In the first league meeting between the sides in 16 years, Manchester United demolished Leeds 6-2 to catapult to third on the Premier League points table on Sunday.

The club from the red side of Manchester turned up in style as Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes scored twice to tear apart Marcelo Bielsa’s side with their elite counter-attacks. 

The Red Devils are now just five points behind leaders Liverpool with a game in hand.

The much-anticipated clash as a historic rivalry was renewed lacked the fervour of a houseful Old Trafford, but more than delivered on the field.

There was little doubt about the result after just three minutes, though, as McTominay scored twice in an incredible start.

In Bielsa’s hyper attacking setup, gaping holes were left in the midfield and the Scotland international burst forward from his deep role to smash home Fernandes’s pass from outside the area and then slotted home Anthony Martial’s perfectly weighted through ball.

The Argentine was among the finalists for FIFA’s coach of the year this week for guiding Leeds back to the top flight.

However, the former Athletic Bilbao boss’ determination to play in the style no matter the opposition backfired as the visitors were 4-0 down inside 37 minutes.

Fernandes pounced on a loose ball inside the area after another fast counter-attack before another Leeds’ Achilles’ heel, defending set-pieces, was exposed when Victor Lindelof swept home Martial’s flick-on from a corner.

Leeds had plenty of chances themselves at the other end as Patrick Bamford slashed wide when clean through on David De Gea when the score was at 2-0.

However, they did not get on the scoreboard until four minutes before half-time when captain Liam Cooper headed in off the inside of the post from a corner.

De Gea was restored to the United goal in place of Dean Henderson, who had a night to forget in a 3-2 win at Sheffield United on Thursday, and the Spaniard showed why he remains Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s number one with a stunning save to prevent Raphinha making it 4-2.

Daniel James came within minutes of becoming a Leeds player in the January transfer window of 2019 before his move from Swansea collapsed and the Welsh international moved to United six months later.

Solskjaer handed James a rare start, knowing his speed on the break would cause problems, and he got his reward for an impressive display when he latched onto McTominay’s pass to drill low past Illan Meslier for United’s fifth 24 minutes from time.

Moments later Leeds had been hit for six as Martial was upended inside the penalty area and Fernandes tucked home United’s 10th penalty of the season.

The scoring did not stop there as Stuart Dallas fired a stunning effort into the top corner to trim down the Leeds deficit.

Meslier made a series of late saves to deny United, while Jack Harrison should have added another for Leeds late on as a breathless encounter ended with 43 attempts on goal.

United had previously struggled to match their perfect away form in the league this season, but just a second win in seven games at Old Trafford propels Solskjaer’s men back into title contention as Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City have dropped points in the past week.

Defeat leaves Leeds still in 14th, but with a seven-point cushion above the relegation zone.