Brentford fc
Man Utd back on track but grumpy Ronaldo mars win
Rangnick's side were indebted to David de Gea for a superb first-half display that kept Brentford at bay before United finally sprang to life in west London.
Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Takumi Minamino scored the goals as the Reds coped without the absence of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The defending champions now have 50 points after 20 matches, putting them eight clear of second-placed Chelsea. Liverpool, who lost to Leicester on Tuesday, are a further point behind.
All three matches went ahead in front of full crowds despite the worrying rise of coronavirus case numbers that had seen last weekend's Premier League schedule decimated by call offs.
For the second consecutive day, record numbers of COVID-19 cases were recorded in Britain as the Omicron variant runs riot, with fears growing that the crisis could derail the football season.
Britain is battling record numbers of COVID-19 cases as the Omicron variant runs riot, with fears growing that the crisis could derail the football season.
Britain is battling record numbers of COVID-19 cases as the Omicron variant wreaks havoc, with fears growing that the crisis could derail the football season.
All eyes will be on Newcastle on Sunday when they host Tottenham in their first match since the controversial takeover that has Magpies fans dreaming of joining Europe football's elite.
Chelsea host Premier League champions Manchester City in a stiff test of the leaders' title credentials on Saturday as Liverpool and Manchester United bid to keep pace with Thomas Tuchel's side.
The Premier League returns on Friday in front of full crowds for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic hit and with little sign of the financial turmoil of the past 18 months slowing the arms race for talent in the transfer market.