VAR dominated the first period, with Luke Shaw fortunate to see yellow and not red for a forceful challenge on Johann Berg Gudmundsson, before Harry Maguire’s header was ruled out for a foul on Erik Pieters.

Burnley came to life after Pogba’s second league goal of the season, but United saw out the victory which puts them three points clear of champions Liverpool and top of the Premier League at the 17-game mark for the first time since their 2012/13 title-winning season under Sir Alex Ferguson.

United are now unbeaten in 15 Premier League away games, their last defeat on the road came in January 2020 at Anfield, where they head next on.

Man Utd manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told Sky Sports: “When you get three points in the Premier League it makes you smile. It was a hard-fought three points; it always is up here.

“Paul [Pogba] is a big player for us, he’s a character in the dressing room, is always one that the lads look to, he’s a world champion. We’re seeing the best of Paul at the moment; he’s getting better and better every game.

“It’s a brilliant position to be in [three points clear of Liverpool]. Of course, we know we’re going to the champions who have had an unbelievable three-and-a-half seasons, we know it’s going to be a difficult game for us, but we are ready for it.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better time to play Liverpool because we are in good shape, in good form and are hungry, which is a good thing because these boys want to get better and that’s the test of their character and quality.”

Burnley boss Sean Dyche told Sky Sports: “I thought it was a good performance against a top side who are doing well. We are improving and will continue to grow as the season goes on.

“I thought they [the officials] dealt with it [the VAR incidents] the best way they could. The outcome was the correct one.

“I am a big fan of being careful with the physicality, but on another day that tackle (Shaw’s foul) is just a little bit too high and just a little too late.

“I don’t want to see people red-carded, but on another day, he might have been off for that.”

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The Iranian winger found the back of the net just three minutes into the match, ending his 18-month goalscoring drought.

As doing best Brighton Performance for the month, Jahanbakhsh, a club-record £17million signing last summer, couldn’t control his emotions after scoring goal.

The midfielder beat off competition from teammates Neal Maupay and Aaron Mooy to claim the award, following his first goal for the club against the Cherries at the end of the month.

Jahanbakhsh, who netted Albion’s fastest-ever Premier League goal for the Seagulls against Eddie Howe’s side, received 65% of the vote, brightonandhovealbion.com reported.

Jahanbakhsh’s goal was added to by Aaron Mooy after the restart, as the Australian also notched his first goal for the club in the game to seal a 2-0 win to round off 2019 for Graham Potter’s men.

Jahanbakhsh is the third Iranian player to score in Premier League history (also Ashkan Dejagah and Andranik Teymourian) and the first since Dejagah in April 2014.

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