Manchester United suffered yet another home humiliation as Crystal Palace secured a stunning 2-0 victory at Old Trafford, handing the Red Devils their fifth home defeat in six Premier League matches. Jean-Philippe Mateta was the hero for the Eagles, netting a second-half brace to give Palace their fourth triumph at the Theatre of Dreams in the past six seasons.
In a shocking tactical move, United boss Ruben Amorim left out Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee—two strikers worth a combined £100m—in favor of deploying Kobbie Mainoo as a false nine. Despite a bright start, the experiment backfired, and Palace took control of proceedings.
Eze’s Impact and Mateta’s Clinical Touch
Palace looked threatening even before Eberechi Eze—initially ruled out due to a foot injury—entered the fray as a second-half substitute. His exquisite 64th-minute free-kick caused chaos in the United penalty box, leading to Maxence Lacroix’s header bouncing off the bar. Andre Onana, at full stretch, could do little as Mateta capitalized on the rebound, tapping into an empty net.
The French forward, enjoying a purple patch in front of goal, doubled his tally in the final minute, finishing off Daniel Muñoz’s low cross to seal the victory. Mateta’s Premier League goal tally now stands at 10 for the season, with six coming in his last five games.
More Misery for United and an Injury Blow
Adding to United’s woes, Lisandro Martínez was stretchered off in tears after suffering what appeared to be a serious knee injury following a tangle with Ismaila Sarr. With Luke Shaw only just returning to training and limited defensive options, new £25m signing Patrick Dorgu could be thrust into action sooner than expected.
The defeat means United have now lost seven of their first 13 home league games this season—matching an unwanted record set in the 1893-94 campaign. Amorim’s men also slid back to 13th place, still failing to register back-to-back league wins under their new manager.
Palace’s Resurgence Under Glasner
For Palace, this victory marks their third consecutive away win in the Premier League—their best such run since 2019. Oliver Glasner’s side has now picked up 16 points on the road since December, more than any other top-flight club in that period.
A remarkable turnaround considering Palace had just three points from their opening eight games, sparking early-season relegation fears. Now sitting comfortably in 12th place, they are within striking distance of a top-10 finish for the second consecutive season—something they haven’t achieved since the 1990s.
A Defensive Masterclass from Palace
Glasner has instilled defensive discipline in his side, and it showed at Old Trafford. Captain Marc Guehi was immense at the back, proving exactly why Palace fought off Newcastle’s advances in January. Alongside him, USA international Chris Richards and Frenchman Maxence Lacroix nullified United’s attack, while former United goalkeeper Dean Henderson made crucial stops to deny Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.
With Eze pulling the strings and Mateta clinical in front of goal, it was the Palace fans celebrating at the final whistle, leaving United and their supporters in yet another state of despair.
What Next for United?
The unveiling of Patrick Dorgu and teenage defender Ayden Heaven before kick-off was meant to signal a fresh start for Manchester United. However, with Marcus Rashford’s impending departure to Aston Villa, along with potential exits for Antony and Tyrell Malacia, the club’s struggles show no sign of easing.
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Amorim’s decision to deploy Mainoo in attack raises serious questions about his faith in strikers Hojlund and Zirkzee, both of whom have struggled for goals this season. With Bruno Fernandes ineffective in a deeper role and the team’s confidence at an all-time low, the road ahead looks bleak for United.
Can Amorim turn things around before the season spirals further out of control? Or is Manchester United destined for yet another disappointing campaign?
What do you think is wrong with Manchester United? Should Amorim persist with his tactical experiments, or does he need to go back to the basics? Share your thoughts!