There have been major changes at both clubs over the summer but as the new season began in earnest at Goodison Park it was an Everton old boy who made the difference between two equally matched sides.
An ageing midfield and a failure to iron out rudimentary defensive lapses means Wayne Rooney may have to drag the Red Devils single-handedly to the Premiership summit.
But on the evidence of this rain drenched season opener, the England star could be more than capable of carrying that burden.
He was a constant threat in a topsy-turvy tie that showed up both team's strengths and weaknesses in almost equal measure.
The former Park End prodigy silenced the boo-boys with a clinical second-half strike and was instrumental in creating the first-half opener for Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Before kick-off an impeccably observed minute's silence for murdered teenager, Anthony Walker, was followed by a raucous cacophony that let everyone from miles around know a new Premiership campaign was now upon us.
Within a minute van Nistelrooy showed his desire to be Sir Alex Ferguson's top marksmen as he pushed aside Rooney and Paul Scholes to whip a driven free-kick inches over Nigel Martyn's goal.
James Beattie did nothing to suggest the new season can kick-start his stuttering Blues career as he was replaced after 20 minutes by Marcus Bent and the ex-Ipswich man almost made an immediate impact.
His quick turn and run worried United's previously calm defence and when the loose ball eventually fell to Simon Davies his cross was met by Tim Cahill on the back post. Only a superb save from Edwin Van der Sar denied the Australian his first goal of the new campaign.
Minutes later Bent's run again unsettled Ferguson's side and Leon Osman glanced a deft header just wide from a clever Cahill cross.
United were rattled and any doubts over whether Everton could live with the league's best for a second successive year were slowly evaporating.
United looked devoid of attacking ideas – their only threat coming from two timid free-kicks which were dealt with easily by the confident Blues.
Bent came closest to a breakthrough just after the half hour mark when from a floated corner David Weir headed down and the lively striker clipped a glorious right-foot volley off the top of United's bar.
David Moyes later conceded that it was his side's failure to capatalise while they were on top that cost them the game.
Van Nistelrooy's questionable appeal for a penalty epitomised the Old Trafford outfit's early desperation, but two minutes before the break United reminded everyone of just how clinical they can be.
Rooney drew three defenders, flicked a majestic ball into the onrushing John O'Shea's path and his first-time cross was tapped into the roof of the net by van Nistelrooy from four yards out.
Within 28 seconds of the second half, United were presented with a gift horse of derby winning proportions when Joseph Yobo's mindless back pass fell straight to Rooney who wasted no time in looking it in the mouth before calmly sliding home a second goal from six yards.
Demoralised but not defeated, the Blues went about making up for their dreadful start as Cahill forced another save out of Van der Sar with an almost identical header to his first-half effort.
And minutes later Cahill's flick gave substitute Duncan Ferguson a glimmer of a chance, but the big Scot could not react in time as the ball skidded off a rain trodden surface.
Ji-Sung Park fluffed his big chance to endear himself to the United faithful on his Premiership debut, failing to connect with a left-footed volley after another Yobo mistake.
But despite Everton's efforts United thoroughly controlled a slow paced second half.
The introduction of Ferguson alongside Bent did little to threaten the Red Devils back line which had looked so fragile in the first period.
Moyes' move to a 4-4-2 formation gave United's midfield even more time on the ball, although Roy Keane and Scholes' failure to use it to any great effect suggested that their decade of dominance could be on the wane.
It was only when Rooney dropped deep that any real damage was done. He slipped in Park for a second chance at goal but the new signing from PSV curled a sliding shot well wide.
Phil Neville's impressively tidy home Premiership debut was almost capped with a wonder goal when he unleashed a stunning left-footed drive from all of 30 yards that fizzed inches over Van der Sar's goal.
Moyes' assertion that the ex-United utility man will enhance his side's chances this season seemed well placed after a second man-of-the-match display in the space of four days.
A late sliced effort from Ferguson fell neatly into the arms of Van der Sar and Gary Neville's uncharacteristic drive into the Everton box almost produced an unlikely third as the game petered out with a quiet whimper.
United rode their luck in a turbulent first half and will be thankful for Everton's inability to convert their dominance into goals.
Ferguson's side may still be a long way off challenging Chelsea on this evidence but their ability to carve out results and Rooney's seemingly unstoppable march to Premiership dominance means that you can never count them out.