Good afternoon! I hope you all enjoyed a very merry Christmas, and what better way to let that turkey settle than sitting back and following an action-packed day of football in the Premier League? We'll be following Manchester United vs. Sunderland here as David Moyes returns to Old Trafford for the first time since his sacking more than two years ago. A win would be a big boost for both clubs, but before we have a more in-depth look at their situations, let's first check out the team news...

MAN UTD STARTING XI: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Blind; Carrick, Herrera, Pogba, Mata, Lingard; Ibrahimovic

MAN UTD SUBS: Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Fellaini, Mkhitaryan, Martial, Rashford

SUNDERLAND STARTING XI: Pickford; Jones, Djilobodji, Kone, Van Aanholt; Ndong, Denayer, Borini, Larsson; Anichebe, Defoe

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Mannone, Love, Asoro, O'Shea, Khazri, Embleton, Honeyman

What can we make of those two teams, then? Well, the headline news as far as United are concerned is the absence of captain Wayne Rooney - not just from the team but from the entire squad. He remains one short of Sir Bobby Charlton's all-time scoring record for the club, and his absence means that Juan Mata comes back into the starting lineup from the team that beat West Bromwich Albion last time out.

Leading the line for the hosts once again is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who has shown no signs of slowing down in the goalscoring stakes since his move to England. Indeed, since the start of November he has a phenomenal strike of rate of seven goals from just eight shots on target in the Premier League, and one more goal today would see him equal his career-best goalscoring tally for a calendar year, which currently stands at 50 from 2012. He enjoys playing in December too having scored 40 goals in Europe's top five leagues in the month - his best tally in any single month.

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In addition to Mata behind him, Ibrahimovic will also have support from Lingard and Pogba, both of whom retain their place in the side from the win over West Brom. Sitting further back will be Herrera and Carrick, the latter of whom especially has proven himself to be a key player for Mourinho in recent weeks. The veteran struggled for game time earlier in the season having signed a one-year contract extension, but his more regular starts have coincided with United's improved form and suddenly he is one of the first names on the team sheet.

The only other change made by Mourinho this afternoon sees Blind replace Darmian in defence, with the Italian dropping to the bench. There had been reports that Bailly may be fit in time to return from a knee problem to start, but he fails to make the matchday squad today. Mkhitaryan, who was beginning to find his feet before picking up an ankle injury in the recent win over Tottenham, is deemed fit enough for a place on the bench, though, alongside the likes of Martial and Rashford. Plenty of pace in reserve for United today, then.

As for Sunderland, they also make two changes to the side which beat Watford last time out, one of which sees Billy Jones return from a hip injury to start at right-back. He replaces Donald Love on the team, who drops to the bench against his former club. Love is one of a few former Manchester United players on Sunderland's books, but none of the start today, with O'Shea also on the bench and Adnan Januzaj ineligible to play against his parent club.

In goal, Pickford has been one of the busiest but most impressive goalkeepers in the Premier League this season. Clean sheets have been at a premium, as you might expect for a club battle against relegation, but things could be a lot worse for Sunderland were it not for Pickford's form and he certainly seems to have a bright future ahead of him. Djilobodji and Kone will be protecting him again this afternoon, while on the left Patrick van Aanholt will hope to provide an attacking threat. He is one of only three players to score for Sunderland so far this season - the fewest different goalscorers any club has ever had in the Premier League at Christmas.

That statistic sounds good for Van Aanholt, but it is pretty damning for the midfield. Moyes needs more goals from the middle of the park, and he brings Larsson into the side in place of Januzaj today in an attempt to get that. Khazri, who scored within three minutes the last time these two sides met, remains on the bench as Borini is again given the nod. The midfield is one area of the field where Sunderland have been badly hit by injuries, with the likes of Kirchhoff, Cattermole, Rodwell, Pienaar, Watmore and McNair all currently sidelined.

