Barclays Premier League

FT: MAN UTD 4 NORWICH 0

United extend their advantage at the top of the table to 15 points after a victory over a plucky Norwich side at Old Trafford courtesy of a hat-trick from Shinji Kagawa and a stunner from Wayne Rooney. Kagawa was preferred on the left to Ryan Giggs, Sir Alex Ferguson being vindicated in his decision to make the Welshman wait for his 1,000th senior appearance. The Japanese finally ended the visitors' stubborn resistance in first-half stoppage time, steering the ball home after a knockdown by Robin van Persie. Kagawa's second goal came on 76 minutes, a coolly-taken effort side-footed into the corner after some excellent work by Rooney and he netted the third three minutes from time after more terrific work from the England man. Rooney set the seal on a fine individual display with a thumping drive from 30 yards. It was not the sort of performance from United that will have Real Madrid quaking in their boots ahead of Tuesday's Champions League second leg, but if you can win by four goals without getting out of first gear then you are in reasonable form.

GOAL: MAN UTD 4 NORWICH 0

Rooney puts United four goals up with a blistering 30-yard drive into the top corner past Bunn. Sensational!

GOAL DETAILS

It's another delightful goal. Welbeck played the ball into Rooney's feet, his first-time pass split the Norwich defence and Kagawa, out on the right, drew Bunn before lifting the ball over the goalkeeper.

GOAL: MAN UTD 3 NORWICH 0

Shinji Kagawa completes his hat-trick with three and a half minutes to go.

PACKED HOUSE AGAIN

The official attendance today is 75,586. I wonder how long it takes to get out of the Old Trafford car park if you are lucky enough to have a parking space?

NORWICH BOOKING

Danny Welbeck is in need of treatment after a foul by Michael Turner, who is the fourth Norwich player to be shown the yellow card.

BUNN PREVENTS A THIRD

United look to add a third immediately, but Bunn makes a good stop to deny Welbeck.

GOAL DETAILS

Rooney did superbly to chase the ball down the right and cut back behind Bassong before teeing up the Japanese, who produced a delightfully cool finish to wrong-foot Bunn and find the corner.

GOAL: MAN UTD 2 NORWICH 0

Shinji Kagawa nets a second for United. The points are in the bag.

A CHANGE APIECE

Elliott Bennett replaces Snodgrass from Norwich. Anderson goes off for United, Tom Cleverley comes on in his place.

NORWICH BOOKING

Rooney is felled by a cynical tackle by Johnson, who is rightly shown the yellow card.

NORWICH SUBSTITUTION

Norwich make their first change, with Kei Kamara replacing Wes Hoolahan.

ROONEY LEADING THE LINE

United have switched things round tactically, with Welbeck going to play wide on the left and Kagawa moving inside to play a supporting role to Rooney, who is now playing as the lone striker.

NORWICH BOOKING

Garrido hangs out a leg to bring down the flying Valencia and is shown the yellow card.

UNITED SUBSTITUTION

Robin van Persie, who has been disappointing today, makes way for Danny Welbeck.

POOR FROM ROONEY

Rooney ignores the claims of the better-placed Van Persie and somewhat selfishly shoots across the face of goal from wide on the left.

GLARING MISS BY MARTIN

Norwich spurn a glorious chance to level. Holt rises at the far post to nod down Pilkington's cross for Martin, who shoots over from four yards. Martin's blushes are spared when referee Swarbrick awards a free-kick against Holt, but that was never a foul by the centre-forward.

UNITED UNDER PRESSURE

Norwich are not lying down here. Howson tries a long-range effort which deflects well wide for a corner. Again United clear easily.

JOHNSON CATCHING THE EYE

Bradley Johnson has been one of the game's outstanding players today. The former Leeds man beats three players before setting Pilkington away. Norwich win a corner, which comes to nothing.

