LONDON, Aug 13: Goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney either side of halftime gave Manchester United a 2-0 win at Everton in the opening fixture of the Premier League season on Saturday.

United, who took most of the first half to find their feet, were eventually deserved winners as they begin their campaign to improve on last season’s disappointing third-placed finish in a rare trophy-less season.

Everton though, as they had in midweek, started full of energy and had the best of the early chances.

United had struggled to piece much together throughout the half but took the lead after their best move in the 43rd minute.

Rooney neatly made space in the middle before feeding O’Shea, whose low cross from the left was expertly turned in by Van Nistelrooy from close range.

The game was settled inside the first minute of the second half when Rooney scored his first goal at Everton for United since swapping Goodison Park for Old Trafford a year ago.

Everton centre back Joseph Yobo played a suicidal square ball behind his fellow defenders and into the path of Rooney, who calmly slotted it beyond Nigel Martyn.

RESULTS