United of old back?

London - For 45 minutes at Old Trafford on Sunday it was just like old times as Manchester United blew Tottenham Hotspur away with three goals in a ruthless display of attacking football.

For the first time under coach Louis van Gaal, United achieved what they used to do routinely under Alex Ferguson, strangling a shell-shocked Spurs side and clinically killing them off before easing through the gears to a 3-0 victory.

Van Gaal has been criticised for overseeing laboured performances this season, often grinding out results with negative tactics at odds with the attacking traditions of the club.