CHASING THE CENTURY

United have scored the same number of goals (63) after 27 games as Chelsea did in 2009-10. The Blues went on to end that season with a record 103 goals.

BUNN DENIES ROONEY

A ball from Valencia finds Rooney free in the inside-left channel. The England striker looks to round the goalkeeper, but Bunn snakes out a leg and makes a challenge any defender would have been proud of.

RARE THREAT FROM NORWICH

Here come Norwich at last. Martin loops a low centre into the near post and Vidic slices the ball over his own crossbar with Snodgrass waiting to pounce. The Canaries' first corner of the match comes to nothing.

SLOPPY FROM VAN PERSIE

United enjoy some possession deep in the Norwich half, but just as they look like they might threaten Bunn's goal, Van Persie gives the ball away. The Dutchman has not been as sharp in the past three weeks or so, but United need him to be at his best for the visit of Real Madrid.

SNODGRASS PLEADS HIS CASE

Robert Snodgrass was frustrated at collecting a booking for his tackle on Patrice Evra at the end of that first half and protested vehemently to referee Neil Swarbrick. He is obviously not letting it lie, because the Scot was deep in conversation with the match official when everyone emerged from the tunnel at the start of the second half.

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Norwich kick off the second half. Neither side has made changes at the break.

HT: MAN UTD 1 NORWICH 0

United lead at the break thanks to that effort from Shinji Kagawa in first-half stoppage time. The Japan international slid the ball home, following an Antonio Valencia cross from the right and an assist from Robin van Persie. Up to that point, there had been precious little goalmouth action or excitement, if we're brutally honest. Norwich had executed their game plan superbly, working tirelessly and totally blunting United's attacking threat before that sickening late blow for Chris Hughton's men. Mark Bunn made one brave save at the feet of van Persie and another routine stop to deny Michael Carrick. It's been far from a classic and if you told me at the start of the afternoon that there would be two more goals in the first half at the Stadium of Light (Sunderland v Fulham) than there would be here, I would not have believed you.

NORWICH BOOKING

Robert Snodgrass is booked for a lunging tackle on Patrice Evra, who is far from pleased.

GOAL: MAN UTD 1 NORWICH 0

United snatch the lead seconds before the break. Valencia crossed from the right, van Persie stretched to reach the balll and inadvertently steered the ball to Shinji Kagawa, who slide the ball home with his right foot.

VAN PERSIE HEADER BLOCKED

Smalling crosses from the right, but van Persie's header is blocked at the expense of United's sixth corner of the half. Rooney's delivery is cleared by the visitors.

IMPRESSIVE EFFORT

United have won ten successive home games, remember, underlining what a terrific effort this has been so far from the Canaries.

TRIVIA ANSWER

Earlier we asked you who was the last Norwich player to score at Old Trafford? it was Paul McVeigh. Score one point for a correct answer.

ALMOST INTO ORBIT

Van Persie cuts in from the right side of the penalty area before trying a shot which is so high it almost clears the stand behind the goal.

SHOT BLOCKED AGAIN

A nice passing movement from United on the edge of the Norwich area sees Rooney get in a low shot which hits a Norwich defender and deflects away to safety.

ROONEY DENIED TWICE

A mistake by Martin lets in Evra down the left. Eventually the ball runs to Rooney, whose fierce angled drive is blocked by Turner. The England striker then sees another shot blocked by Bassong.

IT'S TRIVIA TIME

Who was the last Norwich player to score at Old Trafford? Answer in a few minutes.

HEADER OVER BY VIDIC

Van Persie wins United a corner off Bassong, but Vidic heads well over from Anderson's delivery.

BUNN A RELIEVED MAN

Bunn almost makes a total mess of a back-pass by Johnson, but is grateful when it bobbles wide of the post. United start to turn the screw and Carrick's low shot from the edge of the box forces Bunn into a routine save.

TAME HEADER BY HOLT

Hoolahan crosses from the right and Holt loops a header goalwards that is easy for De Gea to gather.

