Manchester United 4 Everton 0: Red Devils in control with added gloss from late show

The fans saluted his exploits in his 13-year spell at Manchester United but his former team-mates refused to get all sentimental.

An early wonder strike by Antonio Valencia looked as if it would be enough but once Rooney went off to a standing ovation, Everton promptly collapsed as United’s showed their old ruthless streak.

Rooney has been part of many late goal charges in his time with them but as he stared on in disbelief from the dug-out, he wouldn’t have enjoyed this one, especially as it sent Everton crashing to their fourth successive defeat.

In that dispiriting run they have conceded 12 goals and failed to score themselves. Their lack of a cutting edge is now becoming acute and the sight of Romelu Lukaku, the striker they failed to replace in the summer, scoring United’s third goal will only increase Ronald Koeman’s frustration.

Lukaku has now scored seven in his first seven games for United and no striker has done that before in the modern era.

Koeman will have been encouraged by the grit and resilience Everton showed for around 80 minutes but he will not be impressed by their late collapse in a defeat that drops them into the bottom three.

The win – United’s third by a 4-0 margin in five games – puts them level with neighbours City with an identical goals for and against with City top on alphabetical order.

It was also Jose Mourinho’s first win over Koeman in six Premier League encounters.

But they surprisingly took a long, long time to build on Valencia’s fourth minute strike. 

The Ecuador international doesn’t get many goals, especially since moving to right back, but he will treasure this wonder strike.

Nemanja Matic found him lurking on the right hand side of the Everton penalty and with the ball sitting up nicely at he lashed swerving right foot volley past Jordan Pickford.

United fans sat back in anticipation of the floodgates opening. But it didn’t happen until those last seven minutes.

Lukaku missed a great chance to make it two before the break – after a bad mistake by Michael Keane – and Everton showed the commitment that Koeman complained they lacked in the defeats to Tottenham and Atalanta.

Rooney, playing as a lone striker, worked hard and nearly brought Everton level in front of the Stretford End in the first minute of the second half only for David De Gea to stick out a leg.

De Gea also saved from Gylfi Sigurdsson as United grew increasingly anxious over their failure to find the second goal.

But once Rooney went off, it was as if Everton lost their talisman.

Ashley Willaims was at fault for the second goal. He needlessly gave the ball away and United seized their chance. Marouane Fellaini passed to Lukaku who set up Henrikh Mkhitaryan and it was game over.

But just as they did in the 4-0 wins over West ham on the opening day and at Swansea in their second game, United refused to take their foot off the pedal.

They sensed there were more goals for the taking as Everton lost heart and concentration. Lukaku scored from close range after Jesse Lingard had flicked on Nemanja Matic’s cross.