London (AFP)

Carried by the ideal return of Cristiano Ronaldo, holder and author of a double against Newcastle (4-1), Manchester United took advantage of Tottenham's heavy misstep at Crystal Palace (3-0) to take the lead in the fourth day of Premier Legue, Saturday.

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An instant "Ronaldo effect"

Welcomed as a hero at Old Trafford, twelve years after leaving for Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo immediately stepped forward by scoring twice and propelling the Red Devils to the top of the standings.

With ten points, they are under threat from Chelsea, who later play against Aston Villa, Liverpool who travel to Leeds on Sunday and Everton who host Burnley on Monday.

But for a few hours at least, he will have put his team where they would like to come back for good.

The supporters dreamed of such a return and "CR7" is not the type to ask for a period of adaptation, especially in a club where it had a very good period between 2003 and 2009.

With a goal at close range after a strike from Mason Greenwood rejected by the goalkeeper (1-0, 45 + 2) and a duel won after a good opening from Luke Shaw (2-1, 62nd), the Portuguese signed his 119th and 120th goals in red.

Manchester United's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo opens the scoring against Newcastle in their Premier League match on September 11, 2021 at Old Trafford Stadium Oli SCARFF AFP

Above all, he showed his team the way during a complicated match against Newcastle, catchy despite his 19th place in the standings.

At the end of the match, Bruno Fernandes (3-1, 80th) and Jesse Lingard (4-1, 90 + 2) gave a flattering scale to the result, goals like a thumb of the nose to those who see them threatened by the arrival of Ronaldo.

The joy of Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard (l) congratulated by his teammates after scoring the 4th goal against Newcastle, in their Premier League match on September 11, 2021 at Old Trafford Stadium Oli SCARFF AFP

There will, of course, be a lot to improve in the automatisms and the coordination, but these promising beginnings will do nothing to calm the frenzy of the Mancunian supporters after years of relative gloom.

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Tottenham stumbles heavily

Borrowed and reduced to ten per hour of play, Tottenham lost its first match of the season and the lead in the standings on Crystal Palace (3-0), led by Odsonne Edouard, author of a double for his beginnings.

With nine points, the Spurs are provisionally fourth, while the men of Patrick Vieira, for whom it was the first success on the bench of the Londoners, are temporarily replaced in eleventh place with five units.

Without Son Heung-min and Steven Bergwijn, injured in the selection, nor Cristian Romero and Giovanni Lo Celso in quarantine after their matches with Argentina, Tottenham was also weakened by the heavy legs of Harry Kane, triple scorer with England in qualifiers for the World Cup-2022 but very discreet on Saturday.

Tottenham forward Harry Kane during the Premier League match on September 11, 2021 at Crystal Palace JUSTIN TALLIS AFP

The expulsion of Japhet Tanganga after two yellow cards in five minutes, just before the hour mark, was the last straw for the undefeated defense so far but which eventually cracked.

Because opposite, Crystal Palace showed a very attractive face even if it had to wait for a penalty converted by Wilfried Zaha (1-0, 76th) to open the scoring.

The joy of Ivorian Crystal Palace striker Wilfried Zaha after opening the scoring on a home penalty against Tottenham during their Premier League match on September 11, 2021 JUSTIN TALLIS AFP

Launched by Vieira for the last minutes, the French Odsonne Edouard, bought from Celtic Glasgow this summer, only needed a few seconds to find the nets (2-0, 85th), before finally seducing Sellhurst Park with a double (3-0, 90 + 3).

"It's a dream start for me, it's a very good score and a very good result for the team," he commented after the match at BT Sports.

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Manchester City keep pace, Arsenal react

In the other matches of the afternoon, Manchester City won a narrow but important victory at Leicester (1-0) thanks to a goal from Bernardo Silva shortly after the hour mark.

Manchester City Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva deceives Danish Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel during their Premier League match on September 11, 2021 at King Power Stadium in Leicester Lindsey Parnaby AFP

With nine points, the Citizens are second to one point behind United, pending the matches of Chelsea and Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola's men are followed by the surprising Brighton, winner at Brentford (1-0) and ahead of goal difference only.

Arsenal, meanwhile, finally launched his season by scoring his first three points even if the narrow victory (1-0) against the promoted and red lantern Norwich is really the bare minimum to spare Mikel Arteta further torment.

© 2021 AFP