MAN UTD 4, EVERTON 0
Three late goals gave Manchester United a flattering margin of victory over Everton on the day Wayne Rooney returned to Old Trafford.
It looked as though Antonio Valencia’s wonder early strike would be all that separated two evenly-matched teams.
But once Henrikh Mkhitaryan added a second goal the floodgates opened with Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial also finding the net.
And the four goals left United with an identical record to neighbours City with 13 points from a possible 15 and the same goals for and against, 16-2.
United manager Jose Mourinho admitted he didn’t see his team winning by such a scoreline.
He said: “In my view it was 1-0, 2-0 or could be 1-1, 1-0 or 2-0.
“After 2-0, the third goal was a consequence of one team was sad and another team was happy.
“The third and fourth goals were out of context of the game.”
Mourinho was delighted with how his side played in the opening half.
He said: “If it was 2-0 or 3-0 after 30 minutes, I think it would have to say it was a clear reflection of the fantastic football we played as we were ultra dominant against a team with four at the back and five in midfield.
“They (Everton) improved and put more bodies into attacking areas and created a couple of problems for us.”
Mourinho, asked about his side’s late flurry of goals, added he believes the Premier League is becoming more defensive with many teams playing with five at the back and four in midfield.
He continued: “Many teams try to match each other and match the systems.They hope it stays 0-0 or may be they win 1-0.
“Sometimes there is more space late in the game. Everton tried to come forward more and gave us more space.”
Everton manager Ronald Koeman, whose team is in the relegation places, called for patience after bringing in eight new players saying they need time.
He explained: “United were clinical. We didn’t deserve this high defeat, but that is football.
“You would have thought there was only one team on the pitch, but we had three or four important chances.”
Rooney received a rapturous reception on his return to Old Trafford with Morgan Schneiderlin and Michael Keane also heading back to their former club.
And it was a case of Lukaku and Marouane Fellaini also facing their ex-employers that also provided a fascinating sub plot to this Lancashire derby.
United made five changes to the side that kicked off the Champions League game against FC Basel in midweek.
There were recalls for Eric Bailly, Phil Jones and Valencia in defence, along with Fellaini and Marcus Rashford further forward.
The players to lose out were Victor Lindelof, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind, Anthony Martial and the injured Paul Pogba.
United made a dream start taking a fourth minute lead as they piled on the misery for Everton who are in a poor run of form.
Nemanja Matic’s cross from the left was headed out to Valencia who from the far edge of the box powered an unstoppable shot into the top corner, a goal-of-the-month contender and only his second in more than three-and-a-half years.
Valencia’s goal apart, it was a pretty ordinary opening in which both sides cancelled out one another.
Rooney could have marked his return with a goal midway through the opening half, but dragged his shot narrowly wide from a Cuco Martina cut back.
United ought to have doubled their lead in the 26th minute when Keane’s careless crossfield pass was intercepted by Juan Mata who released Lukaku who shot wide with only keeper Jordan Pickford to beat.
Rashford and Lukaku had a couple of decent openings, but United lacked a cutting edge as Everton defended resolutely.
Everton almost equalised within one minute of the restart when Tom Davies released Rooney who skipped past Bailly, but David De Gea made a great save from six yards. One goal was a precarious lead as the Reds were discovering.
United made their first change after an hour when Rashford was replaced by Jess Lingard.
De Gea denied Everton for a second time with a great bock after Gylfi Sigurdsson wriggled free in the penalty area.
Ashley Williams was booked for a foul on Mata on the edge of the box. The Spaniard bent his free kick round the defensive wall, but saw it strike the upright.
A second goal remained elusive as Lingard was the next player to miss blazing over from eight yards following a Young cut back.
Lingard cut in from the left and saw a decent effort deflected narrowly over the crossbar while Matic’s drive flew not far wide.
Rooney was afford another generous cheer eight minutes from time when he was replaced by Kevin Miralles. There was also en embrace from Mourinho.
United finally got their second in the 83rd minute. Williams carelessly gave away the ball playing it out from the back. Lukaka made the interception and fed Mkhitaryan who slotted home a low shot from eight yards.
Mkhitaryan was soon replaced by Martial, United’s third change.
Lukaku added United’s third in the 89th minute followed by wild celebrations in front of the Everton fans who had given their old boy a mixture of jeers and cheers.
Lukaku’s free kick struck the defensive wall and rebounded to Matic whose drive was gong wide, but turned in by Lukaku from inside the six-yard box.
De Gea pulled off his third important save when he superbly turned over a shot from Sandro Ramirez.
United added a fourth goal in stoppage time when Everton conceded a penalty when Schneiderlin, sliding in to clear, handled.
Martial, who won the penalty, took the spot kick sending Pickford the wrong way as United made a whirlwind finish.