Mounting a second-half comeback away at Selhurst Park on Sunday lunchtime, Manchester United secured a thrilling 2-1 victory away at Crystal Palace.
Although the Red Devils might have collected a first Premier League victory in south London since way back in 2020, Ruben Amorim’s men had to go about things the hard way in the capital.
With Philippe Mateta’s twice-taken penalty handing Palace the lead just nine minutes before the break, United had a real mountain to climb.
However, moving just one-point away from finding a route into the Champions League spots, Joshua Zirkzee repaid Amorim’s faith in starting him as the Dutch marksman produced a driven effort to level things up just minutes after the interval.
It was another one of United’s forgotten superstars who completed the turnaround just nine minutes after Zirkzee’s equaliser as Mason Mount drilled home following Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick.
Drawing a line under their three-match winless run here, this is also just the second Premier League win that Amorim’s side have recorded away from Old Trafford since back in May.
On an afternoon when United claimed an immediate Premier League response in south London, we have taken a look at the key talking points from Selhurst Park.
Amorim gets his immediate response
While Manchester United might have entered November’s international break in the midst of what was their most fruitful spell of the season so far, Amorim’s squad certainly came under more scrutiny earlier in the week.
Marking their return from November’s fortnight interval with a toothless performance on home soil as they eventually slumped to a 1-0 loss against a 10-man Everton, the former Sporting Lisbon boss made it clear that he was demanding an immediate response here.
Entering the half-time break trailing and with it looking like they could be set to extend their winless run to four consecutive Premier League appearances, United had a real mountain to climb in south London.
However, showing some rare mental resolve in the capital and securing a first top-flight victory since a rollercoaster 4-2 win at home against Brighton on October 25th, Amorim’s side have their sights set on booking an essential European return this season.
Palace seeking some recent stability
Storming their way to an iconic maiden FA Cup crown back in May, Oliver Glasner has certainly stacked a real claim to be Crystal Palace’s greatest ever manager.
Breaking a string of records and clinching a famous European adventure, the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss has seen his squad gain a string of plaudits from across the continent.
However, suffering a Europa League collapse on foreign soil earlier in the week as they suffered a 2-1 loss away at French outfit Strasbourg, it was a similar tale for Palace here.
Throwing away the lead at Selhurst Park and missing out on the opportunity to lay down their own European marker, Sunday’s hosts have now registered just a single win from any of their previous four appearances across all competitions.
With the feel of a squad who are seeking some recent stability, the Eagles will be next seen on Wednesday night when they travel to relegation scrappers Burnley.
United still searching for some defensive steel
While Amorim’s men might have left Selhurst Park with just a second Premier League victory on their travels since the middle of March, the Portuguese tactician will know the importance of finding some much-welcomed defensive steel.
Watching Everton snatch all three points on Monday night with their only shot on target at Old Trafford, United have now failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their previous six consecutive top-flight appearances.
In fact, aside from a 2-0 victory at home against Premier League newcomers Sunderland on October 4th, that is remarkably the only clean sheet that United have registered from any of their first 14 appearances across all competitions so far this season.
Heading into November’s international break with back-to-back 2-2 stalemates against Tottenham and Nottingham Forest, Amorim’s side have also notched just a sole domestic clean sheet outside the red half of Manchester since the end of January.
Match Report
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Mitchell, Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Sarr, Pino, Mateta
Subs: Nketiah, Hughes, Devenny, Lerma
Manchester United: Lammens, Yoro, de Ligt, Shaw, Dalot, Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Mount, Mbeumo, Zirkzee
Subs: Mazaroui, Martinez, Dorgu, Mainoo
Goals: Crystal Palace: Mateta (36’ P) – Manchester United: Zirkzee (54’), Mont (63’)
Yellow Cards: Crystal Palace: Nketiah, Guehi, Lerma – Manchester United: Shaw, Mbeumo
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Robert Jones