Manchester United 4 Crystal Palace 0
Premier League | 30 September 2017 | Old Trafford | Attendance: 75,118 | Scorers: Mata 3, Fellaini 35, 49, Lukaku 86
MATCH SUMMARY
Romelu Lukaku matched Andrew Cole's Manchester United record of scoring seven goals in his first seven league matches as he added to earlier strikes from Juan Mata and a double from Marouane Fellaini in a thumping 4-0 win over struggling Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. The result means Jose Mourinho's men leapfrog Manchester City, albeit temporarily, at the top of the table.
Mata sent United on their way after just three minutes, latching on to Marcus Rashford's cross, before Fellaini converted Ashley Young's delivery just after the half-hour mark.
The big Belgian then grabbed his second at the start of the second period, nodding in Rashford's wicked free-kick, before Lukaku completed the rout late on by tapping in from close range. At the other end, David De Gea's clean sheet means the Reds have now equalled their best-ever clean sheet record at the start of a Premier League campaign.
Phil Jones, Antonio Valencia and Fellaini were all fit to start, while Rashford and Mata also returned to the starting XI, and it was the Spaniard who repaid Mourinho's trust in him after just three minutes.
Arriving into this one on the back of a trip to Russia meant the Reds could perhaps have been forgiven for a sluggish start, but Mata had other ideas, as he tucked in Rashford's pull back after the young prodigy had turned Joel Ward inside out before handing it on a plate for the tricky playmaker to tuck home.
United seemed to take the foot off the accelerator as the first half wore on. That allowed Roy Hodgson's men to enjoy a flurry of corners, before De Gea was tested for the first time via a powerful effort from Bakary Sako, which the Spaniard did well to palm away.
Then, it was as if United had told themselves 'enough was enough' as, against the run of play, the Reds doubled their lead via Fellaini, who volleyed home Young's pin-point cross at the back post.
The Reds wrapped up three points early in the second half as Rashford swung in a dangerous free-kick from the left, which was diverted in via a glancing header from Fellaini.
Young tried his luck from 20 yards, while at the other end Sako miscued a header before blazing over from 25 yards as Palace looked to grab their first goal of the season.
Lukaku almost netted his 11th goal of the season but he dragged his shot wide from 15 yards; however, the big striker was not to be denied moments later as substitute Anthony Martial played his impactful part once again, pulling the ball back for Lukaku to equal Cole's mark.
The Reds have now scored four goals in a game six times this season and the win matched United's record tally of 19 points after the opening seven Premier League matches, set in 1999 and again in 2011.
THE LINE-UPS
United: De Gea; Valencia (c), Smalling, Jones, Young; Matic, Fellaini, Mata (Herrera 77), Mkhitaryan (Lingard 65), Rashford (Martial 71); Lukaku.
Subs not used: Romero, Bailly, Blind, Darmian.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey, Ward, Sakho, Delaney, Van Aanholt, Townsend, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Schlupp (McArthur 68), Puncheon (c) (Riedewald 68), Sako (Ladapo 74).
Subs not used: Speroni, Kelly, Mutch, Lee.
TALKING POINTS
MAROUANE IS MOURINHO'S KEY MAN
In the absence of Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini has proved his worth once again in recent weeks. He returned from injury against Palace and doubled his tally for the season, meaning he now has four goals in all competitions. Let's hope the big Belgian can continue his impressive form.
ROM'S RECORD ROARS ON
The Belgian striker scored two goals in Wednesday's 4-1 triumph at CSKA Moscow and Lukaku's sensational goalscoring form continued on Saturday as he tapped home late on for his 11th in 10 games. After matching Cole's United record, how many more will he score?
WHAT'S NEXT FOR UNITED?
Arguably the Reds' biggest test thus far lies in the next fixture, following the international break, as Mourinho's men travel to Anfield to face Liverpool on Saturday 14 October (kick off 12:30 BST). The trip to Merseyside will be a stern test; United v Liverpool encounters are always fierce encounters and this one is sure to be no different. It's set to be a cracker!
