West Brom vs Manchester United live: Zlatan Ibrahimovic scores twice to seal comfortable victory for United

Follow live updates from the Premier League clash at the Hawthorns

Zlatan Ibrahimovic heads Manchester United ahead against West Brom (Getty)

Manchester United are on the verge of the top four after moving level on points with Tottenham to sit just three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City following the 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion, with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring both goals in a fiery affair at The Hawthorns. Re-live the action here.

• Manchester United beat West Brom 2-0
• Zlatan Ibrahimovic opens the socring with a close-range header inside five minutes
• Swedish striker doubles the lead after the break with a deflected effort
• Win puts United level on points with fifth-placed Spurs
• West Brom remain seventh but seven points behind United

Follow live coverage on our blog below...

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It’s a big game for...

Juan Mata: The midfielder returned to the side in Mkhitaryan’s absence for the 2-1 victory over Palace, but was replaced after 70 minutes by Jesse Lingard. If Mata is given another chance to make the wide-right berth his own today, he needs to show Mourinho why he’s capable of challenging Mkhitaryan for the position when he returns from injury next week.

He was also sent-off in this fixture last year and will want to ensure it doesn’t remain an unhappy hunting ground.

Best stat...

40: The surprising number of time West Brom have actually beaten United in the league out of their 120 meetings. United hold the better record, but they have not been as dominant in this fixture as you might have thought, with the Red Devils holding 52 victories over the Baggies with 28 draws.

Player to look out for...

Salomon Rondon: The Venezuelan striker has found his form at West Brom this season and notched a superb 13-minute headed-hat-trick in Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Swansea. He also scored against United last season in West Brom’s surprise victory over Louis van Gaal’s side, and he has the physicality to cause the likes of Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo problems at the back.

Likely teams...

West Brom: Foster; Nyom, Olsson, McAuley, Dawson; Morrison, Phillips, Brunt, Chadli, Fletcher; Rondon.

Manchester United: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Blind; Carrick, Herrera; Mata, Pogba, Rooney; Ibrahimovic.

Past three meetings...

West Brom 1 (Rondon) Manchester United 0, Premier League, March 2016

Manchester United 2 (Lingard, Mata), West Brom 0, Premier League, November 2015

Manchester United 0 West Brom 1 (Olsson), Premier League, May 2015

Salomon Rondon scored a hat-trick in West Brom's last match (Getty)

Form...

West Brom: WWDWLW

Manchester United: DWDWWW

Odds:

West Brom to win: 24/5

Manchester United to win: 69/100

Draw: 14/5

(Odds provided by 888Sport)

Where can I watch it...

West Brom vs Manchester United kicks off at 17:30 GMT. The match will be shown live on BT Sport 1 from 17:00. Highlights will be shown on BBC One at 22:25 GMT.

You can also follow the match as it happens with The Independent’s live blog right here.

[17 December 2016 16:33 · Mark Critchley]

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of West Bromwich Albion vs Manchester United.

Things are looking up for Jose Mourinho's side after two wins in two, though they left it late before picking up all three points against Crystal Palace in mid-week.

Tony Pulis' Baggies are only one place and four points behind United, and were in fact above them in the table two weeks ago. Can they curtail their visitors' mini-revival?

Stay with us for team news and build-up...

[17 December 2016 16:34 · Mark Critchley]

Team news  

[17 December 2016 17:19 · Joe Miles]

[17 December 2016 17:21 · Joe Miles]

[17 December 2016 17:26 · Joe Miles]

United are looking for ten without a defeat, but have the Baggies got what it takes to cause an upset on home turf? We'll see.

The players are marching out onto the pitch.

[17 December 2016 17:30 · Joe Miles]

We are off!

The home side kick-off to begin the fixture at The Hawthorns. 

[17 December 2016 17:34 · Joe Miles]

3 MINS

It's an upbeat start to the clash, with both sides aiming to settle quickly. The home side are playing with confidence, but that comes of no surprise following their fine run of form lately. 

[17 December 2016 17:37 · Joe Miles]

5 MINS

GOAL

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0 - 1 MANCHESTER UNITED

Ibrahimovic has broke the deadlock to give his side the early advantage at The Hawthorns. Lingard charged down the right hand side and the delivery into the box that finds the striker is exceptional. It's a perfect assist and a powerful header from United's on form forward.

[17 December 2016 17:40 · Joe Miles]

9 MINS

The response from Pulis' men will be crucial, as this was certainly not in the script for the home side. United appear to have adopted the momentum and will be hoping to double their tally in quick secession. Can anyone stop Ibra? I wonder...

[17 December 2016 17:43 · Joe Miles]

12 MINS

With West Brom aerial ability from set pieces, the home side will have to be making the most of every delivered opportunity. Brunt delivers in an exceptional corner that flies through the danger zone, but it fails to find a teammate and falls just wide of the far post. United need to sharpen up there or they will be punished.