Manchester United 4 Everton 0: Watch highlights as Antonio Valencia’s rasping volley and Romelu Lukaku’s late goal spoil Wayne Rooney’s return to Old Trafford
Former Everton striker appeared to gesture to Toffees supporters as Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Anthony Martial added the extras
ANTONIO VALENCIA hit a worldie winner to spoil Wayne Rooney’s homecoming party before Jose Mourinho's side ran riot at Old Trafford.
Full-back Valencia last scored one here in January 2014, but it was worth the long wait for his next.
The game was just four minutes old when Nemanja Matic sprayed a ball across field presumably for Valenica to create something himself.
But it became clear he had one thing on his mind as he refused to break stride and latched onto the ball with perfect timing to send a 20-yard angled screamer curling past Jordan Pickford.
Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up. Pickford did to be fair but the ball had so much pace and spin on it that his efforts were futile.
That, you would have thought, would have opened the flood gates for a comfortable afternoon for United.
After all Everton arrived here after three sound thumpings without scoring a goal.
United’s tails were up having gone into the weekend as league leaders and with an opening Champions League group game win under their belt.
But after Romelu Lukaku missed a great chance on 26 minutes to wrap the game up, United contrived to take their foot off the pedal and it almost cost them.
David De Gea has been largely a spectator this season but the Red Devils needed him at his brilliant best again yesterday as he denied both Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson.
Juan Mata did respond with a a free kick that came back off the post.
Rooney received a good reception both before and at the end of the game when he was subbed off.
What he really wanted was a point or three for Everton but this time the script writers of his incredible career had to deny him.
And in the end Lukaku did manage to make it safe with seven minutes to go.
Marouane Fellaini cut out a clearance and the ball bounced to Lukaku who fed Mkhitaryan to finish.
Lukaku, who had been booed by the Everton fans turned to them and put his finger to his lips to shussh as he got the third.
Anthony Martial then netted from the spot in injury time to complete the rout after Morgan Schneiderlin handled in the box.
INTERACTIVE STATS - CLICK on the categories to find out how the teams fared
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- Mick Hucknall cosied up next to Sir Alex Ferguson in the stands. Has the band name Simply Red ever been more accurate?
- Prior to this game Manchester United had won 18 and lost just one of their last 24 Premier League home games against Everton.
- Before kick-off the Toffees' record of 33 defeats in this fixture is their worst against a Premier League rival.
- Rooney looked a new player upon his return to Everton but it looked the frustrating figure we're more accustomed to seeing in a red shirt upon his first game back at Old Trafford since his summer switch.
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INTERACTIVE LINE-UPS – CLICK on a player’s number below to see their stats
- Both matches last season between these sides finished 1-1. There has never been three straight draws between the sides in the Premier League.
- Manchester United showed their versatility by having their seventh different goalscorer in the Prem this season, more than any other team.
- No hard feelings between Mourinho and Rooney. The United manager reached out to shake the club's record goalscorer's hand as he came off in the 82nd minute.
WHAT THEY SAID
Manchester United boss Mourinho said: "The performance was very good. In the first 30, 35 minutes, it was the best we have played.
"Everton came into the game after that, a little bit of pressure after the bad results, but they gave us some difficulties.
"In counter attack we killed the game."
Everton gaffer Ronald Koeman said: "That’s football. Sometimes you get more than you deserved. We deserved more than we got.
"We made a big mistake at 1-0 and after that it was over. What I saw today of the team makes me happy and makes me more happy than last Thursday."
