Full-time. A terrific display from Manchester United. Paul Scholes produced a fantasic performance and was the man of the match by some distance. Berbatov and Fletcher scored first-half goals for the hosts and Giggs added a third late on after a brilliant pass from Scholes. A great start to the season for the Red Devils, but Newcastle were simply played off the park. Thanks for joining me tonight.

Man Utd earn a free-kick 25 yards out and Giggs stands over it. The Welshman is given the nod to go for his second but floats a left-footed strike over the wall and over the bar.

Ameobi holds the ball up well 25 yards out from goal and eventually lays the ball off to Xisco to his left. The Spaniard is in a lot of space in the centre of the pitch and goes for goal, but sees his weak right-footed effort roll land nicely into the arms of Van der Sar.

Substitution Patrice Evra Rafael Silva

A final change for Man Utd now. Evra collided with an advertising board moments ago and has had to go off, so Rafael has come on in his place. The Brazilian comes on at left-back with O'Shea sticking to the right-hand side of the defence.

Goal Ryan Giggs

GOAL!! GENIUS FROM THE VETERANS!! SCHOLES AND GIGGS COMBINE!! O'Shea lays the ball off to Scholes 25 yards out and he weights a perfect pass to Giggs on the left side of the area. The Welshman hits the ball first-time left-footed on the volley and finds the bottom right-hand corner! He's scored in every single Premier League season and the legend proves his class once again!

Scholes picks out Evra on the left wing, who beats Perch far too easily for pace, and drills the ball into the area to Berbatov. The brilliant Bulgarian then passes the ball past Williamson before trying to slot the ball past Harper, but the Toon keeper manages to block it and clears the danger.

Substitution Xisco Jonás Gutiérrez

Another change from Newcastle now. Xisco has come on after a year on loan at Racing Santander in the place of Gutierrez.

HEADER WIDE FROM AMEOBI! Fletcher clears the ball from a corner but only as far as Barton on the left wing. The former Manchester City man, earning boos from the United crown everytime he touches the ball, curls a cross to the far post and Ameobi rises above everyone to header the ball around six yards wide of the post. A poor effort really from the big man.

The ball breaks to Giggs on the left and he finds the run of Berbatov towards the near post. The unmarked Bulgarian has his back to goal and tries a clever chip before clipping the ball into the area, but he is denied by Harper who manages to prevent the cross coming into the box.

Gutierrez does well to cut inside on the left wing and swings a promising right-footed cross into the area. Carroll looks to get on the end of it but Evans does just enough to put him off as the ball rolls wide of the goal.

A change from both sides now. Ameobi comes on in the place of Nolan, so it's definitely two up top for Newcastle now, while Nani is replaced by Giggs.

Substitution Kevin Nolan Shola Ameobi

Substitution Nani Ryan Giggs

Nani has plenty of time to make his decision where to pass on the left wing and picks out Hernandez, who has raced past his marker, but the Mexican is just caught offside. It was tight and Newcastle will have to watch his pace.

Nani plays the ball inside to Scholes 25 yards out and he lofts an excellent first-time pass over the defence and to Berbatov just inside the area but, from an awkward angle, he sees his ambitious overhead kick fly wide of the goal. It'll be interesting to see Scholes' passing stats after the game, I can't recall him giving the ball away once.

NANI FIRES JUST WIDE!! Scholes pulling the strings again, jinking his way left and right 25 yards out before laying the ball off to Nani. The winger then takes a touch and smashes a low left-footed striker just wide of the far corner.

Hernandez has only touched the ball a couple of times since he came on but he's earning cheers everytime he's involved. They love him at Old Trafford already.

Substitution Wayne Rooney Chicharito

That change is being made and on comes Hernandez to a massive applause from the Old Trafford faithful in the place of Rooney.

Here we go, looks like the man they've all been talking about, Javier Hernandez is about to come on. Fergie is giving him a few instructions so he'll be making his Old Trafford debut in a minute with Rooney probably making way.

Scholes is at the heart of absolutely everything for Man Utd. The midfield maestro picked up the man of the match award in the Community Shield against Chelsea last weekend and I wouldn't put it past him to win it again. He is on a booking though, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him substituted tonight.

There were claims for a Man Utd penalty moments ago. There was another great move from United and Scholes attempted to jink his way past Coloccini in the area but was brought down to the ground. Referee Chris Foy waved play on much to the annoyance of the Old Trafford crowd.

