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United appeared to be at risk of becoming the first team to open a Premier League season with back-to-back defeats against promoted teams, when Leif Davis put Gary O'Neil's adventurous Ipswich side ahead at Old Trafford.

But Marcelino Nunez's slip led to Fernandes equalising five minutes before half-time, and United led when Jacob Greaves diverted Harry Maguire's shot into his own net after the interval.

Fernandes made no mistake when Greaves conceded a penalty soon afterwards, and he would finish with four goal involvements after clinching the match ball and assisting Bryan Mbeumo. 

Chuba Akpom's first Ipswich goal made the scoreline a tad more respectable for the Tractor Boys in stoppage time, with United now above them on goal difference in the early-season table.

Making his first United start since December 2024, Marcus Rashford had an early sighter caught comfortably by Kjell Scherpen, who then had to be on his toes to tip Diogo Dalot's left-footed curler over.

Ipswich missed the first clear-cut chance when Julio Enciso raced clear from inside his own half, outpacing Luke Shaw and Mbeumo, with Senne Lammens making a big one-v-one save to deny the Paraguayan.

Daizen Maeda then called Lammens into action from the left side of the area, but Ipswich had the goal they deserved in the 29th minute, with Abdul Fatawu driving to the byline to pick out Davis, who applied a side-footed finish on the volley. 

The Tractor Boys could not take their lead into half-time, however, as Nunez's costly slip allowed Cunha to play Fernandes in, and the United captain finished with aplomb.

The game was then taken away from Ipswich within five chaotic minutes soon after the restart. After Mbeumo somehow hit the crossbar from a couple of yards out, Maguire recovered possession on the edge of the area and fired off a shot that deflected in off Greaves, with the goal standing despite appeals for handball against the United man.

Greaves brought down Cunha for the penalty that Fernandes calmly converted, and the Red Devils' skipper was in the right place at the right time to secure his treble when Mbeumo's shot deflected into his path.

Fernandes's pass teed up Mbeumo for a lobbed finish that Greaves failed to clear off the line, and Akpom's late tap-in – which came after a cheap giveaway from Lisandro Martinez – was only a consolation for Ipswich.