Awesome Manchester United destroy QPR

Angel Di Maria stole Radamel Falcao's thunder as he scored on his home debut to lead Manchester United to a 4-0 success over QPR and a maiden victory under Louis van Gaal.

All eyes were on the Red Devils' new Colombian hitman in the lead up to the encounter, but Di Maria shone in the spotlight as the on-loan Monaco striker watched on from the bench after his new manager explained his absence as being due to "jet lag".

[QUOTE: Good? We're just getting started, promises Van Gaal]

Argentine playmaker Di Maria tormented Harry Redknapp's side throughout a one-sided encounter, and struck the opener on 24 minutes when his right-wing free kick curled beyond a crowd of players in the area and into the far corner.

The former Real Madrid man then had a hand in the second when his probing run and pass allowed Wayne Rooney to tee up Ander Herrera to drill his first for the club into the bottom corner.

Di Maria was also involved in the third and fourth of the afternoon, aiding in the build-up before Rooney fizzed his 175th Premier League goal into the bottom corner just before half-time, and then in the second period putting an inch-perfect ball to Mata in the box for the unmarked Spaniard to lift a simple finish over Robert Green.

[QUOTES: Mata thrilled after Di Maria masterclass]

Falcao did eventually emerge from the bench just past the hour mark but saw his best chance turn sour: a rebound fell to him and left him with just Robert Green to beat, but he fired the ball straight at the keeper.

Not that it mattered: Van Gaal's men looked superb, and though it was only against a mediocre QPR side the display will leave United fans convinced that they can bounce back from last season and contend for the title.

PRE-MATCH - Plenty of debuts - but Falcao on the bench. So, Louis van Gaal hands bows to Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo as part of a 4-4-2 diamond formation. However, Radamel Falcao and Luke Shaw are on the bench. Meanwhile, QPR have their own debutants with Sandro and Niko Kranjcar starting following their moves just prior to the transfer deadline. It's a 4-3-3 shifting to a more likely 4-5-1 for the Hoops. Rio Ferdinand makes his first return to OT since leaving United in the summer.

17' - MAN UTD CHANCE! Great play by Di Maria sees him pick out Rojo on the left side of the area. The Argentine clips a ball to the far post but RVP takes it off the boot of the arriving Herrera when the Spaniard was better placed to just fire home. In the end the Dutchman's touch sees it roll away and QPR clear.

24' - GOAL! MAN UTD 1-0 QPR. Di Maria opens his United account on his first appearance at Old Trafford. The Argentine floats a free kick in from the right and it curls beyond everyone and into the far corner of the net.

32' - MAN UTD CHANCE! De Gea makes a shocking error as he comes out of his goal. Phillips is presented with a great chance but sees his shot well blocked by Jonny Evans.

36' - GOAL! MAN UTD 2-0 QPR. Di Maria races down the left on the counter and plays in Rooney with a sublime dinked pass. The England man sees his shot blocked but then feeds Herrera on the edge of the box and he arrows a low drive into the corner.

44' -GOAL! MAN UTD 3-0 QPR It's all-but over for QPR. Di Maria, Mata and Herrera combine before feeding Rooney who fizzes a low disguised shot past Green at his near post.

49' - QPR CHANCE. Traore goes on a buccaneering run that takes him into the left side of the United area. He shows great awareness to pick out the late arrival of Kranjcar whose shot is beaten away by the leg of De Gea.

52' - MAN UTD CHANCE! How did that not go in? A great move down the right sees it worked into Mata who tries to walk it in. Rooney gets a touch on his weak effort but it falls into the grateful arms of Green.

58' - GOAL! MAN UTD 4-0 QPR. Mata gets in on the act and makes it four by lifting a shot over Green after ANOTHER wonderful pass by Di Maria.

67' - FALCAO MAKES HIS BOW. The Colombian replaces Mata while Valencia also comes on for Rafael. But it's Falcao who the fans rise from their seats for. It's a tremendous reception for him.

70' - WOODWORK! RVP gets to the left byline and floats a lovely ball to the far post that just evades Falcao as it clips the bar and bounces away.

78' - QPR CHANCE! Sloppy defending by United allows Vargas to get free on the right of the area but his low shot arrows just wide of the far post.

84' - GREAT SAVE! Blind's long-range drive is spilled by Green but Falcao blows his big moment as his low effort is blocked by the recovering keeper.

Wayne Rooney has now scored 175 Premier League goals, putting him in joint-third place in the all-time leading scorers list with Thierry Henry.

For the first time in Premier League history Manchester United fielded two players from Argentina in their starting XI, with Rojo and Di Maria.

Angel Di Maria is the 31st player from Argentina to score in the Premier League.

The R's have still only ever claimed one victory at United - a 4-1 on New Year's Day in 1992.

QPR have failed to score in their last five away matches in the PL.

The Hoops have not kept a clean sheet against United since September 1992, when they drew 0-0 at Old Trafford in the first ever Premier League meeting between the clubs.

Harry Redknapp's side have won only one of their last eight away games, at already-relegated Barnsley on the final day of last season's Championship.

Man United hadn’t previously scored three first-half goals at Old Trafford since April 2013 vs. Aston Villa.

The Red Devils kept their first clean sheet since a 4-0 win over Norwich back on April 26, 2014.

Juan Mata has now scored eight goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances for Manchester United.

QPR have failed to beat Man United in their last 16 league and cup encounters. The Red Devils have won 13 of them.

As a visiting manager, Redknapp has now lost 15 times in 15 trips to Old Trafford in the Premier League.

(Stats courtesy of Opta and Infostrada)

TALKING POINT. Have United turned the corner? It was a performance van Gaal and co were badly needing following a disappointing start to his Old Trafford tenure. QPR may not represent the stiffest test they will face this season but there was an added verve and quality to United's play that has been badly lacking of late. Di Maria made a huge impact on his home bow and while there were still moments of defensive frailty, supporters will have seen enough to suggest LVG can turn them into a very competitive outfit in the coming months.

Angel Di Maria (Man Utd). A magnificent home bow for the Argentine who showed just why LVG broke the British transfer record with a performance of pace, guile and end product.

MAN UTD: De Gea 5, Rafael 6, Evans 6, Rojo 6, Blackett 6, Blind 6, Herrera 7, Mata 7, Di Maria 9, Rooney 7, van Persie 6. Subs: Valencia 6, Falcao 5, Januzaj n/a.

QPR: Green 6; Hill 5, Ferdinand 5, Caulker 5, Isla 5, Sandro 5, Kranjcar 6, Fer 5, Phillips 6, Hoilett 5, Austin 5. Subs: Traore 6, Henry 5, Vargas 5.