Sunderland's best hope of survival this season seems once again to come through Jermain Defoe. The veteran's goals almost single-handedly kept them up last term and have given them a fighting chance this time around too, and he enjoys playing on Boxing Day. He has scored six Premier League goals on December 26 - the most of any current player in the division and only three short of the all-time record held by Robbie Fowler. Alongside him, Victor Anichebe has established himself as an important part of the side too, and he could be crucial in holding the ball up this afternoon.

While Sunderland will always feel as though they have a chance of getting goals with Defoe in the team, there is no doubt that they come into this match as huge underdogs to come away with anything. Manchester United are certainly not the force they once were, but they have enjoyed a very encouraging December so far and finally seem to be finding their best form under Jose Mourinho. Whether it has come too late or not remains to be seen, but things do seem to be moving in the right direction heading into 2017.

That improvement probably has come too late for the title race, with United currently 13 points adrift of Chelsea, who show no signs of slowing down at the moment. However, a victory this afternoon could leave them just one point off the top four depending on results elsewhere and, at the very least, would move them level on points with fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who are not in action until Wednesday when they face a difficult test away to Southampton.

Fourth place must be the minimum goal for United this season following their summer expenditure, and their recent form suggests that they will make a big push for it in the second half of the season. They are unbeaten in 10 games across all competitions heading into this match, with their last defeat coming at the hands of Fenerbahce at the start of November. They have won their last four outings too, conceding just one goal in the process, and another victory today would make it five on the bounce for the first time since December 2014.

In the Premier League alone United are unbeaten in their last eight since October 23, while runaway leaders Chelsea are the only team to beat them in their last 12 games. The main problem during that time has been draws - they have actually drawn more games than they have won in their last 12 - but they have begun to find a winning formula recently with three victories on the bounce. One more today would give them four in a row in the same season in the Premier League for the first time since April 2015.

Despite all that, it is hard to argue that United's first six months or so under Jose Mourinho have gone to plan. Many fans would have been expecting to be still in the title race at Christmas after the summer they had, but instead they are outside the top five at Christmas for just the second time in Premier League history. Incidentally, the only previous occasion that has been the case was in 2013-14, when they sat eighth under today's visiting manager David Moyes.

Things haven't been great at Old Trafford either, with United having fared better away from home than they have in front of their own fans this season. Only six teams have amassed fewer home points in the Premier League this season, with United having drawn more games than they have won at Old Trafford. Their win over Spurs in their last home game was their first in the Premier League since September, and only four teams in the division have scored fewer home goals.

Having said all that, they are also unbeaten in their last 11 home games in all competitions and having only lost once at Old Trafford since January - a run of 24 matches. That solitary defeat came at the hands of Manchester City in September, since when they have won seven and drawn four of their home games. Victory today would see Jose Mourinho win three home games on the bounce for the first time as United manager. They have also never lost a Premier League Boxing Day fixture at home, with their only two defeats on this date come away from home. One of those did come last year, but United have won a Premier League-record 18 times on Boxing Day - at least six more than any other team.

There won't be too many people backing Sunderland to become the first visiting side to win a Premier League Boxing Day fixture at Old Trafford, with the Black Cats beginning the day 18th in the Premier League table. Crystal Palace's 1-1 draw with Watford in the day's early kickoff does, however, give Sunderland the chance to climb out of the bottom three with a win here. They now sit two points from safety and two points off the bottom of the table.

Despite the presence of Jermain Defoe in the side, it is easy to see that Sunderland's main problem is sticking the ball in the back of the net. The Black Cats have scored just 15 goals in 17 league games this term - only Hull have scored fewer - whereas at the other end of the pitch they have the joint-best defensive record in the bottom six. Indeed, only Middlesbrough have a better defensive record in the bottom nine, so if others can begin to help Defoe with the goalscoring stakes during the second half of the season then Sunderland may finally begin to climb the table.

Despite their current league position, Sunderland's form has actually improved drastically in recent weeks. Incredibly, only Chelsea have won more Premier League games than David Moyes's side since the start of November, with four victories from their last seven outings. That is the same number of games they had won in their previous 27 league games, stretching all the way back to January, including a 10-match winless streak at the start of this season. There are definite signs of improvement there.

