Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Manchester United and Sunderland.

While a number of Manchester United performances have come in for criticism since the opening day of the season, Louis van Gaal's men could potentially move to the top of the Premier League table this afternoon with a win over Sunderland, who head into the game without success in six top-flight contests. That could all change over the next half hour, but with Manchester City currently losing at Tottenham Hotspur, today could represent a significant moment in United's season.

UPDATE! Harry Kane has finally ended his Spurs goal drought by netting his team's third against the current league leaders. If you want to keep up-to-date with all the goings on at White Hart Lane, you can do so by clicking here.

It's time for us to take a look at both teams. As expected, there are not many changes in the United starting lineup...

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian; Schneiderlin, Carrick; Mata, Rooney, Memphis; Martial

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Romero, Jones, Herrera, Schweinsteiger, Pereira, Young, Fellaini

As you can see, Van Gaal has opted to make just the one alteration to the team that beat Southampton last weekend. In comes Antonio Valencia, who will begin the game at right-back, in place of the injured Marcos Rojo, with Matteo Darmain switching flanks to the left-back slot. The quartet of Juan Mata, Memphis Depay, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial fill the for attacking positions.

SUNDERLAND XI: Pantilimon; Jones, van Aanholt, O'Shea, Kaboul; Cattermole, M'Vila; Johnson, Toivonen, Lens; Borini

SUNDERLAND SUBSTITUTES: Mannone, Larsson, Gomez, Defoe, Coates, Yedlin, Fletcher

Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat has made four changes to the team that were soundly beaten by Manchester City in the League Cup, with Costel Pantilimon, Billy Jones, Younes Kaboul and Lee Cattermole all being handed a start. Fabio Borini will lead the line for the Black Cats, with Jermain Defoe and Steven Fletcher only earning a spot on the bench.

Before we go any further, let me point you in the direction of Sports Mole's audio preview of the encounter at Old Trafford.

UPDATE! City have been pushing men forward at White Hart Lane, but somewhat remarkably, Spurs have scored a fourth through Erik Lamela! You can catch the closing stages by clicking here.

If that audio preview didn't take your fancy, why not take a look at our written preview here? Bit of a warning though - the head-to-head section doesn't make good reading for any Sunderland fans out there...

Before we talk a little bit about Manchester United, let's take a look at Sunderland, who have endured a nightmare start to the campaign. The Black Cats have just one win to show for their efforts in all competitions, which came against League Two Exeter City in the League Cup. On the whole, they have been desperately disappointing in the Premier League, conceding a total of seven goals in matches against Leicester City and Norwich City at the start of the season and being comfortably beaten by Bournemouth last weekend. It has gotten to the stage where their supporters do not know where the next win is coming from, and they would be ecstatic with a point in the North-West this afternoon.

As for United, they enter this match on the back of successive victories in the league against Liverpool and Southampton. Anthony Martial has taken most of the plaudits after netting three of the six goals, but their attacking play as a whole has been much improved since the dire first half against Liverpool. There will still be concerns over a defence that haven't kept a clean sheet in the league since August 22, but with David de Gea between the sticks, it should only be a matter of time before a fourth shutout of the season is completed.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at White Hart Lane and Spurs have completed a resounding 4-1 triumph over Manchester City. Who saw that coming?!

That result has ramifications for the Premier League table. United will go top with a win this afternoon, while West Ham United will join them in overtaking City if they can get the better of Norwich City. Either Leicester City or Arsenal, or maybe both, will move nearer Manuel Pellegrini's men too. And who said that the Premier League title race was done and dusted after five games...

However, United fans should perhaps not get too confident - Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat says that his team will give their hosts "a tough time" this afternoon. I'm sure that prediction will result in a few smirks, but in all fairness to Advocaat, his team did take a point at Arsenal last season so you never know.

PREDICTION! This can only go one way, can't it? With United scoring 10 goals in their last four games in all competitions and Sunderland not keeping a clean sheet all season, it may be a case of "how many" as far as the home side are concerned. United to canter to a 4-1 win.

As usual, the playing surface at Old Trafford looks immaculate.

The lads are getting ready #mufcvslfc #OldTrafford #3points @ManUtd @ManUtd_SA @ManUtdUSA @ManUtd_ID pic.twitter.com/lHUpiuIz50 — Quinton Fortune ️ (@QuintonFortune) September 26, 2015

It's time for the two teams to make their way onto that same immaculate surface. A home crowd is expectant, but will their side deliver?

