From phenomenal Phil Jones to unstoppable Rooney and Chicharito, Manchester United are clicking early like never before

There was no shortage of outstanding performances by Sir Alex Ferguson's men as they responded once again to Manchester City's victory with another glut of goals

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By Greg Stobart at the Reebok Stadium

It was their second teatime kick-off in two games, but once again Manchester United served up champagne football to prove a point to noisy neighbours Manchester City.If City have raised the bar in the first four games of the Premier League season, United have put a rocket under it and sent it into orbit.

As if to prove that the 8-2 demolition of Arsenal was not a freak result, they put Bolton to the sword on Saturday with another scintillating attacking display of verve, energy and, above all else, quality.
It almost defies logic that despite so many changes to the squad over the summer, United are playing their best football since the 2007-08 season. The likes of Ashley Young, David de Gea and Phil Jones are new arrivals while Tom Cleverley and Danny Welbeck have been promoted following spells on loan last term.
This young team should be in its early stages of evolution, the players should be learning about each others' games and gelling gradually. Instead, they are off to an absolute flyer having won four out of four league matches - which leaves Sir Alex Ferguson's side top of the table with a goal difference of +15 having scored 18 goals.

It took United 15 games to reach the same goal difference tally last season but they have started the new campaign in top form, playing sumptuous football in the final third with wonderful quick passing.
Their form so far has been embodied by Wayne Rooney, who became just the fourth player in the Premier League era to score back-to-back hat-tricks as he resumed his partnership with Javier Hernandez in the United attack.
The Mexican was handed his first start of the season at the Reebok Stadium following a head injury and picked up where he left off last season by scoring two classic striker's goals.The first came just three minutes into the game as he evaded Bolton defenders with brilliant movement before turning home Nani's cross with a deft finish at the near post. It made Bolton defender Gary Cahill look slow and cumbersome but the credit should go to Hernandez for his incredible instinct in the penalty box.
In celebration, he formed a 'C' with his hand for Chicharito, the Little Pea. He was a revelation in the second half of last season as he continually popped up with vital goals: this season such performances will be an expectation.
But Hernandez has shown already in a United shirt not only that he can cope with pressure, but he thrives under it, regularly scoring important goals.
His understanding with Rooney was one of the key factors in the Red Devils' form towards the end of last season and the England striker has come to embody this confident United side. Dropping into space between Bolton's defence and midfield, Rooney seemed to pick up the ball at will and connect the visitors' attacks with his clever movement and incisive passing.
This season has already been a massive triumph for Ferguson's squad-building abilities. United have incredible depth to their squad and are playing with such pace and purpose that you wonder how the Scot has been able to remodel his team in such a short space of time after the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in May.
For one, he seems to have incorporated many aspects of the Spanish giants' play into United's, not least their speed on the break and the one and two-touch passing in the final third.
Another feature that Ferguson appears to have imported to Old Trafford is the marauding full-backs who stretch the pitch and create an extra man in attack.
Against Bolton, Phil Jones was asked to fill in at right-back and the 19-year-old furthered his case as one of the most promising players of his generation. Having already shown his ability at centre-back following his £16 million summer move from Blackburn, Jones was absolutely phenomenal.
He created the second goal – scored by Rooney in the 20^th minute – with a brilliant cross of which David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo would have been proud. Five minutes later, the England under-21 international went on a storming, skilful run past three Bolton players, ending with a shot that Jussi Jaaskelainen could only parry for Rooney to tuck into the corner of the net.
His reading of the game, his pace, his power and ability on the ball make him a certainty to be a United and England regular for many years to come.
United are renowned for being slow, pragmatic starters in the Premier League, able to get results before Christmas but never hitting top form until the New Year. So it's fair to ask, what's changed?
Perhaps the humbling defeat to Barcelona – their second in three years – caused a sea change in the thinking around Old Trafford.
More likely, however, is that Ferguson has always created sides that respond to the circumstances. With Manchester City blowing teams away with their new brand of attacking football, it is in United's instincts to react and re-establish the status quo.
City cruised past Wigan with a 3-0 victory on Saturday afternoon, United responded by going two better as they dispatched Bolton. It is a theme that is already developing this season and it will be quite remarkable if both teams can maintain this level of performance over the whole campaign.
Chelsea will provide the sternest test of the season so far when they visit Old Trafford next Sunday, but for now we should simply toast United's stunning displays.