Manchester United marched to the top of the Premier League with another emphatic win to compound Crystal Palace's abject start to the season.

United went three points clear of local rivals Manchester City – who play at Chelsea in the day's late kick-off – thanks to goals from Juan Mata and a double from Marouane Fellaini.

Former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson and ex-Red David Beckham were in the crowd as Jose Mourinho's side turned on the style, making it 21 goals in seven league games this term.

But Palace's search for a point and a goal goes on, with Roy Hodgson's side remaining rooted to the foot of the table following their latest demoralising defeat.

Mata opened the scoring for United (
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Mata celebrates the early opening goal (
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Mata opened the scoring in the third minute, dispatching a cross from Marcus Rashford, who executed a superb turn before picking out his United team-mate.

United made it 2-0 in the 35 minute, Ashley Young sending a dangerous cross into the area, which was met and converted at the far post by Fellaini.

Rashford, who produced a man-of-the-match display before being replaced by Anthony Martial with 18 minutes left, was the provider again four minutes after the restart.

Fellaini heads home the third goal of the game (
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United celebrate the third goal (
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The United and England striker whipped in a dipping free-kick which was met by Fellaini, who evaded his markers to head the ball beyond Wayne Hennessey for his second goal of the game.

Romelu Lukaku ensured that United secured yet another 4-0 home win in the Premier League as he tapped home in the closing stages.

Palace's latest defeat means they have lost all seven of their Premier League fixtures this season and have yet to find the net, with reigning champions Chelsea up next for Hodgson's dispirited side after the international break.

Lukaku secured the final goal of the game (
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Manchester United XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Young, Matic, Fellaini, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lukaku. Subs: Romero, Bailly, Blind, Darmian, Herrera, Lingard, Martial.

Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Ward, Sakho, Delaney, Van Aanholt, Townsend, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Schlupp, Puncheon, Sako. Subs: Speroni, Kelly, Riedewald, McArthur, Mutch, Lee, Ladapo.

Recap all the action as it happened here:

Palace player ratings

Hennessey 5

Defence left him exposed for most of the goals and didn’t deserve to shoulder the blame alone

Ward 4

Turned by Rashford in the build-up to United’s early opener. Blocked goalbound Rashford shot.

Sakho 5

Should have done better with a header in the first-half, but failed to even get it on target.

Delaney 4

Struggled to cope with United’s attack. Fellaini got in ahead of him to head in United’s third.

Van Aanholt 5

Given a difficult afternoon throughout by Mata’s clever movement and United’s interchanging attack.

Milivojevic 4

Conceded free-kick from which United scored their third and allowed Fellaini to plunder it beind him.

Townsend 5

Produced some decent solo runs. Inexplicably conceded a corner by passing the ball straight out of play.

Cabeye 5

Produced a decent angled pass to Sako for an angled shot that tested De Gea, but that was about it.

Puncheon 4

Lacked any kind of influence in the midfield, no surprise he was subbed with 20 minutes remaining.

Schlupp 5

Made a decent forward run just after the break, but lack of options and support saw it come to nothing.

Sako 5

Cut an isolated and frustrated figure up front, with little in the way of service. Had shot blocked by De Gea.

Subs:

McArthur (Schlupp 68, 5)

Riedewald (Puncheon 68, 5)

Sako (Ladapo 74, 5)

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United player ratings

De Gea 6

Little to do but sloppy early kick gifted Palace an unnecessary and rare sortie towards the United goal. Decent stop from Sako.

Valencia 7

Largely untroubled down the right flank, allowing him to push forward and link up with Rashford.

Jones 7

Continued his impressive form this season with another reliable display at the back.

Smalling 6

Strong in the air and decent awareness throughout on his first Premier League start of the season.

Young 7

Solid defensively and a real threat down the left flank. Provided the assist for Fellaini’s first.

Matic 7

Unusually sloppy start by his standards, giving the ball away, but recovered composure thereafter.

Fellaini 8

Recovered from injury to play key roe in midfield and plunder United’s second and third goals.

Mata 7

Dispatched the opener with assurance and rarely misplaced a pass when in possession.

Mkhitaryan 7

Clever movement throughout across the forward line that never allowed Palace to settled

Rashford 8 MOTM

Produced a super turn and assist for Mata’s early opener. A constant threat down the left side.

Lukaku 7

Worked hard and made some penetrating runs forward, eventually got the goal he deserved.

Subs:

Lingard 6 (Mkhitaryan, 66)

Martial 7 (Rashford, 72)

Herrera 6 (Mata, 76)

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5 talking points

Marouane Fellaini scored twice as Manchester United heaped more misery on Crystal Palace.

Juan Mata opened the scoring inside three minutes before a double from the Belgian.

United had chances to add to their tally but had to wait until late on to get a fourth as Romelu Lukaku got in on the act.

The Eagles go into the international break without a point or goal after six matches.

Here are five talking points from the game.

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FT United 4-0 Palace

Death, taxes and Manchester United winning 4-0 at home.

Emphatic from Jose Mourinho’s men.

But then again, did we expect anything less?

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GOAL! Lukaku makes it four!

Yes they can!

Lukaku on the scoresheet for United.

Becoming all too familiar these 4-0 home wins for United!

We are entering the final echelons of this game.

