Ageless Zlatan Ibrahimovic is on the button

Zlatan Ibrahimovic felt like Benjamin Button, but it was more a case of Groundhog Day as far as Sunderland were concerned. Manchester United retain a two-pronged assault on Champions League qualification, but all the Wearside club has to look forward to are trips to some of football’s less celebrated destinations in the Championship next season.

Jose Mourinho’s men strolled to victory at a sun-drenched Stadium of Light, a 28th goal of the season from their unassuming Swede helping to stretch their unbeaten run to 21 games to leave the Black Cats 10 points adrift of safety, their hopes of a fifth consecutive great escape all but extinct.

“My game is getting better and better,” Ibrahimovic reflected afterwards, in typically under-stated style.