MAN UNITED 4, WEST HAM 0
Manchester United’s comprehensive home victory against West Ham delivered a statement of intent to the rest of the Premier League.
It was an impressive performance in which Romelu Lukaku marked his league debut for the Reds with a two-goal salvo as he immediately repaid an instalment on his £75million summer move from Everton.
They were the opening two strikes and there were also late goals for Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba to earn Jose Mourinho his biggest win since becoming Reds’ manager.
And though only one round of fixtures has been completed, United head the table as they looked a far more complete and rounded team than the one in Mourinho’s first season as manager.
They created 22 goals attempts with six on target compare with the Hammers’ nine and one, and the corner count was 11-1 in their favour, another indication of their superiority.
It was a start that delighted Mourinho who said: “There were many times last season when we deserved to win and didn’t so to win the match and the quality of our performance, based on confidence levels, was high.
“I am not saying it was the perfect performance. We made mistakes and there is obviously room for improvement.
“It was a solid performance and we showed a good attitude at 1-0 to try and score more goals.”
Mourinho added he is not getting carried away explaining: “Last season we were top off league after the first match and finished sixth.
“This means nothing, just we played well and confidence levels are high. Now the challenge is to keep confidence levels high.
“I have been working with the players for 13 months and I think we can do better than last year. The fans have reason to be optimistic as do.
“For me after years and years of experience in the Premier League, me feet are on the ground and I am calm.”
Mourinho praised Matic who was named man of the match declaring: “I brought Nemanja to Stamford Bridge because he ia a player with special qualities.
“After I left, I always thought he was the perfect player, but never disturbed Chelsea unless something special happened.
“His agent said we could have him and pay. I am very happy because he is a player our team needs. He and Michael Carrick are what I call stability players.”
Mourinho was delighted for Lukaku adding his goals and also the one in the Super Cup were great for his confidence.
“Strikers can play phenomenally well but, if they do not score, the pressure is on them,” he said.
Hammers’ manager Slaven Bilic admitted it was a bad start admitting the confidence of his team is low.
“They were better with the ball, better without the ball. They had individual quality and they also had strength. I expected more,” he said.
Lukaku and Matic, who was pure class in midfield, were handed their Premier League debut for the Reds, but new defender Victor Lindelof didn’t make the matchday 18.
The Hammers included former United favourite Javier Hernandez in their line up along with ex-City pair Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta as they were all making their bows for the club.
United made a lively start, but found it difficult to breach the massed ranks of the visitors’ defence – they often had 10 players behind the ball when not in possession and lacked attacking ambition. They had clearly set out their stall for a point and may be snatch victory on the counter attack.
But the dynamics of the game changed in the 33rd minute when the Reds went ahead. Matic made an all-important interception before releasing Marcus Rashford on the left and he set up Lukaku who fired home from seven yards in off the upright.
Hammers’ only chance of the opening period came deep in stoppage time when Edimilson Fernandes’ fierce shot was fisted out by David De Gea.
United doubled their lead seven minutes after the restart when Lukaku struck for a second time.
Zabaleta was booked for a foul on Rashford and from Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s free kick, Lukaku glanced home a header from six yards.
The Hammers, forced to adopt a more adventurous approach, went close when Marko Arnautovic’s header struck the crossbar.
Rashford was unlucky not to add a third run midway through the half when the unlucky Rashford cut in from the left and saw a fierce shot hit the inside of the far upright and somehow stay out of the net.
United belatedly and deservedly made it 3-0 when substitute Martial found the the net in the 87th minute.
Pogba and Mkhitaryan linked superbly to release Martial who shot low to the left of Hart from 10 yards.
Martial, who replaced Rashford after 80 minutes, then provided the assist for Pogba to add a fourth goal as he curled in a shot from 25 yards wide to the left of Hart to crown a fabulous afternoon for the Re