Mourinho confirming he will have some role to play tonight.
Stick around, all your team news is on the way.