That’s all from me. Thanks for reading and for your emails. Until next time. Bye!
The good news for United is that they have a very gentle run of fixtures in the lead up to Christmas: West Ham (home), Wolves (away), Bournemouth (home), Aston Villa (away). Let’s not get too carried away with the victory today, but those are four very winnable games for Amorim’s team (which would, of course, give them five wins in a row).
The bad news is that Cunha and Sesko remain injured and United are set to lose Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo to Afcon (as well as Noussair Mazraou). Zirkzee is going to have to lead the line until Sesko/Cunha returns but who will play either side of him in the 3-4-3? Mount, yes. Who else?
It’s not as though Afon has come as a surprise. The decision to sell Garnacho – who admittedly was difficult to deal with, especially on that post-season tour of Asia – seems a very strange one.
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Oliver Glasner, Palace manager, speaks to TNT:
Tough defeat to lose the game with two set plays. We weren’t sharp enough. The second goal was terrible, I have watched it back and it took us too long to get back into shape. You can see that the energy levels is not top after the schedule that we have. We have to accept it.
We missed something in the summer. Until now, I have not talked about it. The right answer was to invest and not save. We have a chance to play an even better season. We saved and didn’t get the right support.
Sarr’s ankle is quite swollen. I now that he will be out for two weeks, and maybe more weeks. I do not know if he will be fit [for Afcon].
Ruben Amorim, Manchester United manager, speaks to TNT:
We had more intensity in the second half. The opponent was more tired. Josh [Zirkzee] controlled the ball different. We won second balls.
Set pieces are so important in our league, to open the game. If you don’t work on set pieces, you are losing the game already.
It’s important to win every game. Today is proof that if you play the same way, but increase the way you fight for every ball, the small details – the pass, the move – with a different pace, we can beat anyone.
Ed Aarons' match report from Selhurst Park
Desperately disappointing from a Palace perspective. The home side could have possibly been two or three up in the first half, but faded badly in the second half. Manchester United deserve credit for the way they came out after the break, but you don’t have to be Steve Coppell to notice how tired Palace looked after their Conference League efforts in midweek.
Palace have now lost three and drawn one (a 0-0 draw against Brighton) in the Premier League matches that came directly after their four Conference League matches this season.
Manchester United’s two goalscorers, Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee, speak to TNT:
Mason Mount:
We have not found it easy away from home. We needed to bounce back after Monday’s game. It was about reacting in the changing room and in the second room. We did that, we were at it. The win for massive but also for me to play the full game. I haven’t done that in a while. I’m feeling good.
Joshua Zirkzee, who scored his first goal in 24 Premier League appearances:
It’s one of the biggest clubs in the world and if you don’t score in that time, there is pressure. But I’m surrounded by good people supporting me, and I’m thankful for then. It’s a good environment.
Talking of those other Premier League games, you can join John Brewin for West Ham v Liverpool, which is just about to kick off. It should be a special game for the Hammers, after the news of Billy Bonds’ death broke this morning.
Manchester United up to sixth with that victory, leapfrogging Palace. The table will change this afternoon, though, with four games to come this afternoon.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 12 | 18 | 29 |
| 2 | Man City | 13 | 15 | 25 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 12 | 12 | 23 |
| 4 | Sunderland | 13 | 4 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 4 | 21 |
| 6 | Man Utd | 13 | 1 | 21 |
| 7 | Crystal Palace | 13 | 6 | 20 |
| 8 | Brighton | 12 | 3 | 19 |
| 9 | Brentford | 13 | 1 | 19 |
| 10 | AFC Bournemouth | 13 | -2 | 19 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 13 | 5 | 18 |
| 12 | Newcastle | 13 | 1 | 18 |
| 13 | Liverpool | 12 | -2 | 18 |
| 14 | Everton | 13 | -3 | 18 |
| 15 | Fulham | 13 | -2 | 17 |
| 16 | Nottm Forest | 12 | -7 | 12 |
| 17 | West Ham | 12 | -10 | 11 |
| 18 | Leeds | 13 | -12 | 11 |
| 19 | Burnley | 13 | -12 | 10 |
| 20 | Wolverhampton | 12 | -20 | 2 |
Full-time: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United
A game of two halves! United were far superior in the latter.