Perhaps the biggest concern for Sunderland today will be their record against other teams in the top six so far this season. They have failed to pick up a single point from their matches against Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, losing five from five against the top five. They have scored just two goals in that time too, conceding 10. Indeed, they have not picked up a victory against any side in the top nine this season, amassing just two points from a possible 24.

Being away from home is not likely to help them either. Sunderland have won just one of their last 10 Premier League away games and have picked up maximum points just three times from a possible 17 in 2016 so far. Their poor record in the road stretches a lot further back than that, but it has been particularly poor recently with five defeats from their last six away games. They have failed to even score in any of those defeats too, with the 2-1 victory over Bournemouth on November 5 the only exception on both counts.

Only Leicester and Burnley have amassed fewer away points than Sunderland this season, with one win and a draw giving them just four on the road. They have only scored four goals too - the second-lowest tally in the division before only Burnley, although their defensive record does provide a positive. They have conceded significantly fewer goals away from home compared to the teams around them in the table, although that doesn't help too much if you can't score at the other end.

This is, of course, David Moyes's first return to Old Trafford since his 10-month reign came to an end in April 2014, and it will be interesting to see what sort of reaction he gets from the Old Trafford crowd. Following on from Sir Alex Ferguson was always going to be a huge ask, but the struggles of Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho since Moyes have perhaps made the job he did at Old Trafford look not quite as bad. Indeed, he ended his United career with a 50% win rate, which is better than Mourinho currently has, although the Portuguese has averaged more points per game so far than Moyes did.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Old Trafford so it is time for a prediction! I can only really see one winner here today, with United beginning to find a bit of form. Sunderland have shown in recent defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea that they can make things tricky for the big boys, but ultimately they lost both times and I can see it being a similar story this time around. I'll go for 2-0 to the hosts.

Unsurprisingly, United have dominated this fixture down the year, losing just three of their 30 Premier League meetings with Sunderland (W21 D6). At Old Trafford they have lost just one of their last 24 top-flight clashes with the Black Cats, winning 16 and drawing seven. That solitary defeat came in May 2014 when Larsson - who starts again today - scored the only goal of the game.

The last time these two sides met here was in September last year, and goals immediately either side of half time from Memphis and Rooney put United on their way to a comfortable 3-0 victory. However, in the reverse fixture Sunderland won 2-1 courtesy of an own goal from De Gea, and another victory today would give them consecutive top-flight wins over United for the first time since 1951.

The very recent history between these two sides has been surprisingly even, with three wins apiece and one drawn from the last seven meetings in league and cup. It also just so happens to be a fairly common Boxing Day fixture - this is the third time in the last 10 years that they have met on this date, with United winning the previous two (4-0 in 2007, 2-0 in 2010).

Right, we're just a couple of minutes away from kickoff now! Moyes is about to face the music from the Manchester United fans as he goes in search of his first ever win over Jose Mourinho. In 10 previous clashes with the former Chelsea boss he has drawn four and lost six.

KICKOFF: Here we go then! Sunderland get us underway at Old Trafford!

Interestingly, Anichebe has started on the right flank for Sunderland today. He's not in the typical mould of a right winger, and Blind might fancy his chances of getting forward a lot today as Anichebe isn't the type to track those runs all day long.

SAVE! Pickford is called into action early here as Pogba drills a low ball towards goal from a tight angle. Pickford doesn't manage to hold on to it, but Djilobodji is alert to clear the loose ball before it falls to Mata.

SHOT! Rojo brings the ball out of defence and skips past one challenge on his way into shooting range. From there he can't turn down a shot, but he blazes it well off target.

United have wasted no time in taking control of this game. They have enjoyed the lion's share of possession in these opening exchanges and are looking dangerous with it too. Sunderland are dropping really deep and are inviting pressure onto themselves.

