Manchester United remain two points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United – who occupy the final European qualification position in the Premier League – after being comprehensively swept aside by Michael Olise and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The aforementioned Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell all got their names on the scoresheet as Oliver Glasner’s side moved ever closer to the top half, and in turn, fired another nail in the coffin of Erik ten Hag’s reign as Red Devils’ manager.
As it happened
Seeking their first-ever head-to-head double in the Premier League after emerging victorious at Old Trafford in September’s reverse fixture, Crystal Palace flew out of the blocks at Selhurst Park as Olise gave the hosts the lead in the 12th minute.
Already enjoying an enterprising Premier League season in front of goal – after scoring eight goals and contributing four assists – the highly-sought-after attacking asset left Christian Eriksen and make-shift centre-back Casemiro with a view of the back of his boots before unleashing a sublimely-struck shot into the corner of the net past André Onana.
Embed from Getty ImagesDetermined to double their advantage, the visitors fortuitously avoided falling further behind not long after as Mateta inadvertently blocked Olise’s potentially goalbound effort. Despite Glasner’s men’s unparalleled attacking superiority, it appeared that the visitors had manufactured an equalising goal against the run of play. However, both referee Jarred Gillett and VAR’s eagle-eye came to Palace’s rescue as Rasmus Højlund was adjudged to have fouled former United keeper Dean Henderson on the goalline.
With half-time on the horizon, Erik ten Hag’s injury-plagued defence – without Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Victor Lindelöf and Raphaël Varane – was breached again as Mateta continued his scintillating Selhurst scoring streak with a rocket of a right-footed strike that flew past Onana for a sixth successive goal in as many games.
Casemiro – on his 50th PL appearance for United – had a second goal of the night disallowed this time for offside in the opening exchanges almost immediately following the restart, as down the opposite end, Onana produced two quick-fire saves to firstly keep Mitchell’s fierce effort out before redirecting Will Hughes’ instinctive volley behind for a corner.
However, despite his prior heroics, there was nothing a now-frustrated looking Onana could do to stop Palace scoring again on the approach to the hour-mark as Joachim Andersen’s attack-minded run to the back-post put it on a plate for Mitchell to fire home.
Embed from Getty ImagesCatastrophically for the Cameroonian keeper and United, Olise got in on the goalscoring act again eight minutes later, taking advantage of Casemiro inexplicably giving away possession to Daniel Muñoz on the edge of the area by unleashing a thunderbolt-esque strike into the back of the net.
Palace were afforded the luxury of welcoming back talismanic centre-back Marc Guéhi following the defender’s three-month injury hiatus – with 12 minutes to play. Thankfully for United, courtesy of substitute Odsonne Édouard hitting the post, their fifth away day defeat in the capital this season was not made any worse.
The lineups
CRY: Henderson; Richards, Andersen, Clyne; Mitchell, Hughes, Wharton, Muñoz; Eze, Olise; Mateta
MUN: Onana; Dalot, Evans, Casemiro, Wan-Bissaka; Mainoo, Eriksen; Garnacho, Mount, Antony; Højlund