90+5 min: Devenny shoots straight into the United wall, and that is surely that!
90+4 min: A magical touch from Hughes takes the Palace substitute beyond Casemiro and Palace have a free-kick 20 yards out! How Casemiro escaped a booking there I don’t know, but Palace have a late chance for an equaliser!
90+2 min: Long throws and hopeful crosses are catapulted into the United box, but the visitors stand firm. Dorgu wins a valuable free kick from Lerma, eating up valuable seconds.
90 min: Four minutes added on. United bring on Patrick Dorgu and Kobbie Mainoo for Diallo and Mbeumo. The visitors are definitely in a low block now. It’s up to Palace to pick the lock.
87 min: Perhaps it’s the injection of fresh blood, perhaps United have dropped deeper as we approach 90 minutes, but Palace have finally got their foot on the ball, and are probing for an equaliser. Time is running out, though.
85 min: More Palace substitutions as Glasner desperately searches for inspiration. Jefferson Lerma and Justin Devenny come on for Tyrick Mitchell and Daichi Kamada. Devenny’s first contribution, regrettably for Palace, is to blast a cross into the top tier of the stand. The camera cuts to the wonderfully coiffured Palace chairman Steve Parish, who sighs heavily.
83 min: Mbeumo cuts inside and tries a textbook R2 finish (one for the Pro Evo heads there) into the top corner, but slightly misses the mark, curling it wide.
81 min: United respond with a change of their own, and it’s a significant one with Lisandro Martínez coming on for the cautioned Luke Shaw. A knee injury has meant Martínez hasn’t played a minute of first-team football since February and the Argentinian returns to the field to slot in at left centre back. In a departure from his former look, I am delighted to report that Martínez has now floppy hair!
79 min: Double change for Palace, who need to find a spark from somewhere. They have been decidedly second best in this second half. Pino and Wharton (!) off, Uche and Hughes on.
77 min: “Feels like a bad sign for United that Mbeumo, one of their few players that made your combined XI (I’d agree), hasn’t been mentioned in this commentary since the line ups,” emails Zach Neeley.
Yep, the former Brentford man hasn’t had his best game but pops up here with a timely shot, allowing me to crowbar him into this MBM. After a textbook dummy shot to send Richards to the shops, Mbeumo shoots straight at Henderson, who has now taken the cap off with the sun disappearing behind one of the stands.
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75 min: Guehi is the next into the book for a blatant foul on Mazraoui. United are still in the ascendancy and look for more likely to score the next goal. Fernandes is over another free-kick on the edge of the box, but his cross is poor and easily cleared.
73 min: Perhaps a little perturbed by that Dalot non-decision, Shaw flies into a late tackle and is booked.
72 min: Fernandes and Dalot combine nicely, the latter poking the ball beyond Richards to get in behind the Palace defence. Dalot hits the deck, but the referee plays on! Replays show that contact was minimal – Dalot would have been much better served to stay on his feet! He was basically clean through there. On the sidelines, Amorim fumes at the decision.
71 min: Palace are feeling their way back to some sort of composure, pinging the ball around the midfield nicely. But United are full of running and verve, pressing the home side back to their keeper. With and without the ball, Amorim’s side look transformed.
69 min: “Ha!” emails Dave Estherby. “Talk about commentators (MBMers?) curse; everything you said at 12.26 is demonstrably true and then Zirkzee goes and does that. Wonderful.”
Yep, got what I deserved, didn’t I? Last time you will catch me offering an opinion.
65 min: What an unexpected turnaround we have here! United have come out this second half like a different side. Palace look a little stunned. All the noise has gone out of Selhurst Park, save for the boisterous away fans that have now found their voice.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United (Mount 63)
Fernandes taps the ball, almost as though it was an indirect free kick, and Mount fires a shot through the wall and inside the near post! Palace’s wall disintegrated after the touch from Fernandes, and Mount’s aim was true. Henderson had no chance once the ball when through that Palace crowd of bodies.