Yellow Card Darren Fletcher

BERBATOV CAN'T BRING AN END TO A WONDERFUL MOVE! After a number of Man Utd passes, the ball lands at the feet of Scholes who plays a sharp pass to Rooney on the edge of the area. He then plays a clever ball round the corner to the unmarked Berbatov who has made a run into the area, but he can only steer the ball wide of Harper's left-hand post. Great move from the hosts!

Nolan receives a pass from Gutierrez and attempt to take the ball under control, but is stopped in his tracks by Scholes, who clatters him to the ground with a poorly-timed slide tackle. He then picks up a booking. The best and the worst os Scholes, there...

Yellow Card Paul Scholes

Evra plays the ball inside to Scholes, who pins a wonderful cross-field ball out to the right wing towards the onrushing Valencia. The Ecuador international fails to get the ball under control and inadvertently knocks it out of play.

Nani storms forward from the left wing through the centre of the pitch, evading challenge after challenge, but eventually loses possession to Enrique in the Newcastle left-back position and gives away a free-kick trying to win back the ball. Great energy and work rate there from Nani.

Scholes dictates the play once again and finds the run of Nani on the right wing. The Portugal international tries to pick out Berbatov at the near post but his cross just just a little inaccurate and is into the arms of Harper.

Manchester United kick us off for the second half. No changes from either side at the break.

Half-time. Just the start Sir Alex Ferguson would have wanted, but a poor start from Newcastle - in particular in defence. Berbatov opened the scoring with a neatly taken goal, but Valencia's work rate to nick the ball off Gutierrez needs a mention too. Fletcher then turned the ball in from close range to double their lead and it could get worse for Newcastle in the second half. Fergie said before the game that Rooney still isn't fully fit, so perhaps we could see Javier Hernandez play his first Premier League game tonight.

Newcastle's defence were all over the place for Man Utd's second. Nobody tracked the run of Evra, nobody stopped the Frenchman's cross into the area and nobody was even close to clearing the ball once it entered the penalty area. It wouldn't surprise me if changes were made at half-time, but there isn't much defensive cover on the bench with Steven Taylor injured ad Sol Campbell not yet match fit.

Goal Darren Fletcher

GOAL!! 2-0 AND IT'S FLETCHER WITH THE GOAL! Nani cuts inside from the left and finds the run of Evra. He drills the ball across goal and the ball falls kindly at the feet of Fletcher who, with his back to goal, shrugs off the challenge of Coloccini and turns the ball home from close range. Terrible defending from Newcastle, but Man Utd won't care! They lead 2-0 and look certain to hold onto their lead now!

Gutierrez takes a heavy touch looking to storm through the centre of the pitch and loses possession. The ball falls to Routledge, who looks to pick out Carroll but fails to do so and Evans easily deals with the danger and comes clear with the ball.

Routledge loses the ball on the right wing to Nani, who in turn loses the ball as well trying to use a bit of skill to get past Barton, but he doesn't fall for it. The no nosense midfielder nicks the ball off him on the right side of the Man Utd area and takes a touch before firing towards Van der Sar's near post, but the veteran is equal to it and claims the ball with ease.

Man Utd look sharp now. Nani is twisting and turning his way down the left wing everytime he gets the chance. His marker Perch is on a booking and will have to be careful when he's trying to keep up with the speedy winger.

GOAL!! BERBATOV WITH THE OPENER FOR MAN UTD!! Gutierrez is caught dwelling on the ball around 35 yards out from goal and O'Shea picks out Scholes, who plays a through ball into the area to Berbatov. Enrique fails to clear the ball and the Bulgarian slides the ball past Harper and into the far corner. 1-0 to the hosts and that's Berbatov's second of the season!

Goal Dimitar Berbatov

ROONEY WITH A CHANCE!! Valencia whips a floating cross towards the far post and Berbatov unselfishly nods the ball down to his strike partner Rooney. Side on to goal, the England forward can't make a clean connection with the ball and skies it over the bar.

Scholes plays great ball out wide to Nani on the left wing and continues his run into the area. Nani curls the ball towards the far post looking for the head of Berbatov, but Harper gets his fingertips to it and manages to turn the ball wide of the goal.

