West Ham fell to their biggest opening day defeat since the 2002/03 season at Old Trafford this afternoon.
15 years ago the Hammers were beaten 4-0 by Newcastle Utd on the opening day of a season in which they were ultimately relegated.Embed from Getty Images
And it was to be a repeat of that scoreline today as Slaven Bilic's side capitulated in the North West, despite including the much-vaunted four new summer signings in the starting XI.
The scene was set from the opening exchanges, with Slaven Bilic's side setting out to frustrate Manchester - rather frustratingly for new striker Javier Hernandez, who barely touched the ball in the opening half.
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However the Hammers managed to hold out for just 33 minutes before new signing Romelu Lukaku - who else? - put the Reds in front from close range, narrowly beating debutant Joe Hart - all after Pedro Obiang had conceded possession cheaply, with Pablo Zabaleta well out of position.
Although the Hammers managed to reach the interval without conceding further, it was to be a different story after the break. The former Everton striker added his second of the day when taking advantage of some dreadful defending by Winston Reid and Arthur Masuaku, neither of whom picked up the £75million striker at a set piece.
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And the hosts added insult to injury with two goals in the final three minutes that condemned West Ham to end the opening weekend of the season bottom of the table. Anthony Martial made it 3-0 on 87 minutes before Paul Pogba twisted the knife with a fourth as the game entered injury time.
Whilst the defeat itself wasn't particularly unexpected, the manner of it will perhaps come as a surprise to those who felt West Ham would be far better equipped this season having signed the likes of Hart, Zabaleta, Arnautovic and Hernandez.
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However the same old problems were clearly evident - a startling lack of urgency and pace, the latter which Bilic promised to address during the summer, plus a clear lack of desire and attacking intent - even when behind.
The Hammers were already up against it by virtue of having to play their opening three Premier League games of the campaign away from home; they will have to improve quickly if they are to avoid a similar fate at St Mary's against Southampton next weekend.
West Ham Utd: Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Masuaku (Cresswell 81), Obiang, Noble (Rice 61), Fernandes (Sakho 61), Ayew, Arnautovic, Chicharito.
Subs not used: Adrian, Byram, Collins, Fonte.
Booked: Zabaleta, Ogbonna.
Manchester Utd: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Blind, Matic, Pogba, Mata (Fellaini 75), Mikhitaryan (Lingard 88), Rashford (Martial 80), Lukaku.
Subs not used: Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Herrera.
Goals: Lukaku (33, 52), Martial (87), Pogba (90).
Booked: Bailly, Valencia.
Referee: Martin Atkinson.
Attendance: 74,928.
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