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61 min: After a neat flick-on from Zirkzee, who appears to have morphed into prime Zlatan Ibrahimovic in these last few minutes, Guehi fouls Dalot on the edge of the area. A really promising position for United, then, with both Fernandes and Mount over the free-kick.
58 min: United make their first change: Mazraoui for Yoro and the Moroccan nearly immediately makes a gaff, punting a clearance into the nearby Zirkzee, with the United striker so nearly scoring an own goal, the ball rebouding just a few inches wide! How cruel that would have been on the Dutchman after his moment of redemption. He knew nothing about Mazraoui clearance.
56 min: Glasner will be fuming. Palace’s offside trap was staggered like toddler trying to play Tetris. Kamada didn’t exactly cover himself in glory in allowing Zirkzee to turn and get the shot off. Henderson will be disappointed to be beaten at his near post, even though it was a fine strike from the United striker.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester United (Zirkzee 54)
Well, that has shut me up. From the resulting free-kick, Zirkzee breaks the offside trap, collects the ball on his chest and then from an acute angle nearly on the byline, drills a shot low and hard past Henderson and into the far corner! You have to say that is a brilliant finish. Wow. United back in it!
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52 min: Yellow card for Nketiah, who is late into a tackle on Dalot. Perhaps a little harsh to get a booking, but it was clumsy.
50 min: For the first time in the match, Diallo has a free run at Mitchell down United’s right wing. The Ivorian dribbles into the Palace box and then skews an abysmal cross straight out for a goal kick. Eeeeeesh.
47 min: Just as he did for the FA Cup final, Dean Henderson has a cap firmly attached to his brow. The sunshine continues to pour towards the goal now defended by Crystal Palace.
Peeeeeeep!
We’re back underway at Selhurst Park. No changes from either side, which is something of a surprise from Manchester United’s perspective. But then, they don’t have many options to change things on the bench. Is it worth Amorim risking a first-team debut for Shea Lacey?
I have quickly done a combined XI for these two teams, based upon the two starting XIs today. Here’s what I came up with, just three United players making it in, so I don’t think the 1-0 scoreline is much of a surprise. This isn’t a question of form, Palace are simply a better football team.
Henderson
Lacroix, Guehi, Shaw
Munoz, Fernandes, Wharton, Mitchell
Mbeumo, Mateta, Pino/Sarr.
The only spots up for debate are the keeper – Lammens is obviously a fine signing but the sample size is still small – and possibly De Ligt for Lacroix. Would you change anything else?
You can reach me on michael.butler@theguardian.com.
Half-time reading:
Half-time: Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester United
Palace should really be 2-0 up, but United still have a chance to rescue this game if they get their act together.
45+3 min: De Ligt slips at the crucial moment and Nketiah races clean through on goal from the half-way line. There is initially no United player within 15 yards of the Palace striker, but Nketiah takes an age to steady himself as he approaches Lammens, and Shaw comes out of nowhere to make a huge last-ditch tackle! Credit to Shaw but Nketiah simply dallied way too long on that. A massive chance for Palace to double their lead goes begging.
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45 min: Five minutes added on here. United need to regroup at half-time.
42 min: Wharton has been the best player on the pitch this half and slides in to dispossess Mount. I know that Elliott Anderson has been excellent for Forest and England this season but Wharton has to be pushing to be the starter for England in central midfield.
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40 min: “Utterly ludicrous challenge from Yoro,” emails Joshua Keeling. “United haven’t been brilliant, but they’d looked comfortable up to that point. They’ll probably go on to lose this now. If they do, Amorim will get the blame, but how is a tackle like that his fault?