It was done a long time ago, however.

Can United make it yet another 4-0 home win?

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A picture that tells a thousands words about today’s game.

Enjoyable for Jose.

Miserable for Roy.

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Anthony Martial is now on for United.

We know have effective he has been off the bench this season.

A late goal to make it 4-0 wouldn’t be all that unfamiliar!

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A couple of changes for Palace might shake things up a little bit.

The game has gone pretty flat.

Not much else to report back on.

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The third goal has pretty much killed any excitement that this game might have produced.

United dominating the possession and have a dominant lead.

The only story now will be whether Palace can finally open their account for the season or not.

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In pictures: Fellaini scores his second

A powerful header from the big man.

He’s really coming into his own this season, proving to be one of United’s most influential players.

And he’s now on a hat-trick!

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GOAL! Fellaini gets another!

It’s three!

Rashford curls the ball in from a free-kick and it’s nodded home by Fellaini.

Superb ball in from the England international.

In pictures: Fellaini makes it two

The big man was on hand at the back post for United.

A cool finish under pressure - but it would have been a horror show if he missed.

It’s all been very simple for United.

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HT United 2-0 Palace

It’s all plain sailing for Manchester United.

Juan Mata opened the scoring after just three minutes.

Marouane Fellaini was then on hand to double the tally with a tap in at the back post.

We’ll be back in 15.

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Jose Mourinho is absolutely furious with Romelu Lukaku.

United were breaking forward but he gave away possession as he attempted a fancy flick.

Jesse Lingard sent to warm-up as a result.

You fully expect that this game is just going to peter out until half-time now.

Just five minutes left to play.

United are fully deserving of the two goal lead.

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GOAL! Fellaini makes it two!

A game which was comfortable for United has just got even more cushy.

Great ball in from Young, who whipped the ball right to the back post.

Running in was Fellaini, who side footed into the goal to make it 2-0.

A couple of corners for Palace have come to nothing.

The south Londoners are doing alright here.

Not pulling up trees but not being completely outclassed.

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Dominant from United so far.

They are comfortable in possession and don’t look under much danger.

Pretty much going as we all expected it to.

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A penny for Roy Hodgson’s thoughts right now.

He knew it would be tough coming in when he did, with his first four games against Southampton, Manchester City, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Unlike Frank de Boer, he is likely to get longer than just four matches before the boot.

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In pictures: Mata scores the opening goal

It didn’t take long for United to move to the top of the Premier League table.

Mata stroked the ball into the bottom corner after just three minutes.

Easy as that. The fourth time in five games that United have scored in the opening five minutes of a match.

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There has been a fairly decent response from Palace to the goal.

Sako has headed over from close range as they look to work their way back into the game.

Based on previous performances this season, you can fully expect United to shut up shop and hit Palace on the break.

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GOAL! Mata taps home!

Already!

Palace’s season is going from bad to worse and they have it all to do at Old Trafford now.

A cool, side-footed finish from Mata.

PEEP! Underway at Old Trafford

The game is underway.

Palace begin the action as they look to score their first goal of the season.

Can’t believe we are still saying that as we are about to move into October.

Warm-ups nearing completion

The warm-ups are nearing their conclusion here at Old Trafford.

United have survived a few injury scares for this one and have pretty much their ideal starting XI on the field.

Palace have it all to do.

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Betting odds

Manchester United win: 2/13

Draw: 6/1

Crystal Palace win: 20/1

Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes

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The lineups

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Young, Matic, Fellaini, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford Lukaku.

Subs: Romero, Bailly, Blind, Darmian, Herrera, Lingard, Martial.

Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Ward, Sakho, Delaney, Van Aanholt, Townsend, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Schlupp, Puncheon, Sako.

Subs:Speroni, Kelly, Riedewald, McArthur, Mutch, Lee, Ladapo.

Almost time

Just over an hour to go until kick-off now. We’ll have the lineups for you in about 15 minutes.

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Lukaku fears eased

There has been some talk that Lukaku may not play today, but he certainly looked fine last night.

Welcome

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has bracketed Paul Pogba’s injury as “long-term” - comparing it to those Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcos Rojo are recovering from.

The severity of the hamstring issue that caused the 24-year-old to limp off early in the club’s Champions League return against Basel has been shrouded in mystery.

Mourinho has repeatedly claimed not to know how bad Pogba’s injury is as the club continued to assess him in-house, as well as seeking specialist advice.

The United manager is still unwilling to put a timescale on the injury, but 17 days on from the France international’s setback the Portuguese has revealed it is a long-term issue.

“He’s injured, he cannot play tomorrow and it’s not an injury that I can have the hope like I have with (Antonio) Valencia or (Phil) Jones,” Mourinho said of Pogba.

“I have the hope to see them in training and to have a positive answer, so long-term injuries I don’t speak about them.

“So Ibra and Pogba and Rojo, these players I don’t think about them.”

Rookie forward Freddie Ladapo could solve Crystal Palace’s striker crisis in Saturday’s Premier League clash at Manchester United.

The 24-year-old is Palace’s only fit recognised striker after Christian Benteke was ruled out for at least six weeks with knee trouble.

Former Wolves winger Bakary Sako could be pressed into service as a makeshift striker. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has a thigh problem, and James Tomkins is ill.