England brushed aside North Macedonia with a 7-0 win to maintain their flawless start to the European Championship qualification process.
The Three Lions took to the Old Trafford pitch for the time since 2007 to face off with the European minnows who came into this tie off the back of a thrilling 3-2 defeat by Ukraine last time out. Things started more evenly than perhaps England would have predicted, with the visitors proving more than once they were not afraid to play out from the back.
It took just shy of 30 minutes for England to eventually break the deadlock, when Luke Shaw's cut-back somehow found an unmarked Harry Kane. The captain made no mistake and calmly guided home his fourth goal of the qualification process.
Nearly 10 minutes later and the advantage was doubled, with Bukayo Saka firing home a fierce right-footed effort into the roof of the net. Marcus Rashford put the result beyond any doubt on the cusp of half-time when he reaped the benefits of some neat pressing from his team-mates.
It soon became the Saka show, with the Arsenal star netting two fantastic finishes inside the first 10 minutes of the second-half to register the first hat-trick of what is already a stellar career.
It was a night of firsts, as Kalvin Phillips bagged the first goal of his international career to make it 6-0 to Gareth Southgate's side. Kane managed to get a second from the penalty spot to net England's seventh before he was withdrawn in place of Callum Wilson.
Mirror Football has analysed five talking points from another dominant England display.
Saka's first treble
As mentioned, Saka and Rashford were pulling the strings for England from an attacking sense and while the Red Devils star arguably had the better start of the two, it was Arsenal's main man that got on the score-sheet first.
In what is becoming somewhat of a trademark finish, Saka's goal saw him lash the ball hard and high over the head of a rooted goalkeeper at the near post in similar fashion to goals scored against Leeds and Everton for the Gunners last term.
If the first was impressive, the second was nothing short of sensational. The winger brought down a delightful Trent Alexander-Arnold pass, before lashing home a stunning left-footed volley that no goalkeeper on the planet would have kept out.
Barely five minutes had passed before Saka had his third and England's fifth. The goal ensured the Arsenal ace notched the first hat-trick of his senior career and my word do the horrors of that night at Wembley in 2021 feel so far away now.
The mentality to bounce back from such a moment and become one of the best young players in world football is a testament to the character of a player that, judging by the smiles after his third, everyone can't help but love.
Rashford shines
Remarkably, this fixture marked the first time Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford started an England game together on either flank.
James Maddison was the man who had to make way from Friday's win over Malta to allow Rashford to start, but the Manchester United ace was out to impress from the off here as he gave Stefan Ashkovski a headache from the first whistle.
Rashford linked up with his United colleague Luke Shaw to leave Kane with very little to do but tguide his effort home for England's first. The Red Devils academy graduate was playing with the kind of freedom the Old Trafford faithful see on a regular basis.
It came as no surprise to see the 25-year-old get a goal of his own before the half was over.
Starting both Rashford and Saka is a tactic Southgate should deploy more often.
Kane's fine form continues
Whether it be the white shirt of Tottenham or the white shirt of England one thing is for certain - Kane will score.
Off the back of a sensational season in front of goal for his club, Kane has carried that form into these international fixtures. He opened the scoring with a composed left-footed finish that left goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski with very little chance.
There were fears Kane would have to be withdrawn early after a nasty clash of heads, but the 29-year-old picked himself up, dusted himself down and proceeded to do what he does best by putting the ball in the back of the net.
The other side of Kane's game was on show for England's third, as he won the ball back in a dangerous area before gently poking it into the path of Henderson who subsequently squared it to Rashford who converted.
Southgate gets it right on the night
For months, long before the Qatar World Cup even, fans have called for Southgate to deploy a front three of Rashford, Kane and Saka.
Until now, he has held fire, but he now may wonder why he waited so long. As a trio, the three worked in sensational fashion, with all of Rashford, Kane and Saka combining at times.
It was England's number nine who assisted Saka's hat-trick goal, but throughout the first-half the talent these three possess was clearly too much for North Macedonia.
The fact that all three managed to get on the scoresheet reflects glowingly on not only them, but Southgate, who will surely try it out again against tougher opposition later on in the qualification campaign.
Return of the Jack
Few Manchester City players can say they have had their name sung by the majority of Old Trafford, but Jack Grealish's charm clearly knows no bounds.
The Etihad hero spent a lot of last week looking worse for wear at City's wild treble celebrations, but here he was fresh-faced and ready for a short run out at the end of this game.
Grealish didn't do much, he didn't need to. There were a few loose touches, but the game was won.
It was simply a welcome sight to see Manchester's favourite party animal back doing what he does best.
