Marcus Rashford marked his 200th Manchester United appearance in style by scoring twice as the Red Devils returned to winning ways by easily despatching bottom-of-the-table Norwich.
Rashford, 22, became the third youngest player to reach the landmark for the club and opened the scoring in the first half by stabbing home Juan Mata’s deep cross to the back post.
United dominated possession throughout the game and were rampant in the second half, England international Rashford netting his second after Brandon Williams was brought down in the box by Norwich keeper goalkeeper Tim Krul.
Anthony Martial, who is also closing in on a double century of United games, rose highest to nod in from another inch-perfect Mata cross to seal victory before the hour mark.
Full-back Williams should have scored for the hosts but somehow blazed his effort high into the Stretford End from two yards out with the goal gaping wide open, but Mason Greenwood came off the bench to stroke in a lovely fourth.
Norwich’s best chance fell to midfielder Todd Cantwell at 1-0 on the stroke of half-time, but the England Under-21 international’s low curler was kept out by a stunning save from David de Gea.
United move back into fifth place, five points behind Chelsea, while the Canaries remain rooted to the foot of the division, a long seven points from safety having played a game more than the three teams above them.
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Ruthless Rashford marks his milestone
United were comfortably beaten by Arsenal in their last league game, failed to get a shot on target in a match for the first time in five years against Wolves in the FA Cup and were outclassed by rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.
But this welcome victory for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side in a performance that was a throwback to the Sir Alex Ferguson day, in total control at Old Trafford and taking their chances against a struggling side.
Rashford impressed up front by showcasing a wide array of skills, including putting defender Sam Byram on his backside with an outrageous ‘elastico’. He was ruthless in front of goal too, taking his tally to 63 goals for United.
He now has 19 goals this season, the most in any campaign since his debut in 2015, and at 22 years and two months he became the third youngest United player to 200 games for the club behind legends George Best and Ryan Giggs.
But Rashford’s withdrawal for Daniel James on 59 minutes meant United remain without a player scoring a Premier League hat-trick since Robin van Persie against Aston Villa in April 2013 – a victory that clinched their 20th and most recent league title.
Fellow academy products Williams and Greenwood both enhanced their reputations, the left-back making marauding runs up and down pitch and winning the penalty, contributing five interceptions, while striker Greenwood came off the bench to take his tally to nine for the campaign.
United fans protest
With the game won despite more than half an hour remaining, United fans in the Stretford End turned to protest at how the club is being run.
There were loud chants of “we want Glazers out” and also aiming their frustration at executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward, who was sitting in his seat up behind the dugout and the man who deals with transfer negotiations.
The chants spread to other parts of the ground and the singing continued for around 20 minutes in the second half.
Ashley Young has agreed a deal to join Inter Milan but that could be brought forward to this transfer window, while it’s not certain any players are coming in.
The agent of Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes was reportedly in Manchester on Friday and it remains to be seen whether a deal is forthcoming for a player who was heavily linked with United in the summer.
Norwich still in deep trouble
Time is running out for beleaguered Norwich, anchored to the bottom and now with just one victory from their last 17 league games.
Teenage striker Adam Idah, 18, scored a hat-trick in the FA Cup against Preston last weekend and came in to replace injured top scorer Teemu Pukki, but could not assert himself against Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof as United kept only their fourth clean sheet this term.
Cantwell has impressed for Norwich this season and it could have been a different result had he taken his chance just before the interval, opening up his body and curling a shot that was pushed out by De Gea.
They shocked champions Manchester City earlier in the season at Carrow Road but could not repeat the result this time as they were thoroughly outplayed and have now conceded 45 league goals, more than any other team.
Man of the match – Juan Mata (Manchester United)
What next?
Manchester United host Wolves in the FA Cup third-round replay on Wednesday (19:45 GMT) before travelling to Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday (16:30).
Norwich are at home to Bournemouth in the league on Saturday (15:00).
Line-ups
Man Utd
Substitutes
Norwich
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Manchester United 4, Norwich City 0.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Manchester United 4, Norwich City 0.
Foul by Angel Gomes (Manchester United).
Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Juan Mata (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Angel Gomes.
Foul by Brandon Williams (Manchester United).
Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Christoph Zimmermann.
Attempt blocked. Daniel James (Manchester United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Angel Gomes with a through ball.
Fred (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).
Attempt blocked. Onel Hernández (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alexander Tettey.
Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
Kenny McLean (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Ibrahim Amadou (Norwich City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sam Byram.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Brandon Williams.
Attempt saved. Christoph Zimmermann (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Attempt blocked. Todd Cantwell (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Corner, Norwich City. Conceded by Brandon Williams.
VAR Decision: No Penalty Norwich City.
Attempt missed. Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Foul by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).
Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Jamal Lewis replaces Grant Hanley because of an injury.
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Angel Gomes replaces Anthony Martial.
Goal!
Goal! Manchester United 4, Norwich City 0. Mason Greenwood (Manchester United) left footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
Anthony Martial (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Ibrahim Amadou (Norwich City).
Daniel James (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Onel Hernández (Norwich City).
Fred (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Emiliano Buendía (Norwich City).
Substitution
Substitution, Manchester United. Mason Greenwood replaces Andreas Pereira.
Foul by Fred (Manchester United).
Alexander Tettey (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Anthony Martial (Manchester United).
Grant Hanley (Norwich City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Ibrahim Amadou replaces Mario Vrancic.
Substitution
Substitution, Norwich City. Onel Hernández replaces Adam Idah.
Foul by Nemanja Matic (Manchester United).
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