LONDON: Manchester United thrashed defending Premier League champions Leicester City 4-1 as they vindicated manager Jose Mourinho’s decision to drop Wayne Rooney while Manchester City maintained their perfect start with a 3-1 win away to Swansea City on Saturday.
United scored four goals, three from set-pieces, as Chris Smalling, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba with his first goal since his return from Juventus, all found the back of the net between the 22nd and 42nd minutes at Old Trafford.
England skipper Rooney was limited to just a few minutes off the bench at the end of the match but Mourinho told Sky Sports: “Wayne Rooney is a big player for me, United and this country.”
Leicester managed a brilliant consolation goal from half-time substitute Demarai Gray but that could not stop the Foxes shipping four goals for the second time in as many league away games after doing so at Liverpool a fortnight ago.
“It’s not possible to concede three goals off corners, that means you are not concentrating,” said Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri.
Sergio Aguero fired Manchester City into a ninth-minute lead at the Liberty Stadium but Swansea were level minutes later when Fernando Llorente lashed in a half-volley.
City, however, regained the lead with an Aguero penalty in the 65th minute after Mike van der Hoorn fouled Kevin de Bruyne in the box.
Raheem Sterling, using Aguero as a decoy, made it 3-1 in the 77th minute.
Liverpool overpowered Hull City 5-1 after the Tigers spent much of the match a man down at Anfield, with the Reds 3-0 up inside 36 minutes.