Wayne Rooney loses out in battle of Manchester United’s past and present

The heavens opened after only three minutes and so Wayne Rooney was being soaked as Antonio Valencia flashed home a sweet volley that gave Manchester United the lead moments later. This was not the way the club’s record goalscorer imagined his return.

Rooney last faced United at this venue on Boxing Day 2003 when Everton lost 3-2 against a Sir Alex Ferguson side that featured Tim Howard, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Bellion. While Rooney’s status then as Old Trafford’s golden boy was still in the future, this match might have been billed as United Past versus United Present. With Rooney donning Everton livery, the home crowd would see their 253-goal man line up against his replacement, Romelu Lukaku, whose six goals in six games was a dream start to his career after moving from Goodison Park. Rooney had scored in Everton’s first two Premier League games but nothing since.

When he jumped off the coach before heading to the unfamiliar away dressing room, a cry of “Rooney!” went up from the gathered United faithful. More pressing, though, was the need for the 31-year-old to spark a recovery. Ronald Koeman’s men arrived having lost their previous three games and with no win since 12 August – 1-0 against Stoke City, their sole league victory.

Rooney scored the winner that day but his pre-kick-off chat was littered with references about the need to leave with “something”. On 21 minutes Rooney failed to answer this desire by scuffing wide a Cuco Martina ball. It compounded a shaky start as Rooney fluffed a pass, hooked one pass to Martina, barged David de Gea, and was outmuscled by Eric Bailly.

After Lukaku was booed by visiting fans and Rooney received a pleasant welcome, he had lined up in the No9 berth vacated by the Belgian. Lukaku spurned a gilded chance to return the jeers with interest when put in by Juan Mata. This delighted the visiting fans, left José Mourinho disgruntled, and caused Rooney to glare at Michael Keane for the pass that ceded possession.

In the autumn of his career, Rooney’s style is to drop ever deeper. As the first half went on he did more of this, igniting attacks via Martina and Tom Davies along the right. What this showed up is how Koeman failed to replace Lukaku, the Dutchman recruiting Gylfi Sigurdsson and Davy Klaassen in addition to Rooney: three No10s instead of a natural centre-forward to fill the void.

As well as Lukaku’s goals what Koeman and Everton lost was pace. When Marcus Rashford slipped him in near the end of the first half the striker raced into space in a manner just not possible for Rooney and his team-mates.

What he had shown by the break was a willingness to drop back and help stymie United near the area. His quick brain and feet were to the fore as he recycled the ball out of blind alleys but, really, this illustrated just how dominant United were and how scant the service offered him was.

Rooney had a tunnel chat with De Gea at the break and an involved one with Sigurdsson near the centre circle before the second half. As a born winner he might have reminded the Icelander they were only a goal behind. When the referee, Michael Oliver, blew, Rooney instantly walked the talk by bearing down on De Gea. His left-foot shot was repelled by the goalkeeper, though.

This came in front of a Stretford End that was part of his respectful greeting so if Rooney had scored and celebrated, there might have been an intriguing response.

Of the two, Rooney’s contribution seemed set to end as the greater before Lukaku’s seventh goal this season, in the 89th minute. Before this, the Belgian hung his head when Rashford dashed along the left and tried to curl one past Jordan Pickford rather than pass. And when Ashley Young did pick him out later, Lukaku ended on his backside in Everton’s area.

Before his late substitution, Rooney had been his team’s most effective force. Several times he fired the ball out wide and forward and raced into the area only to see a team-mate relay the ball backwards for momentum to be lost.

This appeared to be a functional performance in the classic Mourinho mould before a late goal avalanche from United. Koeman threw on Sandro Ramirez for Davies and a reshuffle put him at the peak of the attack, with Rooney now less advanced. As time ran out he upended his former team-mate Ander Herrera, and this proved his last action as Kevin Mirallas replaced him with eight minutes left.

There was a Mourinho handshake but as the Stretford End sang his name Henrikh Mkhitaryan doubled the lead. The provider was Lukaku, with the kind of weighted pass that helped make Rooney’s name. Now, before the penalty from Anthony Martial that put United joint top, came the Belgian’s own finish. It was a sweet way for him to end as he cupped a hand to his ear in front of the travelling Everton fans.