BURNLEY, England (AP) – Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney made the most of rare starts by scoring first-half goals in Manchester United’s 2-0 win at Burnley in the Premier League on Sunday, lifting the team to within a point of the Champions League qualification positions.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic injured and Marcus Rashford rested, Martial started as the center forward and opened the scoring in the 21st minute at Turf Moor after exchanging passes with Ander Herrera on a quick counterattack.
Rooney, playing on the left wing for only his third appearance in 2½ months, scored United’s second goal – with the aid of a slight deflection – from close range in the 39th after Martial had a shot saved.
United stayed in fifth place but is now a point behind fourth-placed Manchester City, with the cross-town rivals meeting in an eagerly anticipated derby match at City’s Etihad Stadium on Thursday.
Unbeaten in the league in 23 matches, United will go into the derby with confidence and with options in attack in the absence of Ibrahimovic, who sustained a serious knee-ligament injury in the Europa League match against Anderlecht on Thursday.