I would argue that United got exactly what they deserved. Palace have had at least half-a-dozen good chances, including Mateta’s one-on-one that he should have buried. Yes, Yoro is massively at fault for that tackle, but the pressure applied by Palace has been almost constant. United have looked dangerous from set pieces – they have scored 32% of their goals this season from corners – but nobody would say that they have been the better side here, and Amorim must have some responsibility for that, especially against a side that is also playing 3-4-3. One-nil to Palace feels fair to me.
38 min: It looks like Sarr has not recovered from that earlier injury, and the Senegalese – another one who should depart for Afcon in a few weeks – is replaced by Eddie Nketiah in Palace’s first substitution.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester United (Mateta 36)
Always an awkward one, retaking a penalty. Does one go the same way? Mateta sidefoots the ball into the opposite corner, to Lammens’ left and Palace have a well-deserved lead. The United keeper had no chance.
Updated
MATETA SCORES BUT WILL HAVE TO RETAKE THE PENALTY!
Mateta scores the penalty, but replays show that he kicked the ball into his standing foot as he took the spot kick. After a VAR check, the Palace striker is forced to retake the penalty.
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PENALTY TO PALACE!
Wharton unlocks the United defence with a tin-opener of a pass, Mateta gets beyond Yoro, who stumbles into the Palace striker. Mateta hits the deck, referee Robert Jones points to the spot, and the square root of nobody can have any complaints.
29 min: Mason Mount has been busy for United, in a good way.
27 min: As reported earlier, Billy Bonds – legendary West Ham player and manager – died this morning, aged 79. You can read more about that here.
25 min: Great block from Yoro to deny Pino! Munoz delivers a peach of a cross to the back post, Lammens flaps but only tips the ball to the feet of Pino. With Lammens scrambling to his feet, and United defenders clambering to guard the goal, Yoro throws himself in front of Palace’s Spaniard, with Pino’s shot rebounding away.
23 min: Zirkzee hasn’t scored in 24 Premier League appearances, he is plainly not good enough to lead this United attack, if the club have any designs on qualifying for Europe. I’m not quite sure what his USP is. He’s not quick, he doesn’t have the knack of sniffing out a chance, he’s 6ft4in, but doesn’t seem to be particularly dominant in the air or even hold up play. The ball is pinging off him like a tennis racket.
Updated
20 min: That sunshine is providing plenty of bother to United’s defenders and goalkeepers, who are looking directly into the rays. A couple of Palace corners cause a bit of chaos, as United struggle to head the ball away, but the visitors survive.
Updated
18 min: A frustrating opening few minutes for Manchester United crystallises with Mbeumo petulantly throwing the ball away after losing a duel. A yellow card for dissent.
15 min: Golden chance for Mateta! De Ligt loses a long ball in De Light, and the ball cannons off Yoro and straight into the path of Mateta. The Frenchman is clean through, but drags his shot wide! Yoro perhaps did just enough to put the Palace striker off, but Mateta really should have scored!
13 min: Palace are next to hurl a long throw into the box, and the ball falls kindly to Wharton on the edge of the box … his fierce shot flies straight into the midriff of Lammens. That was a good half chance for Wharton to score his first goal for Palace.
12 min: Palace have been the better side, but United have come the closest to scoring with two set pieces. That feels like a familiar story this season.
10 min: Casemiro has had a lively start after that first-minute chance. Now, the United veteran wins a free-kick after turning Kamada and from the resulting set-piece, Fernandes curls a beauty of a cross to the back post, where Casemiro heads wide! He should really have hit the target after climbing above Guehi.
7 min: Mateta is hardly the most agile of forwards, but gives De Ligt the slip before driving into the box and shooting just wide of the near post. Dreadful defending from United’s Dutch defender, who must have been relieved to see Mateta’s effort go into the side netting.
5 min: Sarr looks like he has rolled his ankle after landing awkwardly, following a tackle from Diallo. The Palace man receives treatment but Palace are temporarily down to 10 men as Sarr recovers on the sideline.
3 min: Henderson, who is not shy to wearing a cap from memory, was of course at United for 12 years before his permanent move to Palace in 2023. He has already made a huge contribution against his former side.
