So even when Manchester United win, it seems they lose. This was a victory both convincing and thoroughly deserved. The scoreline 3-1 did not reflect their dominance over a wretched Swansea team.
There was a super goal from Paul Pogba, two from the hitherto barren Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a fine performance from Wayne Rooney. So three points and some ground made up on Arsenal and Manchester City at least.
All good? No, not quite. Enter manager Jose Mourinho with a metaphorical hand grenade. Some of his players are not prepared to play through pain, he said. They are not a good fit for his culture, for the Manchester United culture. Stand back and watch it blow.
In other matches, Arsenal and Tottenham settled for a one all draw in an English Premier League North London derby match played at the Emirates.
An own goal from Kevin Wimmer had given the Gunners a first half lead before Spurs leveled scores through Harry Kane who scored from the spot.
Elsewhere Liverpool thrashed Watford 6-1 to move to the top of the league table heading into international break.
Saturday results saw Chelsea trump Everton 5-0 win in an entertaining match. Eden Hazard gabbed a brace while top scorer Diego Costa added one to push his tally to 9, while Marcos Alonso, and Pedro were also on target.
Manchester City dropped two points late on after they were held to a one all draw by Middleborough. Elsewhere ten man Sunderland recorded their first league victory this season, after Jermain Defoe's second half penalty handed them a 2-1 win over Bournemouth.
-Dailymail