When Romelu Lukaku slotted the ball into the Everton net, the Manchester United striker had no intention of holding back on the celebrations.
Far from it. Especially after being jeered during Sunday’s Premier League game by the Everton fans who revered him before an offseason transfer across northern England.
Lukaku’s goal – the third in a 4-0 drubbing of Everton – compounded the miserable run for his former club. It’s now four consecutive losses in all competitions, three in the league, with Everton conceding 12 goals without reply in the process.
So early in the season, it’s looking bleak for Ronald Koeman’s side which demonstrated such ambition in the summer when it spent 140 million pounds ($190 million) on talent. That doesn’t even take into account the free transfer of former United captain Wayne Rooney, who experienced a depressing return to Old Trafford on the pitch.
At least he received a warm reception, perhaps out of sympathy for the predicament he’s facing at his new team. The poor run of form started with a 2-0 loss last month to Chelsea, which was held 0-0 by Arsenal in Sunday’s other game.