MANCHESTER UNITED 3, LIVERPOOL 1.
Anthony Martial showed why Manchester United made him the world’s costliest teenager with a debut goal for the Reds.
The 19-year-old Frenchman came off the bench to score a scintillating solo goal which sealed victory against arch-rivals Liverpool.
Daley Blind and Ander Herrara, with a penalty, had given United a 2-0 lead only for Christian Benteke to halve the deficit.
It looked as though United would have to endure a nervous last six minutes until Martial showed why he is likened to the great Thierry Henry.
And it is a win that lifts United to second spot, ahead on goal difference from Arsenal, but five points behind runaway leaders Manchester City as the Premier League table looks good for followes of the Mancunian clubs.
United manager Louis van Gaal was a contented man saying: “We have 10 points from five matches which is a very good record.
“Only one club is better and our aim is to be the best, but now we are five points behind Manchester City.”
Van Gaal is looking for a period of stability saying it caused instability.
He explained: “It was a difficult period and the transfer period caused a lot of problems with players going and coming.
“As it is Manchester United it is always worse than for other clubs, but we have manage it very well.”
Van Gaal added that all the work on the training ground paid off for Blind’s goal which followed a well-rehearsed free kick.
And he was pleased with Herrera’s skill to win the penalty and was pleased for Martial to score on his debut.
There was a warning not to expect too much from the player as he said: “He is a young man of 19 years and he has to adapt to a new culture and to the rhythm of the Premier League.
“It was the right moment to bring him on as there was more space for him. He can dribble, has fantastic pace and the goal was fantastic.
“It will give him a boost, but you cannot too much from a player of that age in terms of consistency that players like Bastian Schweinsteiger and Michael Carrick have.”
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was disappointed with both the result and his side’s performance saying they have not created enough in the opening five matches.
“We know we can play better, and I am sure we will, but there is a lot of hard work ahead,” he explained.
Captain Wayne Rooney was ruled out through injury with Marouane Fellaini handed the lone striking spot.
David De Gea returned in goal after resolving his contract issue as he replaced Sergio Romero.
There was also a start for Michael Carrick who was preferred in midfield to Morgan Schneiderlin. He also took over the captaincy from Rooney.
New £36million signing Martial was handed a spot on the substitutes’ bench.
Liverpool fielded an adventurous line up that contained strikers Benteke, Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings, though they lined up 4-1-4-1 with Ings and Firmino playing out wide.
United almost seized on an early error from Liverpool’s Simon Mignolet whose throw was intercepted by Juan Mata as he set up Fellaini who blazed over from 25 yards with the keeper out of his goal.
It was the only flicker of excitement in a dour opening half in which neither keeper was troubled, other than Mignolet having to deal with a number of dangerous crosses which he invariably punched to safety,
United made a change at the break with Ashley Young replacing Memphis Depay as they desperately needed new attacking ideas.
And the change inspired the breakthrough as Young was fouled by Nathaniel Clyne as he cut in from the left towards goal.
Clyne was booked and, to add insult to injury, United scored from the free kick. Mata cut the ball back to the edge of the box where the unmarked Blind curled an exquisite effort into the roof of the net to liven what until then had been a dour contest.
It was Blind’s third goal for United, and first one at Old Trafford, and one of huge importance and significance.
De Gea wasn’t called into action until the 57th minute he pulled off a terrific save to deny Ings whose volley into the ground was looping over the keeper who somehow managed to claw it to safety.
Blind came to the Reds’ rescue after 64 minutes making a vital goalline clearance to keep out a Dejan Lovren header which beat De Gea.
United threw on new-boy Martial midway through the second period as he replaced Mata.
It got better for United when they doubled the lead with 20 minutes left.
Herrera was brought down just inside the box by Joe Gomez and Herrera picked himself to smash an unstoppable spot kick into the roof of the net.
Liverpool had a great chance to halve the deficit, but Benteke headed over from eight yards from a James Milner cross.
And they had another great chance when substitute Jordan Ibe cut in from the right, but De Gea pulled off a terrific save to turn away his shot.
Liverpool were soon rewarded when Ibe’s cross was headed out by Blind, but only as far as Benteke who found the net with a spectacular overhead kick which looped over De Gea.
It was Benteke’s second goal for Liverpool and third in three games against United for the ex-Aston Villa man.
United quickly restored their two-goal advantage when Martial opened his account in brilliant style.
The former Monaco man cut on from the left inbetween Martin Skrtel and Clyne before coolly slotting a shot low to the left of Mignolet to complete a much-improved showing in the second half .