Coloccini plays a suicidal pass to Williamson on the edge of his own area, and the centre-back has to slide the ball away from Rooney but only into the path on Nani in space around 25 yards out. The United winger takes a heavy touch and Williamson is there to slide the ball away.

Perch is under pressure from Rooney close to the corner flag in the right-back position and passes the ball straight to Scholes 30 yards out. The Manchester United legend lays the ball off to Fletcher and the hosts regain possession.

Yellow card for Newcastle debutant Perch. The summer signing from Nottingham Forest realises he can't catch up with the onrushing Nani to latch onto a long ball forward and pulls to winger down to the ground. He correctly receives a booking from Chris Foy, but Rooney can't capitilise from the free-kick and fires it straight into the wall.

Yellow Card James Perch

A quick free-kick from Scholes finds Fletcher 30 yards out and he presents Rooney with an opportunity just inside the area. The United striker is unmarked but rushes his shot and can only miscue it wide of the near post. Meanwhile, the moustache-sporting Joey Barton picks up his first booking of the season for a poorly-timed challenge on Nani. It won't be his last yellow this season, that's for sure.

CARROLL WITH ANOTHER CHANCE! The ball sits up nicely for the Newcastle no.9 25 yards out from goal and he has an ambitious strike at goal, but the shot if too weak and Van der Sar deals with it comfortably low to his left.

Yellow Card Joey Barton

Valencia receives a pass on the right wing close to the corner flag and drills an inviting cross towards the near post. Rooney attempts to connect and steer the ball home, but Williamson sneeks in front of him and smashes the ball clear. Good defending from the former Watford man.

Smith brings Scholes down to the ground 30 yards out from goal and Nani is given the chance to have a pop. The tricky winger opts to shoot but can only manage to fire the ball straight into the wall and Newcastle soon get the ball clear.

Nani receives a pass around 25 yards out from goal and takes a touch before attempting to fire the ball into the bottom right-hand corner. His snapshot is well closed down by Nolan and the ball sails wide of the goal for a corner, which comes to nothing.

HEADED WIDE FROM CARROLL!! WHAT A MISS!! Guiterrez swings a great corner into the area from the left and picks out Carroll. The England under-21 international rises above Vidic but somehow directs his header from close range wide of the post. He really should have at least found the target from there!

CHANCE FOR ROONEY!. Berbatov sets Rooney away down the left wing and the England international cuts inside, plays a neat little one-two with Nani, and tries to curl the ball right-footed into the far corner, but gets too much on it and the ball flies over the crossbar.

Harper launches the ball forward after a backpass from Williamson and looks to pick out Nolan. The Newcastle skipper attempts to beat Vidic in the air but takes a blow to the back of his head. He stays down initially before leaving the field for treatment.

Expect Man Utd to have a lot of possession tonight. Newcastle are having to work hard to win the ball back even this early in the game. Nolan is playing up alongside Carroll so far, but no doubt he will drop back into midfield when the hosts press forward.

Fletcher receives the ball around 30 yards out from goal and picks out Valencia on the right wing, who is left with acres of space by Enrique, but his right-footed curling cross into the area is cut out by the Spaniard and Newcastle manage to clear the danger.

Newcastle get us underway at Old Trafford.

Now to the team news. Patrice Evra has returned from his extended break after the World Cup and starts at left-back for Man Utd, Paul Scholes retains his place after his fantastic display in the Community Shield and Dimitar Berbatov partners Wayne Rooney up front. Meanwhile, James Perch makes his Newcastle debut at right-back, Alan Smith faces his former club as part of a five-man midfield and Andy Carroll plays the lone striker role.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side missed out on the title by just a point last season, while Chris Hughton led his team back to the first tier of English football in record-breaking style, failing to lose a game at home all season.

These sides couldn’t be separated when they met on the opening day of the season two years ago, but class told throughout the course of the season as Manchester United went on to win their third successive title and Newcastle suffered relegation from the Premier League for the first time.

The Red Devils go into the clash at Old Trafford buoyed by their 3-1 win over champions Chelsea in the Community Shield at Wembley last week, while Newcastle are looking to get off to cause an upset as they aim to avoid relegation in their first season back in the top flight.

Good evening and welcome to Goal.com’s live coverage of the Premier League game between Manchester United and Newcastle United. My name is Danny Hart and I will be taking you through tonight’s game.