With 18 goals and a maximum 12 points from their opening four games United are top of the table on goal difference from rivals Manchester City, who had Sergio Aguero to thank for a magnificent hat-trick in a crushing 3-0 win against Wigan to briefly lift Roberto Mancini’s side up to top spot.
Aguero sent City on their way in the 13th minute, the recalled Carlos Tevez and David Silva combining brilliantly before the latter teed up the Argentina striker to slot home his fourth goal in the league. But as Aguero continued his magnificent goalscoring run, his international team-mate Tevez failed to get on the scoresheet after seeing his first-half penalty saved by Wigan keeper Ali Al Habsi.
Samir Nasri came off the bench in the second half to make his home debut and the former Arsenal man did not take long to make an impact, sending Silva’s lay-off into the path of Aguero, who made no mistake from the edge of the area. And City’s man of the moment completed his hat-trick six minutes later, rifling low into the corner before being taken off by Mancini, who will understandably want to wrap his new-found magician up in cotton wool.
13′ [1 – 0] S. Agüero
63′ [2 – 0] S. Agüero
69′ [3 – 0] S. Agüero