Big concern for Sunderland here as Anichebe looks in a lot of pain after landing heavily following an aerial challenge. He immediately grabbed his ribs and called for treatment, and it doesn't look like he will be able to continue here.

Anichebe is back on his feet and it looks like a problem with his shoulder more than his ribs. No sub is being prepared just yet, though, so he may try to continue after all.

...sure enough, the big striker comes back on.

Almost a chance for Sunderland as United fail to deal with a corner into the area. Djilobodji has a swing at it but his shot is blocked, and the ball is then just poked away from Anichebe as he was about to pull the trigger.

UPDATE: Some news that affects Sunderland from elsewhere in the Premier League as West Ham United have taken the lead against Swansea and, wouldn't you know it, it is Andre Ayew who gets his first Hammers goal against his former club.

Pogba spreads the ball out to Valencia on the right flank and the full-back is in acres of space as he cuts inside and picks out his cross. However, Djilobodji gets back well to nod the delivery behind for a corner.

SHOT! Sunderland immediately look to break as Defoe runs at two United defenders. The striker has no support, but he manages to work a yard to shoot and fires his effort off target.

YELLOW CARD! Blind goes into the book for a cynical pull on Anichebe just outside the area. Free kick in a good position for the visitors...

SAVE! It is Van Aanholt who goes for goal with the free kick on the goalkeeper's side, but De Gea is alert and makes the save.

United want a penalty at the other end as Mata, who has his eyes fixed on a bouncing ball, is barged over by Kone in the area. It was a risky challenge from the defender, but it looked like it was shoulder to shoulder and the ball was bouncing through to Pickford anyway.

UPDATE: Chelsea are on course for a 12th straight victory! Pedro has given the league leaders a 1-0 advantage over Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge!

United may need patience this afternoon as Sunderland are proving to be difficult to break down at the moment. United have enjoyed some good possession and territory, but clear-cut chances have been hard to come by for the hosts.

OFF THE POST! United are inches away from finding the breakthrough as Pogba plays a rather fortuitous one-two, with the ball bouncing off Lingard and back into his path. He tries to curl one into the bottom corner, but it takes a nick on the way through which sends it against the outside of the post and behind for a corner.

CHANCE! Huge chance for Sunderland to break the deadlock at the other end! Defoe floats a ball into the box that Blind fails to deal with, sending his header straight to the feet of Anichebe in a great position. However, the striker can't make a proper connection with it as De Gea makes a save from point-blank range, and than Borini completely miskicks the follow-up effort as United survive.

SHOT! Larsson tries to catch De Gea out from a free kick here, seeing the keeper well over to his left anticipating the cross and subsequently trying to fire it into the empty side of the goal. He can't keep the shot down, though, and it flies well over.

This is a decent spell for Sunderland, who are beginning to see a bit more of the ball inside the United half. They have been on the back foot for the vast majority of this match, but have also created the best chance.

Just 10 minutes remaining in this half and it is Sunderland who look most like scoring right now. They weathered the United storm for the opening half an hour or so but are having a go themselves now.

SAVE! Pogba looks to conjure something out of nothing with a curling 25-year effort, but it is easy for Pickford to collect.

CHANCE! Pogba threatens again here as Djilobodji can only clear the ball as far as the edge of the box. Larsson can't get more on it as it falls to Pogba, but the Sunderland midfielder does put Pogba under pressure and the France international can only send a looping volley over the crossbar.

Finally the breakthrough for Manchester United! Rojo strides out of defence again before passing the ball to Zlatan Ibrahimovic inside the area. Blind then bursts forward on the underlap and picks up the ball from Ibrahimovic before burying his finish into the bottom far corner.

Anichebe just fell asleep for one second when tracking Blind there, and that is what cost Sunderland in the end. They had been so disciplined before that goal.

Half a chance for United as Valencia's cross is only cleared as far as Pogba, who turns down a shot in favour of finding Ibrahimovic. Djilobodji gets a foot on the ball before the Swede can shoot and it falls to Lingard, but he can't keep his effort down.

