Never before had English football's top flight competition begun with a player putting past his own keeper until full back Walker inadvertently prodded the ball past Michel Vorm in the 22nd minute when desperately trying to dispossess Wayne Rooney.

Tottenham had dominated until then but the goal helped United, with five expensive debutants in their ranks, relax as the Londoners' verve deserted them until a late attacking flurry was repelled by the hosts' new Argentine keeper Sergio Romero.

Even if the fare was mediocre, three points on a warm, muggy lunchtime was the ideal start for manager Louis van Gaal after a huge close season investment took United's spending to about 230 million pounds ($356.39 million) in his 12 months at the helm.

Romero made three important late saves while Italian defender Matteo Darmian, French midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin and Dutch striker Memphis Depay also made useful first starts, with United's Germany World Cup-winner Bastian Schweinsteiger coming on for the last half-hour and getting booked.