Wayne Rooney suffered a nightmare return to Old Trafford as Manchester United cruised to a 4-0 win over Everton.
Jose Mourinho's side got off to a flier after a stunning long-range volley from Antonio Valencia in the fourth minute.
And late in the second half it was Henrikh Mkhitaryan with a composed finish to put the game to bed.
United were not finished just yet and Romelu Lukaku made it three with a close-range finish against his former club.
Lukaku was not afraid to celebrate including putting a cupped ear to the Everton fans.
Anthony Martial made it four from the penalty spot in injury time after Morgan Schneiderlin handled inside the box.
Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Bailly, Young, Matic, Fellaini, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lukaku
Subs: Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Carrick, Herrera, Lingard, Martial
Everton: Pickford, Keane, Jagielka, Williams, Martina, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Baines, Davies, Sigurdsson, Rooney.
Subs: Sandro, Mirallas, Klaassen, Besic, Stekelenburg, Calvert-Lewin Holgate.
Keep track of all the action with our live minute-by-minute blog.
Koeman - It was a harsh result
Everton boss Ronald Koeman felt the 4-0 scoreline flattered Manchester United and said he could still take a lot of positives from the game.
Koeman said:
Yes (It was a harsh result). Sometimes in football you get more than you deserve.
We made a big mistake at 1-0 by Ashley Williams and then it is over.
The team makes me happy, more than last Thursday.
We grew into the game with our confidence and not many teams will get the two chances we had after half-time.
We did everything to score the goal but couldn’t do it.
It is not ambitious. It is the confidence of the team.
I tried to get the full-backs to have a higher position but it is difficult after a tough period.
When the whistle stars it is about your team-mates and were too afraid.
It is difficult to say when you lose 4-0 but we didn’t deserve this result.
You need to be more clinical and when you make mistakes you cannot do anything as a team.
We need to win the coming games and realistic we knew that we play Europa League and then have to face Man City, Chelsea, and Man Utd it is hard.
After today we have four home games in different competitions and we need to win them, otherwise we will have problems.
United are flying
The stats speak for themselves.
United are top of the pack and rightly so following a superb start to the campaign.
16 goals scored with four clean sheets from their opening five games.
Mourinho - It was probably our best performance in the first 35 minutes
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho had nothing but praise for his side’s performance - especially the opening half an hour and felt it was their best opening to a game this season.
Mourinho said:
I think the performance was very good - especially in the first 35 minutes.
It was probably our best performance of the season.
They only had one shot on target and we were really impressive
After that Everton came back into the game and applied a bit of pressure and made it difficult.
But we have options and I made the decision to change things and we were very good on the counter attack.
The Premier League is becoming hard with five at the back and the best way to play is to also have five at the back.
But when you don’t do that I told the guys to play with three up and kill the game.
We didn’t kill it and had to make it solid.
They had a couple of chances and had the quality with the players that they have.
I am sure that Everton are going to be fine. The fixtures they have - I would not want them at the same time.
I would like to play against all of them but it is not fair for them to play against all the top teams.
The penalty today was Mata and he was out. It was 3-0 and I let them take the decision.
It is nice for Martial and I have no problems.
I am really pleased. I think 4-0 is too heavy for them, too heavy for the effort they brought to the game.
Lukaku - The celebrations were just a bit of banter
Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku relished the chance to score against his former club and said his celebrations were just a bit of ‘banter’ towards the Everton fans.
Lukaku said:
We could have scored more in first half. We weren’t clinical enough. Everton created problems in midfield and the manager gave us tips at half-time of how to sort it.
In second half, Everton had a lot of control but quality was the difference in the end.
I mean, it’s another goal and I’m happy with the win. It’s just a bit of banter (for the celebration), after the free-kick I missed.
We don’t look at our opponents, we stay focused on us. We know we can play better than we did today.
It was a great goal (from Valencia) and that’s what we wanted, to score early. I’m delighted for him.
GOAL: Manchester United 4-0 Everton (Martial 90)
No doubt about this penalty as Morgan Schneiderlin handballs inside the area.
There are no protests from the Everton players.
Anthony Martial makes no mistake striking the ball past Pickford.
GOAL: Manchester United 3-0 Everton (Lukaku 89)
it just had to be.
Romelu Lukaku was in the right place to fire the ball home from close-range.
The celebrations look certain to dominate headlines as they included a cupped ear to the Everton fans.