We are underway at Old Trafford.

Sunderland have had one optimistic burst forward, but it has largely been an opening few minutes dominated by United possession. Valencia had a chance to cross from the by-line but he allowed the ball to go out for a goal kick.

I think we are witnessing the general pattern of the whole game. Sunderland are sitting with nine men behind the ball, allowing United to spray the ball about without any pressure. Borini could be in for a lot of work up front on his own.

Valencia has already showed that he could have some joy from the right-back position, and the same can be said of Darmian down the left. He breezes past Billy Jones before crossing into the middle. Kaboul does well to flick the ball away before Mata's ball back towards the back post is just too high for Memphis.

Some brilliant skill from Martial wins United a free kick on the corner of the penalty area. It's Mata who whips the ball into the box but it is cleared by the first defender. Poor.

It's Sunderland's turn to win a free kick, this time from around 45 yards out. The first attempt is only half cleared before a second delivery into the area sees O'Shea glance a header into the grateful hands of De Gea.

That header was never going to beat the Spaniard but that is as good a chance as we have seen so far. United are threatening in fits and starts, but there has been no sustained pressure as of yet.

Shambolic defending from Sunderland. After Kaboul fails to deal with a long ball over the top, Pantilimon ends up catching the ball outside of the penalty area. He avoids any further action and Mata's free kick is straight into the wall. Sunderland survive but that was horrific miscommunication

This doesn't look good for Lee Cattermole. The Black Cats skipper appears to have tweaked his knee after passing the ball in his own final third. He's back up but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to continue.

We are a quarter of the way through this match and we are yet to see Pantilimon make a save. I'm sure that isn't what Van Gaal envisaged. The home side need to step it up. Memphis attempts to take the direct approach but he takes on one man too many and the opening disappears.

SAVE! Finally, we have the first significant save of the match, but it's from De Gea, not Pantilimon. Lens got a shot away from the right-hand side of the penalty area but the Spaniard managed to get his body in the way.

SHOT! United respond up the other end when Sunderland fail to clear a cross from the right. The ball lands at the feet of Memphis, but his curling effort is punched over the crossbar by Pantilimon.

Wayne Rooney barely touched the ball during the opening 20 minutes, but he's beginning to make an impact now. Operating from a deeper role seems to suit the United captain but he has a job to do to get his team back on track in this game. The frustration is building among supporters in the stands.

We are through 30 minutes of this game now and Advocaat will be delighted so far. They are more than matching United in all departments. There's a long, long way to go in this one though.

We've had a lengthy break in play while Borini gets treatment on a leg injury suffered from a collision with Valencia. It was fairly innocuous but certainly painful. He's back on his feet though. Perhaps he just wanted a breather.

Martial is down on the ground now after competing with Cattermole, who is also limping. The medical staff are working overtime! Both are good to continue.

BOOKING! The first yellow card of the match goes to Adam Johnson, who handled the ball on the edge of the box. Memphis is standing over the ball from 25 yards out...

The set piece is on target, but it may as well not be. It's weak and deflected, and straight into the hands of Pantilimon.

Borini has been feeding on scraps in the Sunderland attack, but he's doing superbly so far. The Italian's selection ahead of Defoe and Fletcher is being justified.

There are going to be four additional minutes. Can anyone make a difference before the break? This game has been a bit of shocker so far.

Sunderland are ending the half on the front foot. They aren't creating any openings - aside from the most speculative of efforts from Johnson - but they are having plenty of the ball inside the United half. Van Gaal has much to do at half time.

That's a hammer blow to Sunderland. They are literally seconds away from deserving going into the break on level terms, but a floated ball over the top of the defence is volleyed back across goal - it may have even been a shot - by Mata and Memphis was on hand to rifle the ball home from four yards.

The half-time whistle finally goes at Old Trafford and United go into the break with a lead that they don't deserve. Much of their play has been slow and lethargic, but Memphis's close-range effort is the difference between the two teams. Advocaat will be furious that all of his team's hard work has come to nothing.

There were nine shots during that half - it honestly didn't seem that way - with six going United's way and three being created by Sunderland. As far as possession and corners are concerned, United lead the way too, but Sunderland more than matched Van Gaal's men in that half. A second goal for the home side would probably end the game as a contest, but if Sunderland can remain at just the one-goal deficit with 20 minutes remaining, then who knows.