1 min: United come within a whisker of taking the lead inside the first minute! Dalot launches a long throw into the box, De Ligt flicks it on at the near post and Casemiro steals in at the back post. There is an almighty scramble as the ball pinballs around the six-yards box, with Henderson making a point-blank save to deny the United’s Brazilian on the line! Wow, Casemiro should really have scored and Henderson triumphantly raises a fist to the Palace fans behind him, celebrating what was a vital save.
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Peeeeeeeeep!
And we’re underway in south London. Palace in their red and blue home kit, United in their white away kit.
“Will Manchester United manage a draw today?” asks Jeremy Boyce. “Looking at their sweet and sour form, possibly not. Especially now that Palace have become a decent benchmark for being solid and consistent and playing above their level. They have Glasner to thank for that and, depending on the outcome of today/this season, we might be witnessing the next lines of Glasner’s CV to be handed to Sir Jim if it all goes pear-shaped (no silverware) for Amorim.”
Very sobering news, that.
But we must return to the live football, with Palace and United’s sides emerging into he sunshine at Selhurst Park. It’s cold and crisp, perfect for football, although the goalkeepers might not agree with that with the low sun in their eyes. It’s Senne Lammens that will face the sunshine first, without a cap. Maybe Palace will test him with a shot early doors.
Breaking news: West Ham legend Billy Bonds dies aged 79
West Ham have released the following statement:
One of the greatest competitors English football has ever seen, Billy passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, at the age of 79.
He stands unrivalled as the longest-serving player in the club’s 130-year history, having made a total of 799 appearances across a magnificent 21-year career that saw him captain us to two FA Cup triumphs and a Second Division title, win four Hammer of the Year awards, and awarded two testimonials, a PFA merit award and an MBE for services to football.
In February 1990, he was appointed as first-team manager, leading the club to promotion from Division Two and an FA Cup semi-final in 1991. After relegation in 1992, Bonds immediately led the Hammers back into the top-flight in 1993, as we became a Premier League Club for the first time.
He left Upton Park in 1994 after 27 years of impeccable service, and in 2013 was presented with the club’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement award. In 2018 he was voted by fans as West Ham United’s greatest-ever player, and a year later made an emotional appearance at London Stadium when the Billy Bonds Stand was opened in his honour.
The thoughts and sincere condolences of everyone at West Ham United are with Claire, Katie, Eloise and Elissa as they come to terms with their loss, and we kindly ask that the family’s privacy is respected at this sad and difficult time.
The family have made the following statement:
“We are heartbroken to announce that we lost our beloved Dad today. He was devoted to his family and was the most kind, loyal, selfless, and loving person.
“Dad loved West Ham United and its wonderful supporters with all his heart and treasured every moment of his time at the Club.
“He will always be in our hearts and eternally missed. We take comfort knowing that his legacy will live on forever.”
RIP Billy Bonds.
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We should say that the United starting XI today is quite an attacking one, so it makes sense to have defensive options on the bench. But further to Andrew’s email, there is no recognised forward player of any kind, so any injury to Diallo, Mbeumo, Mount or Zirkzee, and United are once again in trouble.
The only player that is naturally offensive is Shea Lacey, an attacking midfielder or winger who is yet to make his first-team debut. The 18-year-old is highly-rated, though, and mentioned in this piece by Will Unwin regarding United’s academy.
“How many defenders is that on the Manchester United bench?” emails Andrew Goudie. “Five? Is the plan to nick a goal and then park three buses?”
This was one of the criticisms of United against Everton on Monday: that Amorim selected a bench unable to change the game when things were not working. It was bizarre that with United chasing the game against a 10-man side in a low block, he chose to bring on Diego Dalot at left wing-back. Dalot is a good footballer, but it was not a surprise that he offered very little going forward when he came on.
Yes, United have had injuries recently but it’s unforgivable that they do not have more dangerous options in reserve given the hundreds of millions that have been spent. How Amorim improves United offensively in the next weeks, especially with both Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo leaving for Afcon, is going to be very interesting.
