ROO IS ANT ’N DECKED
Valencia screamer helps pile on pain as Wayne returns
ANTONIO VALENCIA helped Roo-in a legend’s return to Manchester United with a collector’s item at Old Trafford.
The spotlight was all on Wayne Rooney as he made his first trip back to his former side since leaving to join Everton in the summer.
But all he could do was stand and admire a stunning first half effort from Valencia that even United’s record goalscorer would have been proud of.
Valencia’s second goal since Boxing Day 2011 was worth the wait and helped maintain United’s impressive start to the season.
Late goals from Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Romelu Lukaku – against his old club – and Anthony Martial sealed the win to pile the pain on Ronald Koeman’s Toffees.
To complete a miserable afternoon for Rooney the former England captain wasted a brace of chances to salvage something for the visitors before he was hauled off and watched his side disintegrate from the sidelines.
Pressure
The omens had looked bleak for Everton heading into this game and Koeman’s flops have now failed to score in four successive games for the first time since 2006.
Everton arrived at Old Trafford without a win in their last five outings, while United were unbeaten in their last 32 home games in all competitions.
But what would have worried Koeman most, though, was the fact his side had mustered just seven attempts on target this season – the worst total in all four divisions.
The alarming statistic piled even more pressure on Rooney to deliver the goods on his return to the place he graced with such distinction.
United fans gave him a warm welcome, cheering him off the bus and then onto the pitch, where he shook hands with some of his former team-mates and members of United’s backroom staff.
But his return turned into a nightmare within four minutes of kick-off when United took the lead through MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): Bailly 7, De Gea 7; Valencia 8, Jones 8, 7 Young 7; Fellaini 7, MATIC 9; Mata 88), (Herrera 77), Mkhitaryan 6 (Martial 7. Rashford 6 (Lingard 61, 7); Lukaku Darmian. Subs: Smalling, Carrick, Romero, Cup, UP NEXT: Burton (h), Carabao Wednesday. 6; Keane EVERTON (3-4-2-1): Pickford 6, 6, WILLIAMS 8, Jagielka 6; Martina 77), Schneiderlin 5, Gueye 7 (Calvert-Lewin 6), Baines 6; Davies 7 (Ramirez 67, 82). Sigurdsson 6; Rooney 7 (Mirallas Subs: Klassen, Besic, Stekelenburg, Holgate. Cup, UP NEXT: Sunderland (h), Carabao Wednesday. Referee: Andre Marriner 8. did YOUR TURN: How many goals against the Everton’s Wayne Rooney score Toffees in his 13-year United career? Valencia’s sensational strike. The impressive Nemanja Matic picked up the ball deep on the left and swept a pass across the Everton defence and into the path of Valencia.
The United captain ran onto it before smashing a first-time drive past a stunned Jordan Pickford with ferocious power. It was a difficult start for Rooney, who looked slow and ponderous at times and conceded possession too often before slowly growing into the game.
He could have equalised on 20 minutes but saw his low, skidding effort flash just wide of David De Gea’s right hand post.
At the opposite end a United break saw Lukaku charge into space, but he was just unable to pick out the unmarked Marcus Rashford with his cross.
Lukaku then blew a golden chance to double United’s lead, firing wide with just Pickford to beat after a defensive lapse from Michael Keane.
A Rashford break then came to nothing before a sliding Pickford saved at his feet as United continued to dominate.
Rashford then turned provider with a clever pass to send in Lukaku, but Phil Jagielka was alert to snuff out the danger with a well-timed block.
Rooney blew another chance in the first minute of the second half, shooting straight at De Gea from close range.
At least it was a shot on target, and another one came from Gylfi Sigurdsson – but once again De Gea rode to the rescue for United.
United needed a second goal for comfort, but Juan Mata’s free-kick hit the woodwork while substitute Jesse Lingard blazed over to leave United hanging on.
But Everton continued to be architects of their own downfall and another defensive mistake let in Mkhitaryan to score.
Then Lukaku and Martial, from the penalty spot, hammered the final nails in the Toffees’ coffin.