In a dismal showing on Monday night, a depleted Manchester United suffered yet another blow, this time at the hands of an energetic Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
With injuries plaguing the Red Devils, their lineup appeared disjointed, lacking the cohesion needed to withstand Palace’s onslaught. Goals from Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta saw Palace take a commanding lead into halftime, leaving United reeling.
The match began with United’s injury woes reaching a critical peak. Bruno Fernandes was sidelined, while the defensive line, missing key players like Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, and Victor Lindelof, struggled to find stability. Jonny Evans partnered with Casemiro in central defense as a makeshift solution.
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Eberechi Eze returned for Palace, joining forces with Olise to trouble United’s defense, particularly the makeshift pairing of Evans and Casemiro. Olise capitalized on defensive lapses to give Palace the lead early on, showcasing his talent with a clinical finish past Andre Onana.
Despite United’s efforts to muster an attack, they faltered without their captain Fernandes. Meanwhile, Palace’s trio of Olise, Eze, and Mateta continued to exploit gaps in the wounded United defense. A momentary lapse allowed Mateta to double Palace’s lead with a powerful strike.
As the first half drew to a close, United found themselves with little to show for their efforts. Their attempts to equalize were thwarted, leaving manager Ten Hag facing a daunting task during halftime.
The second half brought no relief for United as Palace extended their lead. Defensive errors from Casemiro and Onana allowed Olise to capitalize, delivering a decisive blow to United’s hopes.
Palace’s dominant performance underscores their resurgence under manager Glasner, while United’s lackluster display reflects a team struggling with injuries and a lack of cohesion.