Carabao Cup 2017/18, Manchester United 4-1 Burton Albion: Player Ratings

Manchester United followed-up their good start to the season with 4 more goals at Old Trafford, in their opening fixture against Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup, as the Brewers become the first team to score against the Red Devils at home this season.

Marcus Rashford scored the first two goals, as Jesse Lingard and the phenomenal Anthony Martial, also got on the score-sheet.

The home side completely outplayed their Championship-based opponents, who could only score a consolation goal with the last attack of the game, courtesy of a Lloyd Dyer's opportunistic strike.

Here's a look at the player ratings for both sides:

Manchester United

Sergio Romero - 7.5/10

For a game where he was barely tested, Romero played his part to deny Mason early on in the first half. After 80 minutes of decent distribution, during which he was a spectator, for the most part, he was subbed off.

Matteo Darmian - 6.5/10

After a somewhat lukewarm first half, Darmian settled into the game and provided much-required cover from the one-odd Burton attack. Although he sometimes struggled against Dyer, his tackling was pretty decent. More could've been expected of him going forward but as it stood, that wasn't much needed after all.

Victor Lindelof - 6/10

Lindelof had an average game for his first start for the club. Thought largely untroubled, his passing was a little off and the big Swede made an error in the buildup to the consolation goal. It's obvious that he needs some time getting used to the English game.

Chris Smalling - 6.5/10

Smalling had a relatively quiet game with United dominating possession for the most part. However, he was a little erratic at times and almost lost Mason in the buildup to Burton's first big chance of the game.

Daley Blind - 7/10

Blind's forays into attack were a welcome addition. After notching up an important assist for Rashford's second, he usually stayed in defence, and was hardly ever troubled in the first half. With a change in formation at the restart, Blind maintained his composure but couldn't block the odd cross from Palmer into the box.

Michael Carrick - 8/10

Carrick's return to the side seemed like he wasn't benched at all. The United captain was at his usual best, dictating the play like concerto conductor. His ease on the ball and timely passing kept the clock ticking for the Red Devils.

Ander Herrera - 7.5/10

Herrera looked as fresh as ever with his first start of the season. His interceptions were vital to commence counterattacks and he and Carrick formed a formidable partnership in the middle of the park to bully Burton's attackers.

Juan Mata - 8/10

Mata was at his creative best, channelling his play-maker abilities to engineer all attacks. His positioning was brilliant and he even hit the post after befuddling some defenders in the box. For a strong performance, he was unlucky to not get a goal or assist, as he was subbed off at halftime for some much-needed rest.

Jesse Lingard - 8.5/10

After an electric start to the game with the assist for the first goal, Lingard settled in and was one of the deadliest player going forward. With his decisive passing and linking up, he also dispatched a decent finish to wrap up the first half romp.

Anthony Martial - 9/10

If one were to say Martial didn't dispatch all the chances that came his way, it wouldn't be far off the truth. However, he used his sublime dribbling and trickery on the ball to wreak havoc on the Burton defence throughout the game, wowing the Old Trafford faithful with his dangerous darting into the box.

For all his eye-catching movement, Martial even managed an assist and a goal to his name to seal off the game as the man of the match.

Marcus Rashford - 9/10

A mercurial performance from the English striker. He opened up the scoring with a well-placed chip and his second goal was a piece of beauty. His linkup play with the other 3 attackers was absolutely unplayable, as United ran riot in the first half.

Before being withdrawn at the hour mark, he also managed to notch an assist for the 4th goal after beautifully linking up with Martial. In the end, Rashford earned some early rest.

Substitutes:

Luke Shaw - 6.5/10

The young Englishman came on to provide a formation shift in the second half. Actually scored a goal but was wrongly called offside, unluckily. Looked a bit sluggish at times but it was a welcome sight for the left-back after a lengthy layoff. Needs more game time.

Scott McTominay - 6.5/10

The youngster got a good chance early on to add his name to the scoresheet but couldn't make the most of it. However, his passing was crisp and ventured forward quite often. Showed quite a lot of promise.

Joel Pereira - 5/10

With 10 minutes left to play, Pereira was given a customary goalkeeper lipservice. However, to add little to his case, he spilt an off-ball at the last minute of injury time which led to the Burton consolation. Butter-fingered.

Burton Albion

Connor Ripley - 4.5/10

Even though he conceded early on and was largely at fault for some of the goals, Ripley was the receiving end of a lethal United attacking. In fact, he made some vital saves to keep the scoreline to only 4 goals, so fair play to him.

Tom Flanagan - 5/10

Even though Flanagan couldn't close down Rashford for the second goal, overall he was the best out of his defensive back three, trying to break United's attacks with his interceptions. His side still fell prey to an incessant United front-line.

Ben Turner - 4/10

Turner was completely found out for the third goal and was largely absent in places he should have been filling in. Halftime saw him taken off for Warnock. Completely helpless.

Tom Naylor - 5/10

When Naylor wasn't being overrun by United's attackers, he tried to kick-start plays to little success. His interceptions were essential to keep the scoreline manageable early on and even made a vital challenge to deny Martial clear on goal late on in the second half.

As the centre of the 3-man defence, he couldn't particularly be at the right place at the right time and was found missing for the opener.

Matthew Lund - 4.5/10

Lund was rattled on in the game by Martial's pace and skills. His frustration couldn't help him much, and his passing didn't have the accuracy it begged of him. The one shot which did fall to him was scuffed away without redemption.

Lloyd Dyer - 7/10

Dyer's pace troubled Darmian throughout the first half, which also made him the biggest Albion threat in those early stages and his runs were hard to keep in check. After a relatively quiet second half, he nicked in a well-timed goal as consolation in the dying minutes of the game.

Hope Akpan - 5/10

Akpan made some good interceptions in the park, but lost his cool because of United's dominance which earned him a yellow in the first half. He was also at the end of one of the rare Burton chances from a header. Without having a solid effect on the game, Akpan was subbed off towards the end of the game.

Matthew Palmer - 6.5/10

One of the brightest sparks for the visitors, Palmer's crossing was troublesome for United's defence in the first half but faded mostly at the restart. The little opportunity he did get to go forward never came to fruition as his teammates were bullied all the time by a steadfast defence.

Jamie Allen - 4.5/10

After a largely invisible first half, where he could only manage a tame effort at Romero's goal, Allen was taken off at halftime to be replaced by Lake Murphy.

Luke Varney - 5/10

Varney teed up with Mason for a superb chance in the first half with his partner couldn't finish properly. Apart from that, he barely did anything to prick the United defenders' interest. His linkup play with Mason was absent after that rued chances

Joe Mason - 4.5/10

Mason nearly scored midway first half and should've done better against Romero on that occasion. After a completely stranded second half, his header off the post led to the consolation so no redemption in a small dose for him.

Substitutes:

Lake Murphy - 4.5/10

Even though Murphy came on at the stroke of halftime, he barely had any influence on the game, even losing possession easily to Herrera on occasion.

Stephen Warnock - 4.5/10

Warnock was brought on to help in defensive duties but soon got swamped too. After a few good tackles, he picked up a booking for lashing out at McTominay.

Lukas Akins - 5/10

Akins came on late for any major effect on the game, but troubled Blind on the rare Brewers attack. His cross into the box ked to the consolation goal.

Edited by Aakanksh Sanketh