Manchester United returned to action after the World Cup break with a hard-fought win over a tidy Burnley side at Old Trafford, with PSG-linked Marcus Rashford back from international duty to light up Old Trafford.
Alejandro Garnacho missed an early chance to give United the lead, failing to find the net after being played through with only goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell to beat. Burnley were able to assert themselves more as the first half drew on, only for Christian Eriksen to escape his marker and tap home the opener after good work from Aaron Wan-Bissaka down the right.
Martin Dubravka started in goal for United and was tested by lively Burnley star Manuel Benson. The Slovakian got away with a nervy bit of play before the break, though, flapping at a high ball and almost conceding a freak own goal as it deflected towards his net before being hacked away.
Erik ten Hag's hosts pushed for a second after the restart, with Scott McTominay missing the target after a quick break. However, while the score remained 1-0, the visitors continued to threaten through the dangerous Manuel Benson.
Shortly before the hour, though, Rashford made it two. It was a fantastic solo effort from the England international, who burst through challenges to break into the Clarets' box before firing across Peacock-Farrell and into the bottom corner.
Vincent Kompany's visitors still had chances to respond, with Ashley Barnes missing two presentable opportunities, but the hosts got the job done. Here are Mirror Football 's talking points from Old Trafford.
1. Rashford impresses as World Cup stars return
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Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes and Tyrell Malacia all started for United after returning from Qatar, while several other World Cup stars were on the bench. The group had mixed fortunes over the last month - certainly, none had the success of Argentina's Lisandro Martinez - and this was a chance to put all of that behind them.
Fernandes was perhaps the busiest early on, looking to orchestrate just as he did for Portugal at the World Cup. Rashford was also active going forward, but it was the comparatively quiet Eriksen who broke the deadlock.
England star Rashford was just getting up to speed, though, and his effort showed the gulf in quality between a squad at the top of the Championship and one in the upper reaches of the Premier League. Antony was another of the World Cup inclusions to arrive from the bench, almost as if to hammer home that point, while there was also a welcome return for Luke Shaw late on.
2. Casemiro capable at the back
With Martinez and Raphael Varane waiting to return from their international breaks, and Harry Maguire missing through illness, Ten Hag's options at the back were limited.
Casemiro and Scott McTominay both looked like potential options to partner Victor Lindelof, and ultimately it was the Brazilian who started in the back four. It was a test of his strength and nous, with the experienced Ashley Barnes leading the line, but his busiest moment in the first half came when he was forced into a goal-line clearance to spare Dubravka's blushes.
After watching their summer signing find the net at the World Cup, United's supporters will hope he can contribute further up the field. Here, though, he did the job asked of him with aplomb, barring one loose late pass which - thankfully - wasn't punished by Barnes.
3. Martial quiet when given chance
Injuries have made this season a frustrating one for Anthony Martial. The Frenchman led the line in pre-season, and has impressed fleetingly when fit, but was restricted to just seven competitive games before the World Cup.
With Cristiano Ronaldo leaving in November, Martial will expect more minutes providing he can stay fit. A quiet first period almost burst into life as he twisted and turned in the Burnley box before drawing a save from Peacock-Farrell.
The former Monaco man made way for Anthony Elanga with 20 minutes remaining, having failed to find the net. United will hope there is more to come from him, especially if no further attacking reinforcements arrive in the January transfer window.
4. Wan-Bissaka in the shop window
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has become something of a forgotten man for Manchester United. He had made just one substitute appearance before the visit of Burnley, and there have been suggestions he could be on the move in January.
With Diogo Dalot not involved, the £50m man had a chance to impress, and did just that with a great run to deliver an assist for Eriksen's opener. Who he was impressing, though, remains to be seen.
It could be that Ten Hag has liked what he's seen during the World Cup and is ready to reintegrate a man who should still have plenty to offer at the age of 25. A month from now, though, we could just as easily be looking back on this as the former Crystal Palace's defender's final United outing.
5. Dubravka's unconvincing audition
Man Utd have been linked with a move for a new goalkeeper, with Swiss international Yann Sommer among the names mentioned. If Dubravka's first-half display is anything to go by, it's easy to see why there seems to be little appetite to make his loan move permanent.
The Slovakian stopper made his United debut in the previous round against Aston Villa and kept his place for the last 16 tie. It was a nervy performance, though, with a suspect aerial claim enough to worry some home fans.
It got worse before the break as he switched off to let the ball under his foot, almost conceding an embarrassing own goal, and there was time for another nervy moment in second-half stoppage-time. On the strength of what we saw against Burnley, David de Gea's starting spot in the league doesn't look to be under much threat.
