Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Manchester United and West Ham United.

After their struggles in the top flight last season, the start of the new campaign could not come soon enough for Manchester United as they look to try to get back into the title mix. Not since the days of Sir Alex Ferguson have they mounted any kind of an assault on the Premier League crown but a home fixture against West Ham gives them the opportunity to get off to a positive start.

As for West Ham, manager Slaven Bilic survived a rocky period to remain in the dugout at the London Stadium but after being given the backing to make several notable additions to his squad, the Croatian will be aware that he cannot afford to make a poor start to the new season. His side have been handed one of the toughest opening contests that could have been given, but this is an opportunity to make a statement and hand their supporters hope for the season ahead.

Before we press on with the team news, a quick update from St James' Park where Tottenham Hotspur are currently beating Newcastle United thanks to goals from Dele Alli and Ben Davies. The Magpies are also down to 10 men after the dismissal of Jonjo Shelvey. It is one of the most stupidest sending offs you will ever see. Catch the remainder of the action by clicking here.

Anyway, team news is what you will want so team news is what you will get. Both starting lineups are coming right up, beginning with the home side...

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Jones, Blind, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Mkhitaryan, Rashford, Lukaku

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Romero, Darmian, Smalling, Fellaini, Herrera, Lingard, Martial

WEST HAM UNITED XI: Hart, Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Masuaku, Fernandes, Noble, Obiang, Arnautovic, Ayew, Hernandez

WEST HAM UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Adrian, Byram, Cresswell, Fonte, Collins, Rice, Sakho

Let's start with United, with the big omission being summer signing Victor Lindelof. We do not think that any injury is involved so it is a massive call from Jose Mourinho to exclude his long-term transfer target. Another notable selection is the inclusion of Juan Mata over Ander Herrera, while Marcus Rashford lines up in a three-man attack with Henrik Mkhitaryan and Romelu Lukaku.

As for West Ham, Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandex are all given their Hammers debut by Bilic. There is also a rare start for Edimilson Fernandes in midfield, who made 20 substitute appearances in the Premier League last season. As you can see from the bench, West Ham are struggling for midfielders and forwards, so four defenders are named among the replacements.

RESULT! The full-time whistle has gone at St James' Park, and Spurs had little trouble in closing out an impressive win at Newcastle. They were aided by the sending off of Shelvey, but it was deserved so the Magpies can have no complaints. Click here to read our on-the-whistle report.

HEAD TO HEAD! Today's match represents the 138th meeting between these two sides, with United having recorded 64 wins and West Ham registering 43 victories. However, United have dominated this fixture since April 2011, with nine wins coming from that period and just one defeat - the 3-2 setback in the final ever game at Upton Park.

It is probably too early to be looking at the league table bu from United's perspective, they have the chance to gain an advantage over both Chelsea and Liverpool, who both failed to win matches which they would have expected to prevail in yesterday. They could potentially be rivals to United for Champions League positions come the end of the campaign, so Mourinho will no doubt stress the importance of this match. If are interested in that league table, click here. It is worth it just to see Huddersfield Town at the top of the pile.

There are three players in the West Ham team which have Manchester connections but unlike Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta, Javier Hernandez will be welcomed back to the North-West with open arms. Between 2010 and 2015, the diminutive Mexican netted 59 goals in 157 appearances for United, while he also won two Premier League titles during his time at Old Trafford. Hernandez has spoken about not knowing whether to celebrate against his former club if he scores this afternoon but from a personal perspective, I think he will show respect to United's fans if and when they provide him with a warm reception.

While we have already spoken about United's dominance in this fixture in recent years, the corresponding match last season ended in a 1-1 draw, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic having to cancel out Diafra Sakho's second-minute opener. It was one of many draws for United at Old Trafford last season and it goes without saying that they cannot afford so many this time around. Click here to read back on that fixture.

PREDICTION! We have witnessed some surprises since the Premier League got underway on Friday night, but we are backing United to enjoy a comfortable afternoon. Lukaku will be desperate to impress, and Rashford will be keen to shown the Belgian that he has competition for the number-nine role. Mourinho's men to prevail by a 3-0 scoreline.

It is time for the teams to start making their way down that famous tunnel. The fans at Old Trafford certainly sound ready for the new season to start. Antonio Valencia is United's skipper this afternoon.

Hernandez got that warm reception we had predicted. It was closer to hot than warm.

United get us underway.

It has been a sharp start from both sides. West Ham are making a particular effort to pass the ball about with pace. I can't see them having too much of the ball this afternoon so they are going to have to make it count.

Arnautovic has that unpredictability about him and it is to West Ham's detriment in this situation. He has the opportunity to find Obiang on the edge of the penalty area but his pass lacks speed and United are able to clear the danger.

West Ham have had the better of these opening stages but one mistake let in Lukaku, who showed all of his power and pace to make a 50-yard run before winning a corner. Promising signs by last season's golden boot runner-up.

On two occasions, the pass has been there for West Ham to use the pace of Arnautovic and Hernandez in behind the United defence but instead, the ball got played out wide. Missed opening for the Hammers.