GOAL: Manchester United 2-0 Everton (Mkhitaryan 84)
Surely that is game, set and match for Manchester United.
A superb pass from Lukaku sets Mkhitaryan free into the box.
The United midfielder makes no mistake with a clinical finish past Pickford into the corner of the net.
Second half in pics
Both sides have created good chances with Lukaku and Tom Davies almost getting their names on the scoresheet.
Everton are not out of this by a long stretch.
Can United find the crucial second?
Rooney at the Stretford End - the headlines were waiting to be written
What a chance for Wayne Rooney!
The former United superstar did the hard work and found himself through on goal.
But his low shot was superbly saved by his former team-mate David de Gea.
Another great chance for Everton to get back into the game.
What a miss from Lukaku?
How did Romelu Lukaku not find the target?
Manchester United’s big summer signing had the goal at his mercy.
But the Belgian star somehow manages to put the ball wide of the left hand post.
Goal of the season contender?
Have we just witnessed a goal of the season contender?
Valencia will certainly not hit many better than that one.
The goal has ignited the home side.
Can Everton find a way back into the game?
GOAL: Manchester United 1-0 Everton (Valencia 4)
What a strike from Antonio Valencia.
The United skipper unleashed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.
The ball flew past Jordan Pickford into the roof of the net.
Dream start from the home side.
Rooney receives a warm welcome from United fans
That is a nice touch from the United fans.
Rooney receives a standing ovation from the Stretford End as he finishes his warm-up and heads back down the tunnel.
How will that affect the Everton forward going into the big game?
Lukaku will have mixed emotions
This is a day of reunions and there will be mixed emotions for Romelu Lukaku when he faces his former club for the first time.
Lukaku also found his best form during his spell at Goodison Park and became one of the best strikers in the top flight.
It will be interesting to see his reaction if he gets on the scoresheet!
Strong police presence
With the terrorist attack taking place in London on Friday there is a strong security presence around Old Trafford.
Another bumper 75,000 crowd is expected for the big game in Manchester.
The security forces are certainly taking no chances with a number of police patrolling the local areas.
Big day for Rooney
All eyes will be focused on the return of Mr Rooney at Old Trafford.
After 13 memorable years, United’s record goalscorer will hopefully make his way into the right dressing room!
After a poor run of results, Ronald Koeman will certainly be hoping that his star forward can get among the goals once again.
Rooney starts for Everton
And here’s how the visitors line-up.
As expected, Wayne Rooney starts against his former side.
A quick aside - just look at those shirt sleeve sponsors. Jeez...
Everton: Pickford, Keane, Jagielka, Williams, Martina, Schneiderlin, Gueye, Baines, Davies, Sigurdsson, Rooney
Subs: Sandro, Mirallas, Klaassen, Besic, Stekelenburg, Calvert-Lewin Holgate.
Man United team is in: Fellani starts
We have our team news.
We’ll start with the hosts, who have included Marouane Fellaini, rather than Ander Herrera in Paul Pogba’s absence.
Manchester United: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Bailly, Young, Matic, Fellaini, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lukaku
Subs: Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Carrick, Herrera, Lingard, Martial
Robbie Fowler: Passion won't fix Everton
Whenever I hear the word passion in football, I wonder what it means exactly?
It’s a funny word.
It’s the thing every supporter wants to see from their players and their managers, yet how is it even measured?
I mention this because Ronald Koeman has been accused of lacking passion and there is a suggestion that that could be behind Everton’s mini meltdown in the past couple of weeks.
I have friends who are “passionate” Blues and they worry he may be a bit too calm. But just because he is not ranting and raving on the touchline, just because he does not seem to get excited, does that mean he isn’t so bothered about winning?
Of course, it doesn’t.
Read more from the former Liverpool man here.
Collymore: Why Mourinho is the modern-day Cloughie
I’m not sure any manager since Brian Clough has understood the value of a soundbite as much as Jose Mourinho .
He is the modern-day Cloughie in many ways, with principles rooted in family and close friends – but with a darker side too.
We have seen it many times with the Portuguese, from his face-flicking antics in El Clasico to the 48-hour growth and curled lip when he is in a particularly sneering mood.
But I do not think he would have been anywhere near as successful a manager as he has been had it not been for that edge.
Nobody wins anything by just being a nice guy.
Read the rest of Stan’s column here.
Saha says Rooney will relish Old Trafford return
Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha insists Wayne Rooney will be relishing his return to Old Trafford.
