MANCHESTER: Manchester United ended their winless start to the Premier League season in emphatic fashion on Sunday, beating Queens Park Rangers 4-0 to show just what a summer spending spree of 150 million pounds ($250 million) can deliver.

Angel Di Maria and Ander Herrera scored their first goals for United, Wayne Rooney and Juan Mata added others and Radamel Falcao had a 23-minute run-out as a substitute for his debut.

In his fifth competitive match in charge of United, Louis van Gaal finally was able to enjoy a victory that lifted the team to five points from four league matches, seven points below leaders Chelsea but only two points shy of the top four.

“It’s a very good start,” said Van Gaal. “When you have a result of 4-0 then you can be happy as a coach, but you always have points you can improve. We have always to analyse what we have done. The result is fantastic, but we can get much better. This is a good start.”

Van Gaal ditched his 3-5-2 formation and reverted to a 4-4-2, with Di Maria particularly impressing on the left of a midfield diamond and inspiring United to a 3-0 halftime lead.

Marcos Rojo, playing at left-back, and Daley Blind, deployed as a holding midfielder, made their debuts from the start in a new-look United team that seemed to have a better shape — albeit in the face of weak opposition.

With the goals flying in and the home crowd in full voice, it was like the old times again at Old Trafford.

“We’re gonna win the league,” was the chant after Rooney made it 3-0 and all that was missing was a debut goal for Falcao, whose season-long loan move from Monaco is costing a reported $25 million in salary and fee.

That almost came with seven minutes left, but his close-range shot was blocked.

Falcao had been the focus of pre-match attention, but it was 59.7 million pound ($98 million, 75 million euros) record signing Di Maria who stole the show on his home debut.

United quickly took control, with Mata spooning a shot over from Herrera’s cut-back, and mid-way through the first half they went ahead.

Di Maria posed a constant threat and he supplied the breakthrough, whipping in a free-kick from wide on the right that eluded everyone to creep in at the far post.

Jonny Evans then had to block a shot from Matt Phillips after United goalkeeper David de Gea charged from his goal and missed his kick, but 10 minutes before half-time the hosts doubled their advantage.

Di Maria was again the inspiration, driving deep into QPR territory and neatly flicking the ball inside for Rooney.

The United captain’s shot was blocked, but he steered the rebound into the path of Herrera, who drove a first-time shot into the bottom-left corner.

The game was up a minute before the break. A slick exchange initiated by Di Maria culminated in Herrera teeing up Rooney to drill a low effort past Rob Green’s outstretched right hand from the edge of the box.

Di Maria was the architect of the fourth just before the hour, with his driven shot arriving at the feet of Mata to allow the Spain playmaker time to lift a finish high into the net.

Falcao almost crowned his debut with a goal, but after Green had parried a skidding shot from Blind, the former England goalkeeper sprang up quickly to save at the Colombian’s feet.

In Saturday’s late match, Liverpool crashed to a surprise 1-0 loss at Anfield to unbeaten Aston Villa who moved into second place, two points behind Chelsea.

Aston Villa maintained their recent hoodoo over last season’s runners-up Liverpool, who have now won only one of their last six games at home to Saturday’s opponents.

Liverpool, who have lost two of their opening four games, were unable to make any headway against Villa’s packed defence from the moment Gabriel Agbonlahor put the visitors ahead after nine minutes, hooking home from close range after Philippe Senderos’ header was blocked by Javier Manquillo.

After debutant Adam Lallana and Mario Balotelli shot wide, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers sent Raheem Sterling on, but the closest the hosts came to equalising was a shot from Philippe Coutinho that hit the post.

Liverpool return to the Champions League after a four-year absence on Tuesday, hosting Bulgarian newcomers Ludogorets.

“I think the players gave everything today,” said Rodgers, whose side were missing injured striker Daniel Sturridge. “We just couldn’t find that quality in the final third of the field and Aston Villa defended well.”

Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2014