Louis Van Gaal’s reign at Manchester United has come into life with a whimper. Swansea came to Old Trafford with a resurgent, revamped Manchester United ready to step through them to make a statement. The reality was an opening 45 minutes from United that was flat and a far cry from the expectations of a re-energised outfit. With last season remembered for Manchester United’s habit of amassing new records and Premier League first – almost all negative – it will be a slightly worrying realisation that this is the first time United have ever lost at home on the opening day of the Premier League season.

Ki Sung Yueng put the Welsh side ahead on 28 minutes with a well taken finish low beyond David De Gea.

Wayne Rooney equalised for United on 53 minutes and for the opening exchanges of the second half – with United switching from the 3-5-2 formation at the break seeming to work well – the home side looked the more likely to take the win. When Rooney struck the woodwork less than 10 minutes later.

But it was Swansea who struck next and from that point on the balance again shifted away from Van Gaal’s side. Gylfi Sigurdsson made the most of some haphazard defence in United’s box to make it 2-1 on 72 minutes.