Four goals and a clean sheet for Manchester United, in what is proving a satisfyingly familiar refrain. Hapless Crystal Palace, bottom of the Premier League, were swept aside by a performance of great intensity and great patience. Though United have had a relatively simple introduction to the season, they have set about their work in exceptional form, their midfield and forwards scoring and creating freely.
Positives
The emergence of Marouane Fellaini continues apace, with two goals and a fine show of passing. Romelu Lukaku scored yet again, and Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic were dominant in midfield.
Negatives
Henrikh Mkhitaryan was the sole United player some way below his best, failing to find his rhythm in the creative role.
Manager rating out of 10
9 -- The first three goals were scored by players Jose Mourinho brought back from rotation, and his substitutions again punished the opposition. His team is playing with style and confidence going into the international break. United are handling their business with the self-assurance of championship contenders.
Player ratings (1-10, 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK David De Gea, 7 -- Distribution varied a little in quality, though he showed quick feet to evade trouble and made a very good save when called upon while the game was still close.
DF Antonio Valencia, 8 -- Played with freedom throughout, at one point running with ease through multiple challenges. Overlapped with style and skill and defended without fault.
DF Phil Jones, 7 -- Survived a penalty scare but otherwise flawless. His passing and positioning were both very competent.
DF Chris Smalling, 7 -- Went close with a first-half header and was alert enough to shepherd his opposite man out of trouble on several occasions. Apart from one alarming lapse, his passing was crisp and accurate.
DF Ashley Young, 8 -- His excellent delivery provided the assist for United's second and he constantly provided width and pace for his team, even reminding supporters of his trickery with the ball on occasion. Was up against an elusive customer in Andros Townsend but acquitted himself very well.
MF Nemanja Matic, 8 -- Some of his passing into feet was outstanding. Time and again he stepped into the space vacated by the away side and punished them. His maintenance of the game's high tempo was essential to United's dominance.
MF Marouane Fellaini, 10 -- The game's star man -- it is difficult to see what else he could have done right. Not only did he score the two goals -- both excellent headers -- that took the game from Crystal Palace's reach, he also passed the ball forward with a promptness and precision that would, at one time, never have been expected from him. The opposition was limited, but he overwhelmed them. His improvement under Jose Mourinho has been remarkable.
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MF Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 6 -- The one United player who produced a disappointing performance. Too often he lost the ball in promising areas, at one point in quick succession, and he never seemed to find his rhythm, the quality of his passing swiftly rising and falling.
MF Juan Mata, 8 -- Set the tone with the game's opening goal -- losing his marker in the box in typically sly fashion -- and then helped to control midfield from a slightly deeper-lying position, producing some sublime touches along the way.
MF Marcus Rashford, 8 -- Bewildered his opposite man before providing Mata with a fine cutback for the crucial opening goal, then placed a perfect free kick on Fellaini's forehead for his second assist. His touch, speed, vision and movement were far too much for Palace. With him in this form, United's failure to capture Ivan Perisic in the summer is not looking so regrettable anymore.
FW Romelu Lukaku, 8 -- Looked for some time as if it would not be his day. Moved and held the ball up with intelligence throughout, dropping wide to the left flank in the first half and releasing a glorious ball down the right in the second, but missed two fine opportunities before Anthony Martial gave him a simple finish. His exceptional scoring form continues.
Substitutes
MF Jesse Lingard, 7 -- Brought energy and defensive diligence, less adventurous on the ball than Mkhitaryan, who he replaced, but helped to maintain United's tempo till the end.
MF Anthony Martial, NR -- Martial is an exhausting enough proposition for a fully-fit defence, let alone a knackered one, and he skipped past Palace defenders with ease from the moment of his introduction. Gave Lukaku a fine assist too, as has seemed almost customary in recent matches.
MF Ander Herrera, NR -- Provided intensity and incisive passing at once, nearly laying on an assist for Martial and pushing a tiring Palace even further back on their heels. Excellent.
Source: espn.co.uk