THE VERDICT
BIG NAMES, BIG OPINIONS
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Can I play you every week?
CAN he play you every week? For, let’s face it, if Romelu Lukaku could, Manchester United would be racing certainties to win the league.
In his last 11 games against West Ham, this is the 10th match in which Lukaku has scored.
Lukaku, and Manchester United, were in control from first to last and were not in the least flattered by the biggest win of the Premier League’s opening round of fixtures. It would have been more had United taken more first-half chances, Marcus Rashford not hit a post and Joe Hart not made a couple of decent saves.
As for West Ham, this was a worrying start, despite the strength of the opposition. Slaven Bilic set out a team not to get beat and lost by four. Ennui or fatigue set in towards the end, too, allowing United to turn a convincing victory into an emphatic one.
West Ham were missing Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate, but that is no excuse. They are considered to have had a good summer and new striker Javier Hernandez even speculated whether he would celebrate if he scored against his old club. Maybe he should have set his sights lower. Touching the ball for instance. Deep in the first half, he’d still had fewer touches than either keeper.
West Ham held firm for 20 minutes, then United started creating better chances, after 33 minutes they went ahead, after 53 the game was over and United’s last two goals simply gave the scoreline greater realism. This was a statement of intent from Jose Mourinho’s team, although they will need to be judged against opponents with greater resolve.
For much of the first half we wondered why West Ham did not commit more men forward, then it became clear. In quick succession, West Ham won free-kicks inside the United half. On both occasions, they sent men up in greater numbers than before. The first free-kick, taken by Marko Arnautovic, was cut out by United’s defensive line, setting up a quick counter-attack. From the second kick, West Ham were sloppy again, and Manchester United scored.
Pedro Obiang was at fault. Dawdling, his pass was charged down by Nemanja Matic — and United were away. With Pablo Zabaleta well advanced, there was huge space on the left and United exploited it. Rashford sprinted upfield and released Lukaku ahead at precisely the right time, Matic helping with a magnificent decoy run. Lukaku had only Hart to beat and finished with impressive power in front of the Stretford End, the ball cannoning off the inside of the near post, England’s goalkeeper helpless.
For Lukaku’s second, Zabaleta made a cynical challenge on Rashford and was booked, allowing United to deliver further punishment from the free-kick. Henrikh Mkhitaryan whipped it in from the left and Lukaku rose, inexplicably unguarded, to head the ball past Hart. It was just the start a £ 75million acquisition needs in front of his own fans.
Even better is the understanding Lukaku seems to have quickly developed with Rashford. When the young man was substituted with 10 minutes to go, he received a pat on the cheek from his partner, and the pair ran West Ham silly for much of the match. The locals will remember the last great nine and 19 pairing at Old Trafford: Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke.
Not that Rashford’s withdrawal made any difference. On came Anthony Martial and, within minutes, he scored United’s third, finishing sweetly, set up by Mkhitaryan once more. Rashford was desperately unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, too, cutting inside and striking the post with a shot after 66 minutes. Mkhitaryan, Lukaku and Blind all went close in the second half as well; Arnautovic hit the bar with a looping header for West Ham, but they
were very much second best. The other huge positive for United was the performance of Matic, a £40m suicide note from Chelsea. Matic controlled the game in midfield, protecting the back four and releasing Pogba by his side. The Frenchman scored United’s fourth, following a neat pass from Martial, his low shot curling out of the reach of Hart.
Matic seemed exactly the type of player Chelsea needed at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, and just what they have been missing at Old Trafford of late. Antonio Conte, more than anyone, will appreciate that this Manchester United team would have looked plenty good
enough, even without favours. SUPER STAT: Jose Mourinho has won more league games against West Ham (nine) than any other team. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2- -1): De Gea 6.5; Valencia 6.5, Jones 7, Bailly 7, Blind 6; Matic 8, Pogba 8; Rashford 7.5 (Martial 80min), Mata 6 (Fellaini 77), Mkhitaryan 7 (Lingard 88); Lukaku 8.5. Subs not used: Smalling, Romero, Herrera, Darmian. Scorers: Lukaku ,5 , Martial 87, Pogba 90. Booked: Bailly, Valencia. WEST HAM UNITED (4-2- -1): Hart 5.5; Zabaleta 5.5, Reid 5, Ogbonna 6, Masuaku 5 (Cresswell 81); Obiang 6, Noble 6 (Rice 61, 6); Ayew 5, Fernandes 5 (Sakho 60, 6) Arnautovic 6; Hernandez 5. Subs not used: Fonte, Adrian, Collins, Byram. Booked: Zabaleta, Ogbonna. Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku. Referee: Martin Atkinson 7. Attendance: 74,928.