It was a perfect start to the Premier League season for Manchester United as Romelu Lukaku inspired victory over West Ham.

Lukaku, alongside fellow new boy Nemanja Matic, impressed at Old Trafford as United cruised to a relatively simple 4-0 victory on the opening Sunday of the season.

The £75million striker hit home either side of the break as United looked much improved from their disappointing campaign last season.

Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba rounded off the rout in the closing stages, as United took top spot at the end of the week's action.

But who came out of the game with their reputations enhanced?

Mirror Football's Aaron Flanagan cast his eye over proceedings...

WINNERS

1. Romelu Lukaku

Lukaku made the perfect start to life at Old Trafford (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

That's what you pay the big money for.

It took him about 25 minutes to burst into life, but Lukaku became an instant hero at Old Trafford with his determined display at Old Trafford.

His thumping finish in front of the Stretford End in the first-half followed by his passionate celebration - in which he pointed to the United badge - was exactly what has come to be expected of those donning the red No.9 shirt.

And his cuteness to pull off the defenders for his second showed true strikers' instinct.

Lukaku has scored on his debut for three different Premier League clubs now after repeating the feat for West Brom and Everton.

He also loves playing against West Ham - that's 11 goals in his last 11 against the Hammers.

2. Daley Blind

Blind was one of the standout United performers both offensively and defensively (
Image:
Matthew Peters/Getty Images)

The last 12 months have brought continual question marks over Daley Blind and his performances.

Is he a full-back? Is he a centre-back? Is he a holding midfielder? While he can do a job in all of them, he made the left-back spot his own on Sunday afternoon.

Matteo Darmian had appeared to be Mourinho's favoured option heading into the new season he had some Blind faith.

The Dutchman barely missed anything to happen around him, proving effective in his defensive roles while also providing an attacking outlet.

A good start to the season for a man playing in a position where many thought United would have to strengthen.

3. Gareth Southgate

Southgate was in the crowd at Old Trafford and will like what he saw (
Image:
REUTERS)

England manager Gareth Southgate was in the stands on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford and he will have come away with a big beaming smile on his face.

Three of his regular squad members - Phil Jones, Marcus Rashford and Joe Hart - all started the game and performed well.

There have been doubts over Hart given the turbulent last 12 months that he has experienced, but his display in the main will have restored Southgate's faith in him, despite the four conceded.

Jones was near faultless at the back, while Rashford showed his brilliance, running at the West Ham defence and causing them problems, very unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet himself.

LOSERS

1. Anthony Martial

Martial will struggle to get himself back into the starting XI (
Image:
AFP)

He certainly did himself no harm once he came off the bench, scoring the third goal of the game late on, but losing his place in the United starting XI shows the Jose Mourinho still has not got complete faith in him.

And he is unlikely to win a starting berth back soon, with Marcus Rashford impressive throughout and likely keep his spot on the left-hand side, despite Martial's late contribution.

It is a shame for Martial, who was ever impressive throughout pre-season and did all he possibly could in the short period that he was on the pitch.

Speculation over his future possibly playing a part in him losing his place in the XI. Reports over the weekend suggest that Tottenham have had a bid rejected for his services.

It will be tough for Martial this season, but if he can find consistency in his performances, he might be able to challenge Rashford's spot.

2. Javier Hernandez

It was not the return to Old Trafford that Hernandez will have wanted (
Image:
REUTERS)

It wasn't the fairytale return to Old Trafford that Javier Hernandez will have wanted.

Two years after being sold by Louis van Gaal, Hernandez returned to a warm welcome but had very little influence on proceedings.

West Ham were, in all honesty, poor throughout the majority of last season and it almost seems like the arrival of Hernandez was supposed to be the answer to all of their problems.

But the Mexican is solely a prolific goalscorer - and he can't do his job if the ball does not end up at his feet.

3. West Ham

Bilic has some big problems that he needs to solve in his West Ham team (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Well yes, obviously.

But the summer's transfer business was not up to scratch and the whole team suffered as a result as they took on one of the title favourites.

It says a lot about the squad depth when five members of the bench are defenders, especially on a day where the Hammers are more likely to need attacking reinforcements than defensive ones.

Slaven Bilic will no doubt be pulling his hair out at the lack of options available to him, especially following a summer where West Ham had looked like they would buy shrewdly.

There are two weeks of the transfer window left and West Ham still have plenty of work to do.

BONUS LOSER: The Premier League title challengers

Mourinho will certainly be happier than his expression suggests (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

Let's be honest, Manchester United look very, very good.

If you're part of the squads in the title race, you will look at that United performance and suggest that they are in fact back to their very best.

Ruthless, powerful and clinical, United were everything that title contenders need to be - and they are led by a man who knows how to win trophies.

The championship race has certainly been blown wide open.

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