Saha, who shared a forward line with Rooney for four seasons after they both joined United in 2004, reckons the Everton striker will have no fears about today’s game.
Intense scrutiny, on the pitch and off, has been a part of Rooney’s life since he was a teenager.
Saha insisted: “Wayne is used to it. He’s so professional, so dedicated.
“I remember when I was at Old Trafford and there was an issue – should he go to Manchester City?
“There were so many stories, but, week in, week out, he just kept scoring.
“Wayne has broken every record in English football, so he has to be someone special.
“Going back to United? I think he will enjoy it more than anything.”
Saha is full of admiration for the way Rooney has shaped his career after breaking into Everton’s team as a 16-year-old.
“I wouldn’t have been able to do it,” Saha said. “I would get so frustrated by it all. The best players are the ones who can control their emotions. It’s not easy, and some people aren’t able to do that.
“I was in a cocoon during my career – and it must be even worse for a player like Wayne.
“Everyone thinks they know him. But they don’t. He’s a leader now, but he is also still the same kid who wants to enjoy his football.”
How will United line up without Pogba?
Paul Pogba’s absence with a hamstring injury is an obvious blow for Manchester United, but with another international week almost among is, it could come at a worse time.
The October slate of World Cup qualifiers will be welcomed by the Red Devils after Pogba was seen leaving Old Trafford on crutches after the Champions League win over Basel, report the Manchester Evening News .
The Frenchman could miss up to eight United fixtures, but how will Jose Mourinho shuffle his pack?
Parker: United have found their Fergie replacement
Manchester United have finally found the perfect man to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson.
That is the assertion of former United star — and former Mourinho doubter — Paul Parker, who spent five years at Old Trafford under Fergie.
Parker, 53, said: “This is my moment to eat humble pie. I didn’t think Mourinho was the right man – but he has proved me wrong.
“A strength of Sir Alex was dealing with big names, big players. Mourinho has the same kind of track record.
“Like Sir Alex, Mourinho does his transfer business early, not scrambling around at the last minute.
“Sir Alex could deliver a rollicking — and Mourinho does not take nonsense.
“At Real Madrid, the players would go straight to the president if they had a grievance and undermine Mourinho’s authority.
“Everywhere else, he has succeeded — and I now feel sure he will succeed again at United.”
Van Nistelrooy: Lukaku a natural for Old Trafford
Romelu Lukaku is an Old Trafford natural, who will score a mountain of goals for Manchester United , believes Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Reds legend Van Nistelrooy is still revered by United fans for his phenomenal goalscoring feats after being signed in 2001 by Sir Alex Ferguson.
A staggering 150 goals in 219 games confirmed his standing as one of the club’s top marksmen. And now, Van Nistelrooy says successor Lukaku can also hit the goal-scoring heights, after brushing off the pressures that inevitably come as a new striker at United.
Moyes: Rooney will get 'King's reception'
Manchester United will afford Wayne Rooney a King’s reception when he returns to Old Trafford tomorrow.
United and England’s record goalscorer is back at the Theatre of Dreams tomorrow for the first time since rejoining his boyhood club Everton in the summer.
Old Trafford legend Denis Law may be known as ‘The King’, but David Moyes, who managed Rooney at Everton and United, is convinced the forward will be treated like royalty on his return after what he achieved in 13 years there.
“I think he’ll be given a reception like a King after everything he achieved at Manchester United,” Moyes told MirrorSport.
“Wayne served United incredibly well, through the best years of his career, and became their all-time leading goalscorer.”
Welcome...
Good morning folks and welcome to MirrorFootball’s coverage of the second of today’s two Premier League games - and it promises to be a doozy.
Manchester United host Everton at Old Trafford in a match bristling with subplots, as the Red Devils look to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and stay in touch with their cross-city rivals at the top of the table, while the visitors find themselves in an almighty funk after failing to win a game in a month.
And then there’s also the small matter of Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer and former captain returning to Old Trafford, as Wayne Rooney gets set to lead the line for the Toffees.
In other players-against-former-clubs news Romelu Lukaku will be looking to continue his fast start to the season by netting against his old side.
Jose Mourinho will have to make do without Paul Pogba, who is ruled out with a hamstring injury. Ander Herrera could come in to replace him.
Ronald Koeman has no new injury worries but could ring in the changes as he tries to put a wretched run of form to bed after having not won a game since the 2-0 victory over Hajduk Split a month ago today.
We’ll have all the action for you right here, so dive in and we’ll get cracking...