Manchester United vs. Leicester City: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League

Manchester United made a barnstorming return to winning ways by defeating Premier League champions Leicester City 4-1 on Saturday, as manager Jose Mourinho made the decision to drop captain Wayne Rooney from his XI.

The Red Devils soared into a 4-0 lead before half-time, Paul Pogba netting his first senior goal for the club after 42 minutes to join stand-in captain Chris Smalling, Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford on the scoresheet.

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Demarai Gray came off the bench to bag Leicester's only goal of the game. The talismanic pair of Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez were taken off at half-time after disappointing in the opening 45 minutes.

Mata started in place of Rooney, and Mourinho's decision to drop his skipper was vindicated by United's purring first-half performance.

Goal's Nizaar Kinsella noted this could be the beginning of Rooney's gradual ebb away from United's XI:

Those only familiar with the full-time result will hardly believe it was the Foxes who posed the greater attacking threat for much of the opening 20 minutes, as they operated largely on the counter-attack.

According to WhoScored.com, United's share of possession during these opening exchanges ticked over the 75 per cent mark at one time, with Mourinho's men swiftly establishing their foothold.

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Leicester's greatest scoring chances were relegated to corners, however, and it was perhaps indicative of their limitations that defenders Robert Huth and Christian Fuchs were among their leading shooters at goal with two apiece.

United's initial impact came in the 22nd minute, and Sky Football provided footage of England man Smalling heading in Daley Blind's acutely aimed set piece:

Many would agree that breakthrough came against the run of play, but United seemed to thrive off Smalling's incision, proceeding to open up and play more expansive football.

This was never more clear than in the buildup to Mata's strike, as he cut in from the right and exchanged neat balls with Pogba and Jesse Lingard before powering home from the edge of the box, much to the delight of football writer Michael Cox:

That was the first of three goals in a five-minute window, and no time at all seemed to pass before the defending Premier League champions were knocked down another peg.

Mata turned from poacher into puppeteer from another Blind corner, darting to the front post and touching the cross into Rashford's path so the England international could continue his fine run of form, detailed by Sky Sports Statto:

Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri could hardly believe the demolition job unfolding in front of his eyes, particularly after his side seemed to show so many improvements in the 3-0 win over Burnley in their most recent league game.

The Italian's fortunes went from bad to worse just before half-time, however, as the Foxes again showed an uncharacteristic weakness from corners, leaving Pogba to nod home a relatively easy header and give Blind another assist.

The hosts went in at the break four goals to the good, and Squawka Dave noted Pogba in particular was turning around his early "flop" tag following an £89 million transfer over the summer:

Ranieri made the brave decision to bring both Vardy and Mahrez off at the interval, Gray and Andy King replacing them, presumably identifying an overflow in midfield as the issue.

Fifteen minutes later, the manager's decision to add Gray to the fray was justified, as the 20-year-old netted his maiden Premier League goal after cutting in from the left and rasping a sensational right-footed effort in from 25 yards out.

Men in Blazers gave the effort the plaudits it deserved:

Leicester summer signing Islam Slimani—who was retained in attack while Vardy made way at the interval—did his utmost to provide a platform up front, but the efforts of Smalling and Eric Bailly swarmed the forward.

The vast majority of Saturday's action unfolded in the first half, and much of the second was confined to the middle third, as United appeared content with their four goals.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic might have been expected to feature among the scorers in any four-goal spree, but the Swede was left frustrated in those chances he did get in front of stand-in Leicester goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler.

Rooney made his way on to the pitch as a late replacement for Rashford, although Stuart Mathieson of the Manchester Evening News couldn't tell for whom Old Trafford's applause was intended:

If ever a wake-up call were needed for Leicester after their fairytale 2015-16 campaign, Saturday's dismantling in Manchester will have roused them from their dream.

United, meanwhile, can afford to revel in arguably their best performance of the season, as they showcased all the speed and fervour supporters have been hoping to see after a busy summer transfer window.

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Saturday's triumph brought United their second win in as many outings, and the Red Devils temporarily moved to third in the Premier League standings, three points behind leaders Manchester City.

Prospects look far different than they did a week ago, and Mourinho's side heads into Thursday's UEFA Europa League meeting against Zorya Luhansk with a much-altered frame of mind.

Post-Match Reaction

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Despite Rooney's drop to the bench, Mourinho was eager to push home the point his club captain very much remains in his plans.

Per Mathieson, Mourinho even went so far as to call the England star "my man," adding that "trust" is a major factor in their relationship:

However, there was no denying that for Saturday's outing at least, United functioned far more fluidly with the likes of Lingard and Mata running things behind Rashford and Ibrahimovic up front.

BBC Sport provided more quotes from Mourinho, who was beaming with pride over his team's result:

"

It was a very good performance and result. It is not easy against them and not easy to win in the style that we did.

In the second half it was more about control—we wanted a little bit more—but Ranieri was very good to read his options and keep some balance. It was a choice of losing heavily or with some control over the scoreline.

Today we had intensity, movement and dynamism. To be back home and beat the champions is good. Last season we couldn't beat them, and this season we have beaten them twice already.

"

One might debate whether this Leicester City side is as strong as that of last season, but United will savour a memorable victory nonetheless.

Ranieri, on the other hand, could only bemoan the lack of focus his side showed at set pieces, having conceded Smalling, Rashford and Pogba's goal from corners, telling Sky Sports (via BBC Sport):

"

It is not possible to concede three goals from corners. That means you are not concentrating, We are usually very solid at corners and free-kicks, it was very strange. Until now we have been very strong, we have made some mistakes. I can understand that they score with headers, that they are very tall, but to score a smart goal from a corner is not possible.

It is important to clean our mind and get ready for the Champions League on Tuesday.

"

Leicester are 12th in the Premier League table, although they're likely to drop further down the rankings as the remainder of the English top-flight results come in.

Mourinho may take this result with a pinch of salt, but the tactician's first experiment without Rooney in the league came off without a hitch, meaning further omissions could lie in the near future.