Manchester United v Nottingham Forest ratings: Casemiro 9, Rashford 8; Lingard 4

Ten Hag's side claim a comfortable 3-0 win at Old Trafford on their return to Premier League duty

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea – 6. Saved a shot from distance by Freuler after 31 – with his chest. Beaten by a header, which was disallowed by VAR. Double reaction save, the first from Johnson on 70. Another clean sheet. Getty

Aaron Wan Bissaka – 7. Did well against Burnley last week and deserved his first league start of the season. Deep cross to Rashford on 5. Got up the field well. Encouraging. EPA

Raphael Varane – 8. Very different conditions to his last game, the World Cup final, but his class told on a soaked pitch. Alert at the start of the second heading away a Johnson cross going towards Awoniyi. Recovered well. His manager applauded him at one point. PA

Luke Shaw – 7. Illness to other players meant he played at centre half – as was as fine there as he was when he played centrally in a win at Chelsea in 2020. Excellent ball to Rashford in the build-up for the second. Reuters

Tyrell Malacia – 7. Volleyed a shot which hit the post after 5 and tackled well as Forest probed forward after 12. Another excellent tackle before United’s second goal. Good night for confidence. Booked. Getty

Casemiro – 9. He wanted to play in England, warts and all – and he got some warts on a filthy night. Controlled the middle. Peerless passing. Chipped an effort which was tipped over on 76. Super interception saw him win the ball to set up Fred for the third. AFP

Christian Eriksen – 7. Ever inventive, his best contribution was the smartest corner, cut across the box after 18 and assisting the opener. Skied a second half effort. Booked for holding back Yates on 74. Getty

Antony – 5. The soaked pitch didn’t help his game but he was involved. Often came central. Tried to curl a shot in on 37. Was set up by Fernandes on 56 and should have scored. Hit and miss. End product needs to be better. Reuters

Bruno Fernandes – 7. Aggressive, assertive and involved as he helped United control the game and never let Forest in. Set up Antony on 56 after controlling a ball from Rashford. Busy. Lobbed a 73rd minute effort from distance as United pushed for a third. AFP

Marcus Rashford – 8. Fifth-minute shot was blocked, but he broke free of his markers to meet Eriksen’s corner on 19 and put United ahead. Set up the second, cutting back to find Martial. Needs more goals. Tonight helped. He’s on it. AFP

Anthony Martial – 7. Made it 2-0 on 22, putting the ball through the legs of the opposition’s 22. Another who needs goals. Little by little, but he played, he scored and he didn’t get injured. He’s fitting into Ten Hag’s system. AFP

SUBS: Alejandro Garnacho (Antony 64’) – 7. A significant improvement on the Brazilian. Early run played in fellow sub Van de Beek. Beat his man on 75 and put the ball across goal. Better than last week. PA

Donny Van de Beek (Martial 63’) – 6. On to a muted reception, but he played a neat ball to Rashford soon after. Lashed at a shot towards goal on 72. If only one of those would go in for him. AP

Harry Maguire (Varane 77’) – 6. On for his first football since the World Cup. Shame he wasn’t well enough to start the last two games. EPA

Fred (Eriksen 77’) – 7. Scored the third – again in front of the Stretford End. Reuters

Anthony Elanga (Rashford 85’) – 7. Good use of the substitutes from Ten Hag given the vast number of games coming up. Reuters

NOTTINGHAM FOREST RATINGS: Wayne Hennessey – 4. Nudged Malacia’s shot onto the post but was given no chance by Rashford, then came up with a poor attempt at saving Martial’s tame strike. Made good stops to deny Antony, Martial and Rashford in the second half. Got away with flapping at Eriksen’s cross but saved Casemiro’s attempt before being beaten again by Fred. AP

Serge Aurier – 4. Showed a lack of awareness to let Rashford behind him and he was then cut inside for the second. He continued to struggle to deal with balls played behind. Had some crosses blocked from promising positions, although one did find Mangala. EPA

Joe Worrall – 6. Put in a lot of solid defensive work as he did well to reach Wan-Bissaka’s pass ahead of Martial, then blocked Eriksen’s shot moments later. Did well to win the header from Neco Williams’ free-kick, even if nothing came of it. Getty

Willy Boly – 4. Couldn’t get out to Rashford or Martial quickly enough for the first two goals and was then caught offside when Yates’ header went in off him. There were times where he made things look unnecessarily uncomfortable. AP

Renan Lodi – 5. Put in some good tackles, but it was too easy for United to create chances from his side and he was outfought by Rashford at the start of a threatening United move. Provided some good set-piece deliveries with one of those setting up the disallowed goal. Reuters

Ryan Yates – 6. Continued to battle after taking an early knock. Forced De Gea into an awkward save with his venomous shot from range but couldn’t get a clean connection on his header, which went in off Boly and was ruled out for offside. Getty

Remo Freuler – 5. Blocked Rashford’s shot well but struggled to keep up with United’s midfield on various occasions. His passing varied in quality. Blocked Van de Beek’s shot. Getty

Orel Mangala – 4. Stood still as Rashford ran off to score the opener, and was booked for holding Rashford’s shirt as he threatened to break forward. Put in a good sliding tackle to stop Fernandes getting a shot off. Hit the side netting after making a good run into the box. Reuters

Brennan Johnson – 5. After a quiet first half, he showed intent early in the second by beating Malacia and delivering a threatening cross that was headed away by Varane. Almost won the ball back on the edge of United’s box, then had a flick denied. His late cross in a promising position was disappointing. Getty

Jesse Lingard – 4. Picked up some good positions but often failed to make the most of them with a lack of conviction when opportunities arose, notably playing two poor passes when Brennan Johnson and Taiwo Awoniyi made runs. Went off injured early in the second half. AFP

Taiwo Awoniyi – 5. A willing runner for his side and carried the ball for long distances but was often isolated and those runs still ended with him losing the ball. Getty

SUBS: Lewis O’Brien (Lingard 53’) – 5. Worked hard for the team and did well to win a free-kick when surrounded by men in red. Couldn’t reach Emmanuel Dennis’ pass ahead of Casemiro in the build-up to United’s third. Reuters

Harry Toffolo (Lodi 62’) – 6. Got back to clear Garnacho’s ball into the box and provided some good set-piece deliveries. AP

Sam Surridge (Awoniyi 62’) – 5. Hit his shot straight at De Gea after playing a good pass earlier in the move and struggled to threaten on many other occasions. AFP

Emmanuel Dennis (Mangala 63’) – 5. Timed his pass well in the build-up to Johnson’s chance but he played some loose passes, including the one that Casemiro picked off before setting up Fred’s goal. Getty

Neco Williams (Aurier 74’) – N/R. Easily beaten by Garnacho shortly after coming on and was unable to get back in time to stop Fred scoring United’s third of the game. Reuters

England striker Marcus Rashford continued his fine goalscoring form as Manchester United cruised to a 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Rashford, who scored three times for England at the World Cup in Qatar, set United on their way to victory with a well-placed finish from a corner in the 19th minute, before Anthony Martial doubled the hosts' lead three minutes later.

Forest thought they had got back into the match midway through the first half, but Willy Boly's goal from a free kick was ruled out for offside.

The visitors never looked like mounting a comeback, with United putting the seal on an impressive display as substitute Fred netted a late third, completing a victory that moves the fifth-placed hosts one point off the top four. Forest stay 19th.

The victory means United have now lost only once in the league since their thrashing at the hands of rivals Manchester City in October.

Assessing the performances at Old Trafford in the photo gallery above, Andy Mitten provides the player ratings for United, while Danny Lewis offers his verdict on Nottingham Forest. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.