Lukaku in dream United debut

ROMELU Lukaku enjoyed a dream English Premier League debut for Manchester United as a brace from the Belgian inspired a 4-0 rout of West Ham United yesterday.

For Tottenham Hotspur, a red card for Jonjo Shelvey was the pivotal moment for them to beat Newcastle 2-0.

United manager Jose Mourinho paid a British record £75-million (R1.3-billion) to sign Lukaku from Everton in the close-season and the 24-year-old needed just 33 minutes to get off the mark for his new club.

Accelerating on a Marcus Rashford pass, Lukaku drilled a powerful strike in off the post to put United ahead in their league opener at Old Trafford.

Lukaku, virtually unplayable at times, doubled United’s advantage in the 53rd minute with a bullet header from a Henrikh Mkhitaryan free-kick.

Substitute Anthony Martial added United’s third, slotting past Joe Hart in the 87th minute, before a Paul Pogba strike in the 90th minute sent Mourinho’s men to the top of the table, above league newcomers Huddersfield on goal difference.

Lukaku was not the only impressive United debutant, with Nemanja Matic delivering a solid display that underlined why Chelsea manager Antonio Conte was so miffed his club sanctioned the sale of the Serbia midfielder to a title rival.

At St James’ Park, Shelvey was sent off early in the second half for deliberately treading on Tottenham star Dele Alli.

Alli got his revenge by firing Tottenham ahead in the 61st minute with a cool close-strike from superb lofted pass by star Christian Eriksen.

Following a rant by Tottenham’s Danny Rose about the club’s failure to sign quality players during the close-season, it was fitting that the injured left-back’s replacement, Ben Davies, was the man to increase his side’s lead in the 70th minute.

Alli, Eriksen and Harry Kane opened up Newcastle with a flowing move before Davies slotted home.