It looks as though United will be heading into half time with the lead, but Sunderland are by no means out of this game. They have looked solid at the back and have had the best chance of the game so far so, as long as the deficit remains one, they will feel they still have a chance of nicking something.

There will be a minimum of three minutes added time at the end of this first half.

CHANCE! Lovely play from United as they work a bit of space inside the Sunderland box. Ibrahimovic pokes the ball through to Pogba, who chips the ball up with his first touch and hooks a volley towards goal that Pickford needs to save.

Free kick to Manchester United in a very good position, although the replays show that Mata dived in order to get it...

SAVE! It is Mata himself who goes for it, trying to feed it into the bottom corner, but Pickford is down well to make the save.

The first half comes to an end at Old Trafford, then, and it is Manchester United who have the lead at the halfway stage. The hosts have enjoyed the better possession and territory but Sunderland have been stubborn for the most part. They are still very much in this game while the deficit remains one, although United will be confident of giving themselves a cushion in the coming 45 minutes.

The only goal of the game so far arrived just six minutes before half time when Daley Blind picked out the bottom corner with aplomb after bursting into the box. Ibrahimovic teed the full-back up, and Blind's low strike into the bottom far corner was unerring. It was an unlikely scorer, but it always looked as though it would take something out of the ordinary to break through to the Sunderland defence.

United have also hit the woodwork in the first half, with Pogba's curling effort coming off the outside of the post shortly before the half-hour mark. The best chance of the match has actually fallen to Sunderland, though, with Blind being unable to deal with Defoe's cross into the box. The ball fell at the feet of Anichebe, but De Gea was there to deny the striker before Borini was unable to turn the rebound home.

Mourinho will want a second goal from his side to give them a real element of control of this match. They have been on top for the most part, but Sunderland enjoyed a good spell shortly after the half-hour mark, during which time they had that Anichebe chance. There is always the prospect of getting a goal from a set piece or counter-attack, so Moyes's message to his side at half time might be to just stay in the game until the 70-minute mark or so.

KICKOFF: Manchester United get us back underway for the second half at Old Trafford.

SAVE! Almost a chance within 30 seconds of kickoff as Pogba spreads a pass out to Valencia, who turns the ball inside. The ball is a little behind Ibrahimovic and he tries a flick which doesn't come off. Moments later Pogba does get a chance to shoot, but his effort lacks power and is easy for Pickford.

CHANCE! Another good chance for United as Ibrahimovic uses his strength to find space down the right. He has Pogba unmarked in the middle, but the pass lets the Sunderland defence get back and the attack breaks down with a tame shot that goes well wide. A better ball from Zlatan there and it would have been a one-on-one for Pogba.

Important defending from Djilobodji as he dives in to dispossess Herrera inside the area after some good build-up play. This has been a really bright start to the second half from United.

CHANCE! Yet another chance for the hosts! Again it is Pogba who threatens, getting his head to Herrera's cross but nodding it just too high.

CHANCE! Another decent opening from United as Mata skips past one before sliding a pass down the right channel for Ibrahimovic, but he blasts it high and wide of the near post.

United are desperate for his second goal and they have been really pushing for it in the second half so far. Sunderland are holding firm at the moment, though, and while they aren't threatening in an attacking sense right now they are doing what they need to stay in the game.

Better from Sunderland as they spend a rare bit of time in the Manchester United half. United do a good job of preventing the visitors from getting a shot away, though.

Martin Atkinson steps in here just to calm things down after Kone was involved in angry exchanges of words with both Ibrahimovic and Lingard in quick succession. A bit of frustration creeping in from United, perhaps?

Terrible from Kone as he gives the ball straight to Lingard, who carries it forward before slipping a pass out wide for Ibrahimovic. However, the Swede is stopped in his path by a good Djilobodji challenge.

There are a few little flash points creeping up all over the field at the moment. It is turning into a scrappy game at the moment, which may suit Sunderland a bit more than United.

YELLOW CARD! Borini goes into the book for a challenge from behind on Herrera.

