Having enjoyed plenty of success at Old Trafford as Alex Ferguson's trusted right-hand man, the chance to return after a six year absence was not an opportunity the 56-year-old was going to let pass.
United led through Juan Mata's 11th minute strike but just before halftime the visitors were level when De Gea weakly parried an Antonio Rudiger shot into the path of Marcos Alonso.
Marcus Rashford scored on his 100th Premier League appearance on Sunday to secure a 1-0 win over Leicester City that kept interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dream start going at his old club.
After a tense encounter finished 1-1 following extra time, Villareal's Rulli stepped up after every on-field player scored their spot kicks and he comfortably beat Spaniard De Gea
United youth product Gomes, 18, struck after Spurs' Lucas Moura cancelled out Anthony Martial's first-half opener and gave the 20-time Premier League champions another victory after they beat Perth Glory, Leeds United and Inter Milan.
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Martial scored his 23rd goal for United in all competitions this season against LASK Linz in Wednesday's Europa League last-16 victory.
Former Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to take over as manager at Premier League Cardiff City, Norwegian media reported on Wednesday.
Manchester United coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer berated his team for their under par performance in the first half in their FA Cup semi-final first leg loss to cross-town rivals Manchester United
Chelsea's 0-0 home draw with second-placed United ensured Thomas Tuchel is still undefeated in nine games since replacing Frank Lampard, but it meant they failed to dislodge fourth-placed West Ham United who became Manchester City's 20th successive victims in all competitions on Saturday.
Paul Pogba faces a race against time to prove his fitness for Monday's Premier League clash against Arsenal
Five talking points from the Premier League weekend:
Manchester City chalked up yet another victory to maintain their stranglehold of the Premier League title race but pursuers Manchester United and Leicester City both secured important wins to enhance their top-four bids on Sunday.
Chelsea have condemned online racist abuse aimed at defender Reece James and called on social media platforms to take tougher action against users who engage in such 'despicable behaviour'.
Former Europa League winners Manchester United booked a quarter-final spot in the tournament after their second-string side laboured to a 2-1 home win over LASK Linz on Wednesday to seal a 7-1 aggregate rout of the Austrian side.
Images from Thursday's action in the Europa League Europa League - Round of 16 Second Leg - matches.
Manchester United have signed Leicester City's England centre back Harry Maguire on a six-year contract, the Manchester club announced on Monday.
Solskjaer is also hoping to keep hold of striker Odion Ighalo until the end of the season.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
Goalkeeper De Gea was forced to leave the field during Spain's Euro 2020 qualifier against Sweden on Tuesday.
Pogba said last month that he could seek a new challenge after three years at United, while his agent recently told The Times that the 26-year-old intends to leave the club amid reports linking him to Juventus and Real Madrid.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
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Liverpool's first loss of the season means they cannot finish the campaign unbeaten to match Arsenal's 'Invincibles' of 2003-04.
Leicester City reached the FA Cup final for the first time in more than 50 years
Rashford also credited former team manager Jose Mourinho for making him a better player.
Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United enjoyed comfortable wins in the English Premier League on Saturday as fans returned to stadiums after an eight-month absence.
Arsenal's best chance to equalise came from a Granit Xhaka free kick which looked destined for the top corner until the Gunner's former keeper Emiliano Martinez at full stretch pushed it around the post with a fingertip save.
'My ancestors and my parents suffered for my generation to be free today, to work, to take the bus, to play football'
Manchester United returned to winning ways in ruthlessly emphatic fashion
Manchester City beat bottom club Sheffield United 1-0 to move three points clear of Manchester United who were held to a goalless draw at Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.
Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was delighted with the discipline of his team, who ended United's 19-game unbeaten run.
'We haven't managed to get ourselves in the top four. We needed other teams to help us out and we needed to help ourselves and we haven't done that'
Here are the talking points from the weekend's action in the Premier League
Images from Sunday's action in the Premier League.
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has thanked Jose Mourinho for helping him 'improve as a person' despite the breakdown of their relationship in the last few months leading up to the former manager's sacking on Tuesday.
Pep Guardiola said Manchester United's home ground Old Trafford is no longer the fortress it used to be as City look to win all three points and take the lead in the Premier League title race.
Manchester United remain winless at home in the league this season after Arsenal enjoyed their first win at Old Trafford
Cardiff City have signed Manchester United's Brazilian left back Fabio and Stoke City striker Kenwyne Jones, the Premier League club's manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Monday.
