Premier League football makes a welcome return to Old Trafford this afternoon as Manchester United take on West Ham United in the club's first domestic game of 2017/18.

The Reds have a positive record in opening weekends, chalking up some convincing and thrilling victories down the years – something Jose Mourinho's men will be keen to maintain against the Hammers.

In the 25 previous seasons since the Premier League's inception in 1992, United have won 16, drawn four and lost five first matches in a top-flight campaign.

Watch the best goals from five of our most memorable opening-day wins in our video above and read all about them below...

1996: Wimbledon 0 United 3
A star was born on the opening day of the 1996/97 season when David Beckham confirmed his growing reputation as a potential superstar. The midfielder had already shown immense promise for United but his strike from the halfway line at Selhurst Park proved he was a player of rare quality. Collecting a short pass from Brian McClair, he launched an incredible shot over Neil Sullivan, who was off his line, and the ball dipped under the bar to register one of the most memorable goals in Premier League history. Well-struck efforts from Eric Cantona and Denis Irwin had already put the Reds in cruise control and United maintained such imperious form to go on and win the title for the fourth time in five seasons.

2003: United 4 Bolton 0 The defence of the Premier League crown couldn't have started much better than a four-goal rout of Sam Allardyce's Trotters, inspired by a bright cameo from substitute Cristiano Ronaldo on his much anticipated debut for the club. A brilliant Ryan Giggs free-kick put United in control in the first half before three goals in 13 minutes added gloss to the scoreline. Giggs tapped in a second and Paul Scholes also netted before Ruud van Nistelrooy made up for his earlier penalty miss by rounding off the victory. Despite making the ideal start on the opening day, the Reds finished the season in third place, surrendering the title to Arsenal's 'Invincibles', who went the entire 38-game league season unbeaten.

2006: United 5 Fulham 1 The Reds started 2006/07 in scintillating form with a breathtaking five-star thrashing of Fulham in front of a then-record crowd for the Premier League of 75,115 fans at Old Trafford. Louis Saha got the ball rolling before his cross was diverted in for an own goal by Cottagers defender Ian Pearce and Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney got in on the act as a rampant United were 4-0 up inside 19 minutes. After Rio Ferdinand deflected Heidar Helguson's effort past Edwin Van der Sar for Fulham's first strike of the season, Rooney wrapped up the most comfortable of opening-day wins in the second half. The Reds went on to end the season as champions, finishing six points above second-placed Chelsea.

2013: Swansea 1 United 4 David Moyes got his brief reign as Reds boss off to a winning start in the Premier League with a clinical dismantling of the Swans on a rain-soaked afternoon at the Liberty Stadium. Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck helped themselves to two goals apiece in South Wales, with Wilfried Bony's debut strike providing a mere consolation for the hosts. It was the perfect start for the then reigning champions but a difficult campaign saw the Reds finish in seventh place.  

2016: Bournemouth 1 United 3 After beating Leicester to lift the Community Shield at Wembley a week earlier, the start of Jose Mourinho's successful debut season as United manager continued with a comfortable first league win on the opening weekend in the south-coast sunshine. Juan Mata made the breakthrough, Wayne Rooney doubled the lead and Zlatan Ibrahimovic opened his Premier League account with a sublime strike before Adam Smith pulled one back for the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium. It was a job well done for the Reds, who went on to finish sixth in the league but claimed the EFL Cup and returned to the Champions League by winning the Europa League.

Follow coverage of United's first Premier League game against West Ham on Sunday in our live match blog on ManUtd.com and on Twitter via @ManUtd.