Manchester United rested several of their top stars but still managed to steamroller Sunderland to continue their relentless march towards a sixth Premiership title in eight years.

Victory at Old Trafford stretched the rampant Reds' lead to a massive 14 points and they effectively need just four more points, because of their superior goal difference, to wrap up the title.

They can achieve that feat in their next two games and they are on course to clinch the championship in record-breaking time against Chelsea at Old Trafford on Easter Monday.

Sir Alex Ferguson had rested several of his star players - such as Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke and Ryan Giggs - with one eye on Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Real Madrid, but that made no difference.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, making his first start in five games, caused most of the damage to a resurgent Sunderland side, who had managed to win their last three games, before Nicky Butt and substitute Henning Berg weighed in with the other goals.

United's four strikes took their tally in their last four league games to 19. Heaven knows what they will be like against Real on Wednesday when Cole and Co return.

Before kick-off the Sunderland fans had reacted furiously and sang 'you'll never walk alone' after a tiny minority of United fans failed to observe completely the minute's silence to mark the 11th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.

When the action did start the United fans soon had something legitimate to shout about.

Playing United at Old Trafford is difficult enough, but Sunderland made their task even harder when they gifted the Treble winners the lead after just two minutes and 15 seconds.

There appeared little danger as Sunderland defender Darren Williams shaped up to play the ball back to his goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.

But Williams woefully underhit his pass and in nipped Solskjaer, who rounded Sorensen to slot home his 11th goal of the season.

Sunderland had given themselves a mountain to climb and United have never lost a Premiership match at Old Trafford after scoring first.

Despite the many changes United were in total control and Sorensen had to scramble to his right to save a Roy Keane drive before Paul Scholes lifted a 20-yard free-kick over the bar.

Keane's fuse has proved to be even shorter than normal in recent matches and he blew his top yet again after Alex Rae clattered him.

The Sunderland firebrand was rightly booked but the United skipper continued his protests until he was told to shut up by referee Peter Jones.

Sunderland weathered United's early storm and eventually began to threaten the United goal, Niall Quinn slicing the ball over the top from a great opportunity.

In the 42nd minute the Sunderland fans felt United should have been reduced to 10 men.

Jaap Stam clipped Kevin Phillips' ankle as the Sunderland striker raced through on goal after Mickael Silvestre had stood on the ball to lose possession.

Stam was the last United defender and although Jones felt he had committed a foul he let the Dutchman off with just a booking, to the chagrin of the away support.

Phillips curled the resultant free-kick over the bar from 25 yards out before Quinn headed wide from Kevin Kilbane's great cross.

Butt flashed a snap shot across Sorensen's goal before Solskjaer netted United's second in the 51st minute with an exquisite finish.

Teddy Sheringham fed the Norwegian on the left-hand side and he lifted the ball over the helpless Jody Craddock before lashing it past Sorensen.

Keane's temper reached boiling point again when he disputed a free-kick decision with the assistant referee before Rae wound him up even further by bouncing the ball off the back of his head twice.

The inevitable booking for Keane came minutes later for a foul on Rae.

Phillips managed his first attempt on goal with a weak header which was easily held by Raimond Van der Gouw, who replaced Mark Bosnich at the interval after the Australian appeared to suffer an injury.

Quinn squandered a chance to haul Sunderland back into the game when the ball fell loose to him after he had challenged Van der Gouw.

In the 65th minute United put the game firmly beyond Sunderland's reach when Butt controlled the ball beautifully and beat a defender before cracking the ball into the roof of the net from around 12 yards.

United were not finished yet and Berg, who had come on for Stam, made it 4-0 on 70 minutes when Sorensen failed to hold a cross and the Norwegian poked the ball home from close range in the ensuing goalmouth melee.

Sorensen made a great save to deny Gary Neville a fifth before Van der Gouw was called into action to thwart Quinn.

Sorensen was arguably Sunderland's man of the match and in the 83rd minute he saved a terrific effort from Solskjaer.

That apart there was no doubt this was United's day.

Teams:

Man Utd: Bosnich (Van Der Gouw 46), G. Neville, Silvestre, P. Neville, Stam (Berg 56), Butt, Keane, Scholes (Beckham 65), Fortune, Solskjaer, Sheringham.

Subs Not Used: Yorke, Giggs.

Booked: Stam, Keane.

Goals: Solskjaer 2, 51, Butt 66, Berg 70.

Sunderland: Sorensen, Holloway, Makin, Craddock, Williams (P. Butler 75), Gray (Summerbee 54), Roy, Rae, Kilbane, Quinn, Phillips.

Subs Not Used: Marriott, Dichio, Thirlwell.

Booked: Rae.

Att: 61,612

Ref: P Jones (Loughborough).