SURGING RUN BY JOHNSON

Kagawa delivers a threatening cross from the right, but Martin's glancing header clears the ball away. Norwich break down the other end and Johnson goes on a surging run before being dispossessed by Carrick.

A PAINFUL BLOW

Bunn is back on his feet. Looking at the replay, it appeared Van Persie's studs caught him on the thigh. It was purely accidental, but painful nonetheless.

BUNN NEEDS TREATMENT

Bunn stays down after that collision with the United striker and there is a significant delay while the goalkeeper gets treatment.

BRAVE SAVE FROM BUNN

United turn up the heat. Rooney slides a ball between centre-back and full-back and Bunn dashes off his line to save at the feet of Van Persie.

IMPORTANT CLEARANCE

Finally Van Persie does get a meaningful touch. He crosses to the far post and Vidic rises highest to nod the ball down. Garrido scrambles it away.

RVP VERY QUIET

Robin van Persie scored four times in two games against the Canaries for Arsenal last season. The Dutchman has barely had a kick in the first quarter of an hour.

PASS MASTERS

It's like watching the Swansea side of last season here. Norwich are passing the ball to death but going nowhere in particular. Still, if United don't have the ball they can't score.

SO FAR SO GOOD

Chris Hughton must be extremely delighted at how his side have started, United have seen little of the ball in the final third so far.

WHAT CHANCE THE DOUBLE?

United are unbeaten in 15 Premier League games since losing at, you've guessed it, Norwich.

SNODGRASS HURTING

Snodgrass is in agony after Kagawa lands on his knee accidentally following a challenge in midfield. The Norwich man goes off for treatment before returning to the fray.

CHANCE FOR NORWICH

Garrido and Pilkington combine well and Johnson has the chance to find an unmarked Holt in the centre. The midfielder, though, over-hits his cross horribly.

HAPPY HUNTING GROUND FOR SOME

Mark Bunn played in goal for the Blackburn side that won at Old Trafford last season, while Johnson, Becchio, Howson and Snodgrass were in the Leeds side that famously knocked United out of the FA Cup, so the visitors shouldn't be overawed.

HERE WE GO

United kick off, attacking the goal to our right.

TEAM NEWS

Surprise, surprise, Robin van Persie starts for United and is not given a breather ahead of the Real Madrid game and following the hip injury he suffered against Queens Park Rangers. And having built up Ryan Giggs, Sir Alex doesn't even include him in the 18, so the Welshman will have to wait for his 1,000th appearance. There are seven changes by my reckoning from the Red Devils side that won at Loftus Road, with Rio Ferdinand among those sitting this one out. Norwich show just one change from last week, with Anthony Pilkington coming in for Lucciano Becchio.

TODAY'S TEAMS

Man Utd: De Gea, Smalling, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Valencia, Anderson, Carrick, Kagawa, Rooney, van Persie. Subs: Lindegaard, Da Silva, Hernandez, Nani, Young, Welbeck, Cleverley. Norwich: Bunn, Martin, Bassong, Turner, Garrido, Snodgrass, Johnson, Howson, Pilkington, Hoolahan, Holt. Subs: Camp, Whittaker, Fox, Kamara, Elliott Bennett, Becchio, Ryan Bennett. Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)

PREVIEW

Manchester United can once again extend their seemingly unassailable advantage at the top of the Premier League to 15 points with victory over Norwich City on Saturday. Sir Alex Ferguson's side already have title number 20 all but in the bag, but even though they are at home and should win comfortably, they cannot take this game for granted because they came a cropper at Carrow Road earlier in the season. “That was certainly one of our best performances of the season and it had to be,” Canaries manager Chris Hughton told his club's official website. “It's the only way that you can beat a Manchester United team at home or away. Any win at Old Trafford would have to see us play extremely well and for United to have one of their rare off days. That's something that we know is fact. But you have to go into every game hoping that you can get that result.” With such a cushion for the leaders, you could argue that Norwich are in more need of points than United, but whether desperation can overcome the gap in talent between the sides remains to be seen. Like it or not, Sir Alex knows that his players might have one eye on Tuesday's Champions League tie with Real Madrid, though of course he will have cautioned them before the start not to dare take their foot of the gas. Today's game kicks off at 1500GMT, so join us around 30 minutes beforehand when we should have the confirmed team news, which will be followed by a match commentary.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