Most eyes would have been on Memphis and Martial during that half, but in truth, they didn't do a whole lot. Both showed glimpses of the talent that persuaded United to spend so much money on their services, but the Old Trafford faithful will be expecting more, especially from Memphis. His goal has made up for what has been another below-par display.

We are back underway at Old Trafford. Sunderland have thrown on Fletcher for Johnson.

That's the Premier League goal drought over! A Mata cross is turned in by Rooney at the near post and United are on their way to the top of the league table.

BOOKING! Billy Jones joins Johnson in the book after a crude challenge on Memphis. He could have no complaints with that tackle, which was out of frustration more than anything.

That second goal came just 38 seconds after the restart. Throwing Fletcher on was a bold move by Advocaat, but it unsettled things on the flank and the Black Cats were made to pay.

CHANCE! Big chance for Sunderland to get back into this match. A free kick towards the back post caused confusion, and Toivonen was well placed to poke the ball towards goal, only to find De Gea equal to it with a block with his feet.

United have reverted back to the patient approach, with the ball being sprayed between the defence and the midfield. Unlike the first half, the extra urgency in their play isn't needed. They have done their job so far.

With 30 minutes remaining, Advocaat must decide whether to risk Defoe, who is said to be carrying a knock, or go with the players that are already on the pitch. The longer this goes on, I can see it being the latter.

CHANCE! Another great opportunity for Sunderland! They really should be back in this match. A searching ball towards the left flank finds Van Aanholt, who has got a yard on Valencia, but despite advancing into the penalty area, his low drive is blocked by De Gea at the near post.

United almost fashion a third goal at the other end, but after Memphis is denied by a block from O'Shea, Martial attempts to do too much with the loose ball and it eventually crowded out at the Sunderland defence. He's also rather fortunate to avoid a yellow card after diving in late on Jones.

SUBSTITUTION! It's time for Schweinsteiger to make his customary appearance from the bench. He replaces Carrick, who is presumably being saved for United's Champions League game in midweek.

Moments before that alteration, Martial played in Memphis, who only had Pantilimon to beat, but the Romanian stopper was able to pull off the save. That isn't going to do the confidence of the former PSV man much good.

CHANCE! United are really pushing for the third now. A cross from Valencia on the right flank finds Martial, but his header is wide of the target. Sunderland have introduced Larsson to the action.

SUBSTITUTION! After clashing heads with Fletcher, Blind is replaced by Jones, who will be hoping to build on his 20-minute appearance against Ipswich in midweek.

Unless Sunderland pull something out of the bag soon, this match is petering its way out for a comfortable United win, who will move a point clear at the top of the table. As it stands, they will also extend their lead over West Ham United, who are only drawing with Norwich City.

SUBSTITUTION! Van Gaal makes his final alteration of the afternoon, replacing Memphis with Young. The Dutchman will be pleased with his goal but there is so much more to come.

CHANCE! Aside from the two goals that he has conceded, Pantilimon has done little wrong for Sunderland, and he keeps the score down again with a solid stop from Mata, who has provided the assist for both of United's efforts either side of the break.

Just five minutes to go at Old Trafford. As long as Sunderland don't score, there shouldn't be much injury time. This match feels done and dusted.

Not sure if this was a standing ovation or fans supporting Van Gaal's decision. *sniggers*.

PICS: Memphis received a standing ovation from the #mufc fans when he was replaced by Young moments ago. pic.twitter.com/sYCjdVlVIK — Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 26, 2015

A couple of minutes ago, Lee Cattermole entered the referee's notebook for a late challenge on Schneiderlin. No surprise there, but in all fairness to the Sunderland skipper, he has had a decent game today.

After providing the assists for the opening two goals, Mata gets in on the act with number three. Young gets the better of Jones on the left flank before giving Mata the chance to thump the ball high into the net.

There will be four minutes of added-on time, but they aren't really needed.

The full-time whistle goes at Old Trafford and Manchester United will top the Premier League table on Saturday night after a comfortable 3-0 win over Sunderland. The Black Cats will feel slightly hard done by after failing to go into the break on level terms but United are full value for the three points.

That will be all from Sports Mole's coverage of this game. Thank you for joining us and we hope that you can stick around for all the match reports and reaction that is coming your way. Goodbye for now.