Dream Debut For Martial

Anthony Martial was the name on everybody's lips after Manchester United's 3-1 triumph over Liverpool at Old Trafford as he came off the bench to score the victory-sealing goal on his debut.

The deadline-day recruit from Monaco jinked his way past Martin Skrtel before nervelessly beating Simon Mignolet at the Stretford End to quickly extinguish the visitors' hopes of a recovery following Christian Benteke's spectacular strike.

HISTORY MAKER

Martial was the first post-war United player to make his maiden appearance for the club against Liverpool at Old Trafford - the previous man to do it in the fixture was John Thompson in 1936. The 19-year-old Frenchman is also the first-ever Red to score on his debut against Liverpool and finish on the winning team. United's other goalscoring debutants against the Merseysiders were Tom Nuttall in a 1-1 draw in 1912, Thompson in a 5-2 loss in 1936 and legendary poacher Ruud van Nistelrooy, who netted against Liverpool in a 2-1 Charity Shield defeat at the Millennium Stadium in 2001.

VAN GAAL'S FIRST

The Frenchman became the first player to score on his debut for Louis van Gaal's United. James Wilson was the last man before him to net in his opening game for the Reds, against Hull City, when Ryan Giggs was in temporary charge of the first team.

SOCIAL BUZZ

Twitter was flooded with reaction to Martial's wonderful introduction to the Theatre of Dreams from ex-players...

@vancole9: Get in... @ManUtd's new no9!! Take over the shirt, fella.

@rioferdy5: Wow! What an introduction to @manutd!

@JRonnyJohnsen: Wow. Martial #MUFC. What a second half.

and fans...

@MrStephenHowson: As Martial was going through, I was thinking to myself if he takes a shot here, this will be some goal. Then boom!

@VicenzoPM: Rival fans need to understand how big this is for Martial. He scored on his debut. Against Liverpool. At the Stretford End!

@ALTgh: That Martial goal was a beauty. He's got something special.

HAPPY TEAM-MATES

"I am very happy for him, of course. He's the new guy and I think the team's very happy for him to score his first goal. What a goal it was!" - Daley Blind.

"We're leaving it up to Morgan Schneiderlin to be the translator but, if he talks like that on the pitch, that's all we need." - Ashley Young.

"I think he is a player who has some qualities that the rest, we haven’t got." - Ander Herrera.

"Great win for us today. Delighted for @AnthonyMartial on his 1st goal. Hopefully 1st of many for us." - Wayne Rooney on Twitter.

THE MANAGER

"He scored a marvellous goal and I can see that, physically, he can play in the Premier League. He has the pace to dribble. His finishing was fantastic. Many players have scored with me on their debut [for other clubs] so it's a good sign." - Louis van Gaal.

THE LAST WORD FROM THE MAN HIMSELF

"I'm very happy for the victory. Thank you all for your support." - Anthony Martial on Twitter.