MAN UTD SUB: The first change of the afternoon sees Henrikh Mkhitaryan replace Lingard.

SHOT! Almost an immediate impact from the sub as Mkhitaryan collects Mata's pass on the left flank before cutting inside and curling the ball a couple of yards wide of the far post from the edge of the box.

Important hand from Pickford as he pushes Pogba's cross away at the near post, and then Denayer is there to poke it away just as Mata was lining up the rebound.

CHANCE! Big chance for United to get that elusive second goal! Herrera slides a pass through to Ibrahimovic, who suddenly finds himself in the box with only the keeper to beat. He tries to just roll it into the bottom corner, but Pickford makes a big save with his foot.

Two blocks in quick succession from Denayer keep United at bay, but the hosts are cranking up the pressure now. They have been punished for failing to get the second goal in recent months, and the nerves will grow the longer they have to wait for it here.

Just over 20 minutes remaining in this match now, and still Sunderland remain in this game. They just need one set piece or moment of luck and once again United could be left kicking themselves for failing to get a second goal.

Sunderland come forward again here, but this time the attack is ended by the offside flag. I would expect the visitors to push forward a little more now that we are into the final 20 minutes.

Jermain Defoe has been really quiet for Sunderland today, but he is the type of striker who only needs that one chance to make a huge impact. I certainly wouldn't put it past him to have a big say on this game in the final stages.

MAN UTD SUB: Another change from the home side here as Anthony Martial replaces Juan Mata.

Chance for Sunderland to get the ball into the box here as Valencia brings down Van Aanholt on the left flank...

United completely fail to deal with the ball into the box, but no Sunderland players can get a touch on it either and it rolls to a safe area before being cleared.

Good play from Defoe to hold Blind off and win a free kick on the right side of the field. Yet another chance for the visitors to get the ball into the box. They need to make one of these count sooner or later!

It isn't this one, though. United deal with the delivery comfortably and another precious attacking opportunity goes begging.

That is surely game over now! It is a gift as Ndong gives the ball away inside his own half, and suddenly Djilobodji finds himself in the unenviable position of being on his own against Pogba and Ibrahimovic. Pogba duly finds Zlatan, who takes his time before placing his finish past Pickford. The Swede hasn't had his best game today, but he has sealed the win for United now.

SUNDERLAND SUB: This was a change that was being lined up before the goal as Wahbi Khazri replaces Larsson.

MAN UTD SUB: The hosts make a change of their own as Marouane Fellaini replaces Herrera. Again, a smattering of boos from the home fans.

Oh my word, what a goal this is from Mkhitaryan! It is a moment of magic to add a third for United as he produces a stunning flick to steer Ibrahimovic's cross into the far corner. The ball arrived behind Mkhitaryan, but he improvised brilliantly for a truly memorable goal. The replay actually shows that the winger was offside, but take nothing at all away from the finish.

SUNDERLAND SUB: Another change from the visitors as Donald Love replace Ndong.

Phwooaaarrr it is another stunner as Sunderland get a late consolation here! The ball drops out to Borini around 25 yards from goal and he takes a touch before firing a magnificent looping volley right into the top corner. De Gea was rooted to the spot and wouldn't have been able to stop even if he had tried. Incredible goal from Borini - his first of the season.

There will be three minutes of added time at the end of this match.

YELLOW CARD! Kone gets a late yellow card for pulling back Mkhitaryan right on the edge of the Sunderland box. Free kick in a dangerous position...

SAVE! Ibrahimovic tries to drive it through the wall and it does get through too, but Pickford is down well to make the save.

United pick up a relatively comfortable win in the end, then, moving level on points with fifth-placed Tottenham. We were treated to a couple of stunning goals in that final 10 minutes from Mkhitaryan and Borini, but before that it was goals from Blind and Ibrahimovic that sent the hosts on their way to a fifth straight victory in all competitions.

That is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as David Moyes's return to Old Trafford ends in a 3-1 defeat. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!