SHOT! The first real shot of the match falls to Mkhitaryan after Masuaku's poor header fell straight to the playmaker. However, his resulting effort was drilled well over the crossbar from around 18 yards out.

United are beginning to get on top, with Hernandez becoming increasingly isolated at the other end of the pitch. The home side are yet to create another chance but West Ham are having to remain strong in defence.

CHANCE! Hart comes out well to deny Mata but the Spaniard retrieves the ball on the byline. He sends the ball across goal for Lukaku, but a combination of good defending and a lack of sharpness from Lukaku leads to West Ham avoiding going behind.

Better from West Ham and Hernandes. The Mexican holds the ball up well and after passing to Noble, he makes the run in behind Bailly. Noble's floated delivery finds its target but the forward miscues his volley back across goal rather than towards De Gea.

The West Ham fans are questioning whether they are playing in a library. They are not, but United's players are not really giving their supporters much to shout about right now. They are the better side, but an opening goal does not feel imminent.

Arnautovic just tried to outpace Valencia after giving the right-back a two-yard head start. Ambitious. There was only one winner there.

CHANCE! United should probably take the lead. A brilliant pass from Pogba finds the run of Mata but instead of shooting, he tries to pass to Lukaku and the cross is cleared inside the six-yard box.

More pressure from United, but there is a resoluteness about West Ham today. Several players have made blocks to prevent shots getting through to Hart.

United take the lead and it is that man Lukaku. It's an excellent finish from 12 yards with the ball striking the inside of the post, but it's made by an even better pass by Rashford, who played the ball through the West Ham defence to perfection.

SHOT! Noble tries a speculative effort from the edge of the box after the ball fell invitingly to him, but his volley went high and wide. Decent response from the Hammers but more importantly, they need to remain tight at the back and go into half time no worse than 1-0 behind.

West Ham are showing as much ambition as they have all match. I'm not sure it is the right moment in the match to be throwing so many men forward, but they certainly have not taken a backwards step since falling behind.

BOOKING! Bailly is the first man to go into the referee's notebook after a foul on Hernandez.

There will be one minute of added-on time.

The half-time whistle goes at Old Trafford, but only after Fernandes forced a solid block out of De Gea. Ayew had created the chance and attempted to meet the ball before his teammate, but he only got in the way.

Good half of football but with limited chances. West Ham are still in this.

West Ham get us back underway.

No chances to speak of at the start of this second half, but I am still quietly impressed by West Ham. They are missing a few players this afternoon but they are giving a good account of themselves. United are content to take the conservative approach for now.

CHANCE! What an opportunity for Rashford. He runs onto a pass from Pogba and he is fast enough to move ahead of the defender, However, the English youngster sent his attempted curler wide of the far post from 12 yards out.

Lukaku is certainly proving value for money so far. The Belgian doubles United's lead with a header from eight yards out after meeting Mkhitaryan's free kick.

Mkhitaryan has the ball in the net after meeting Rashford's cross, but the creator was at least a yard offside when the pass to him was made. United are looking increasingly sharp.

WOODWORK! West Ham come within inches of halving the deficit. A floated pass finds Arnautovic inside the penalty area but despite rising above the defence and his header looping over De Gea, the Serbian's header strikes the crossbar.

BOOKING! Valencia joins Bailly in the book after his studs catch the foot of Arnautovic.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Bilic decides to make a double change, with Fernandes and Noble coming off and Diafra Sakho and Declan Rice being introduced.

SHOT! I can see United adding to their lead before the full-time whistle is blown. Hart is forced into action to prevent Mkhitaryan's low effort from finding the corner.

WOODWORK! Rashford has come more into this match the longer it has progressed and he almost adds his name to the scoresheet. He tried to find the bottom corner from 20 yards but his curling strike struck the inside of the post, went across goal and behind for a goal kick.

CHANCE! Blind nearly gets in on the act when meeting Valencia's cross towards the back post, but his volley into the ground ends up clearing the bar at the back post.

SUBSTITUTION! It's Marouane Fellaini time. Mourinho introduces the midfielder for Mata, who has enjoyed a fine game this afternoon.

SHOT! Arnautovic has been increasingly involved during this second half, but he still cannot find the back of the net. On this occasion, his volley went several yards over the crossbar.

SUBSTITUTION! A second change for United sees Anthony Martial replace Rashford.

SUBSTITUTION! Another alteration for the Hammers, with Aaron Cresswell coming on for Masuaku.

United have this game in the bag now. It is just a matter of whether they extend their advantage. Fellaini and Martial look desperate to make an impression but at the moment, West Ham are doing well to keep the score down.

Now Martial is on the scoresheet. Mkhitaryan's pass is picked up by Martial, who slides the ball into the bottom corner from 12 yards. Easy finish. Easy afternoon for United.

West Ham don't deserve this scoreline but United have a fourth through Pogba, who curls the ball past Hart after being set up by Martial.

The full-time whistle goes at Old Trafford and United have eased to the three points. The scoreline is harsh on West Ham but it gave a hint of the level United could reach this season. They created a hatful of chances and look much improved in attack.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us this afternoon and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.