A great deal might have changed for Romelu Lukaku this summer, but one thing has remained the same: his love of scoring against West Ham.
The Manchester United new boy scored the crucial first two goals in his side’s 4-0 win over the Hammers, his 10th and 11th in 13 games against the east Londoners before substitute Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba rounded off the scoring to burst West Ham’s pre-season bubble.
Slaven Bilic fielded his quartet of big name summer buys - former Manchester City duo Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta, ex-United striker Javier Hernandez and record signing Marko Arnautovic.
But they were all put in the shade by the exceptional duo making their United league debuts, Nemanja Matic and Romelu Lukaku.
The former provided the platform Paul Pogba needed last season, freeing him to dictate play for deep. After 28 minutes the Frenchman provided the game’s most breathtaking moment, a fabulous clipped pass over the West Ham defence that freed Mata in behind.
Hart was out quickly enough to limit Mata’s options to a square pass for Lukaku but Reid did well to thump clear.
Still West Ham were unable to live with an unchained Manchester United, who were remorseless in punishing their visitors on a rare burst forward. Pedro Obiang was caught in midfield by Matic. Rashford burst forward, carrying the ball nearly 50 yards before slipping through Lukaku.
The Belgian had nine goals from 12 games against the Hammers beforehand and was not about to spurn such a perfect chance, clipping a shot past Hart and into the net via the left post.
A powerful drive from Edimilson Fernandes forced David De Gea into a parry on the stroke of half-time but West Ham were offering little to challenge their hosts.
Arthur Masuaku in particular could do with explaining why he didn’t even start between Lukaku and the ball from a Henrikh Mkhitaryan free-kick. It did not need a £75million striker to flick a simple header past Hart.
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To Bilic’s credit he responded to the worsening scoreline by chasing goals, throwing on Diafra Sakho for the ineffectual Mark Noble on the hour. It was almost an immediate success but well-placed from a corner the rusty striker, playing only his fifth game since the start of last season, could not get a decent connection on his header.
Similarly Mourinho might normally shut up shop at 2-0 but they continued to pour forward in numbers, led by the whirlwind Rashford. Pablo Zabaleta could only delay his progress once at the cost of a yellow. Then the 19-year-old cut loose and deserved a goal for a vicious shot that cracked back off the post.
Rashford was not to get his reward today, his replacement Martial getting the third (before teeing up Pogba), but he doubtless will in the weeks to come. With Lukaku leading the way, this United side should have plenty of goals to share around.