If you include his games for Wales and the Great Britain Olympic team, Ryan Giggs will make his 1,000th senior appearance should he see action today. Giggs celebrated the upcoming milestone by signing a new one-year contract extension on Friday, meaning he will stay at Old Trafford until at least summer 2014. Sir Alex Ferguson spoke in glowing terms about the evergreen winger at his pre-match press conference on Friday. He told the official United website: “What can I say about Ryan that hasn't already been said? He is a marvellous player and an exceptional human being. Ryan is an example to us all, the way in which he has, and continues to, look after himself. He has fantastic energy for the game and it is wonderful to see. Ryan seems to reach a new milestone every week and to think that he now has 23 unbroken years of league goals behind him is truly amazing in the modern-day game. His form this year shows his ability and his enjoyment of the game are as strong as ever and I am absolutely delighted that he has signed a new contract.” Expect Robin van Persie to be among the United substitutes and it could be left to one of United's lesser lights like Javier Hernandez or Danny Welbeck to come up with the goals.

HEAD TO HEAD

United have the better head-to-head record in league meetings between the sides with 30 wins to 11 by Norwich and 12 games being drawn. At Old Trafford, United have 17 wins to three by Norwich, with a further six meetings ending up all square. Norwich stunned Sir Alex Ferguson's men by winning the earlier meeting between the sides at Carrow Road on Nov. 11, courtesy of a superb headed goal on the hour from Anthony Pilkington. United won the corresponding match here last season 2-0 with goals from Anderson (68 mins) and Danny Welbeck (87), one of five successive victories that came to an end with that stunning result in Norfolk.

FORM GUIDE

United have 68 points from 27 games and sit proudly atop the table, some 12 points clear of Manchester City. They have dropped just three points at home, in the 3-2 defeat to Tottenham on Sep.29 and have won ten successive home matches since. United are the top scorers at home in the Premier League, with 34 goals. Norwich are unbeaten in four matches, having followed up successive draws with Tottenham, Queens Park Rangers and Fulham with a crucial come-from-behind victory over Everton last weekend, recovering from a goal down to win 2-1 courtesy of a last-minute winner from Grant Holt. That victory ensured a little bit of breathing room for Chris Hughton's side, who currently lie 12th with 32 points, eight clear of the relegation zone.

EARLY TEAM NEWS

Robin van Persie has recovered from the hip injury he sustained when he fell into a TV camera pit at Loftus Road last weekend, but may be kept in reserve on the bench with the crucial Champions League second leg with Real Madrid upcoming on Tuesday. Paul Scholes (knee) and Phil Jones (ankle) are both sidelined. Norwich will again be without midfielder Alex Tettey because of a knee injury and winger Andrew Surman and goalkeeper John Ruddy also remain out. Chris Hughton has to decide whether to hand a start to on-loan forward Kei Kamara, who was a scoring substitute against Everton last time out.

MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Taking charge of today's game is Neil Swarbrick, who has risen rapidly through the ranks since taking up refereeing at the age of 29. The Lancashire official took charge of his first Premier League game – between Fulham and Sunderland – in December 2010 and was promoted to the Select Group of referees the following season. Swarbrick has officiated 11 top-flight matches this season. He has yet to produce a red card, though his average of 3.4 cautions per game is among the highest in the division. His assistants today are Simon Long and Andy Halliday, while Chris Foy is the fourth official.