LONDON: When Romelu Lukaku slotted the ball into the Everton net, the Manchester United striker had no intention of holding back on the celebrations.

Far from it. Especially after being jeered during Sunday’s Premier League game by the Everton fans who revered him before an offseason transfer across northern England.

Lukaku’s goal the third in a 4-0 drubbing of Everton compounded the miserable run for his former club. It’s now four consecutive losses in all competitions, three in the league, with Everton conceding 12 goals without reply in the process.

So early in the season, it’s looking bleak for Ronald Koeman’s side which demonstrated such ambition in the summer when it spent 140 million pounds ($190 million) on talent. That doesn’t even take into account the free transfer of former United captain Wayne Rooney, who experienced a depressing return to Old Trafford on the pitch.

At least he received a warm reception, perhaps out of sympathy for the predicament he’s facing at his new team. The poor run of form started with a 2-0 loss last month to Chelsea, which was held 0-0 by Arsenal in Sunday’s other game.

Only alphabetical order is separating Manchester United and neighbours Manchester City at the top of the standings. After five games they have identical records. It is four wins and a draw each. Both have scored 16 times and only conceded twice.

Yet it was only Antonio Valencia’s half-volley in the fourth minute separating United and Everton until the 83rd minute when Henrikh Mkhitaryan slotted in a second. Lukaku struck in the 89th minute and a handball by Morgan Schneiderlin allowed Anthony Martial to slot in a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time.

For the fifth time in eight matches, Chelsea had a player sent off. But David Luiz’s dismissal in the 87th minute for a high, sliding challenge on Sead Kolasinac came too late for Arsenal to produce a winner at Stamford Bridge.

Still, a draw against the champions provided a psychological reset for Arsenal, who have lost to Stoke City and Liverpool in their last two away games.

Arsenal’s draw snapped a five-match losing streak away to Chelsea in the league and left them in 12th place with seven points. Chelsea are third with 10 points.

In Saturday’s late kickoff, suggestions that Tottenham Hotspur had cracked their home curse after their midweek Champions League vic­tory over Borussia Dortmund proved shortlived.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side were held 0-0 by Swansea City, the third successive time Wembley’s new tenants have failed to win at home in the league this season.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2017