It’s worth flagging that following their midweek matches in the Conference League, Palace’s league results immediately after are two losses and a 0-0 draw, completely at odds with the rest of their season. It’s fair to say that they are still acclimatising to the challenge of fighting on two different fronts, domestically and in Europe.
Both Palace and United are playing 3-4-3 today, so both sides will be effectively marking each other man-to-man. Both managers have spoken to TNT about the tactical battle today.
Palace’s Oliver Glasner: “It’s a funny story. It’s the third game within one week and always facing 3-4-3. It’s an interesting challenge. We always know what we want to do, regardless of the opposition system. It’s all about where we can find the spaces, how quick we can come away from tight areas. If we find the overloads and we are efficient, it will be crucial and we have a good chance to win the game.”
Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim: “I make a rotation based upon training. If you train well, you are going to play. I think Palace fit our style. In the future we need to have more flexibility. It’s easy to compare the teams, it’s going to be a game man versus man.”
The teams!
Crystal Palace (3-4-3): Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Pino, Mateta.
Subs: Benitez, Lerma, Nketiah, Uche, Clyne, Hughes, Esse, Canvot, Devenny.
Manchester United (3-4-3): Lammens, Yoro, de Ligt, Shaw, Diallo, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot, Mbeumo, Mount, Zirkzee.
Subs: Bayindir, Mazraoui, Martinez, Malacia, Dorgu, Ugarte, Heaven, Mainoo, Lacey.
There were some interesting comments from Amorim in the lead up to this game. The United manager suggested that the pressure of playing for United is causing Patrick Dorgu to lose confidence, make poor decisions on the pitch. The Danish wing back has dropped to the bench today, with Dalot preferred at left wing-back.
When I see them training they are doing so much better than in games,” he said. “Then Patrick, when I see him playing for the national team, he’s scored a great goal against Scotland [this month], the decision that he made under pressure was completely different [to calmly sidefoot home] to the decision[s] he’s making in our team. You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touches the ball. I can feel it, the anxiety.”
Amorim cited Dorgu missing a chance to equalise in Monday’s 1-0 loss to Everton as an example.
I remember the shot against Everton [dragging it wide]. That was easier than the decision that he had to make [against] Scotland – and I saw [his quality] when he played in Italy. But again, here [United] is different and sometimes the pressure is hard for them in the beginning, but he has time to improve. I just need to understand the context in trying to help them [Dorgu and Dalot]. They are far from their best, and they know it. Like a lot of players in our team, like myself. I just look at them, and think they have so much more to give. So let’s see this week if we can improve that.”
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Preamble
Well, isn’t this a novelty: a midday (GMT) kick-off on a Sunday. The roast dinner is gonna have to wait. Selhurst Park is looking replendent in this winter sunshine. For the Palace fans living in south London and beyond, it’s time to go to church.
Let’s see if the United fans make it to the away end, the first train left Manchester Piccadilly on Sunday at 8.05am and arrived at London Euston around the time that this liveblog launched. That gives them just under an hour to make a 45-minute journey, which is almost certain to be longer anyone that needs a snack/drink/the toilet or those that aren’t intimately familiar with London’s public transport. So basically everyone. The unusual kick-off time is a result of TNT Sports choosing it for broadcast (and Palace’s involvement in the Conference League on Thursday). Once again, it feels like the match-going fans have been forgotten about. Hmmm.
Rant over. This is such an intriguing game. Both sides could win it. If United are to come away with three points, they are going to have to drastically improve on Monday’s home defeat to 10-man Everton, perhaps the most toothless and disorganised defeat of the league season to end what had been a decent unbeaten run stretching back to September.
Palace also lost this week, away at Strasbourg in Europe, but have been mostly excellent this season and are 12 points better off than this stage last season, a league high. They are unbeaten against United at Selhurst in over five years. Who would bet against Adam Wharton and Jean-Philippe Mateta, two players linked with United in the last few months, turning on the style today for Palace?
Kick-off: midday (GMT).
