Manchester United vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the fallout from United’s 1-0 win over Palace at Old Trafford
The Ralf Rangnick era is under way and has an unlikely first hero, though perhaps a fitting one too. If this interim interregnum is all about taking players who appeared broken under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and repairing, repurposing and restoring them, then who better to get things going than Fred?
The much-maligned Manchester United midfielder was injuring his own goalkeeper on this ground only three days ago. Now, on the occasion of Rangnick’s first game in temporary charge, he was a match-winner, serenaded to a Joy Division tune by those still sat in the Stretford End while doing his post-match media duties. David de Gea’s ankles aren’t the only thing he is tearing apart now.
You can add a stubborn though largely second-best Crystal Palace to that list. Patrick Vieira’s side held out for 77 minutes only to be defeated by Fred’s uncharacteristically spectacular strike from range. This could all have taken on a very complexion if Jordan Ayew had converted one of this game’s few genuine chances just minutes earlier but, even so, it was a win that United just about deserved. Full report by Mark Critchley here.
Follow all the fallout from the game, the first look at United under Rangnick.
Manchester United see off Crystal Palace as Fred gives Ralf Rangnick immediate lift-off
The Ralf Rangnick era is underway at Manchester United and has an unlikely first hero, though perhaps a fitting one, too.
If this interim interregnum is all about taking players who appeared broken under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and repairing, repurposing and restoring them, then who better to get things going than Fred?
Man United see off Crystal Palace as Fred gives Ralf Rangnick lift-off
Man United 1-0 Palace: The midfielder scored the only goal in Rangnick’s first game as interim manager
Fred scores unlikely winner as Ralf Rangnick era starts with Man Utd victory
The Ralf Rangnick era got off to a winning start as Fred fired Manchester United to a hard-fought victory against Crystal Palace
Having watched Thursday’s 3-2 triumph against Arsenal from the stands, the 63-year-old interim manager was on the Old Trafford touchline for the first time when Patrick Vieira’s men came to town.
Rangnick’s reign – and first match as a manager in 925 days – began in victorious fashion on Sunday, when Fred proved the unlikely match-winner with a superb curling late effort that saw off Palace 1-0.
Fred scores unlikely winner as Ralf Rangnick era starts with Man Utd victory
The Old Trafford side were 1-0 home winners against Crystal Palace.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
Fred has scored twice in 12 Premier League matches this season, as many as he scored in 76 appearances in his first three seasons in the competition with Manchester United beforehand.
Reaction from Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes says he is pleased with the victory but understands that more is expected of the players under Ralf Rangnick. Fernandes told BBC MOTD after the match:
We had to carry on with what we did in the last game against Arsenal. We are happy because we got the three points. The results could have been even better.
“Fred has these moments, one shot per year. Everyone is happy for him because he’s such a nice guy. He works a lot and people don’t talk about him. He deserves the praise.
“I think it depends on the game, sometimes you have to press more, sometimes less. But everyone knows the manager wants more pressing from us.
“The first 25 minutes was unbelievable, great tempo. We could have scored so many in the first half. We have to follow our new manager’s instructions. Now we go again to the Champions League.”
Manchester United vs Crystal Palace result and five things we learned from Ralf Rangnick’s first game in charge
Manchester United defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 at Old Trafford as Fred scored a late winner in interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s first game in charge.
The Brazilian produced a wonderful first-time finish from the angle in the 77th minute to earn United back-to-back wins in the Premier League following their 3-2 victory over Arsenal on Thursday.
Five things we learned as Man United’s Ralf Rangnick era begins with win over Palace
Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace: Fred scores late winner in a match that highlights the interim manager’s early impact as well as the scale of the task at hand
Man Utd 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
Manchester United’s first half performance was almost a complete blueprint of Ralf Rangnick’s style. They had aggressive pressing, clear attacking patterns and intent, off the ball structure, and reduced of shots against in the box.
There was also plenty of evidence that Manchester United aren’t physically conditioned for this kind of intensity, and they dropped off significantly in pretty much every department in the second half.
Fred’s goal was a moment of class from the front edge of the box and Rangnick won’t want to be relying on these moments to ensure his team keep winning games.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
Of the six German managers to lead teams in the Premier League Ralf Rangnick is the first to win his first game in the competition, after Felix Magath, Jürgen Klopp, Jan Siewert, Daniel Farke and Thomas Tuchel all previously failed to do so before him.
Full-time: Man Utd 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
90+5 mins: There goes the full-time whistle! Manchester United have their first win under Ralf Rangnick. Fred’s second half strike is the difference between the teams and United pick up another three points. They’re now just three points off the top four.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
90+2 mins: Eze attempts to send Zaha away down the left side but Lindelof comes flying across and hacks down the Crystal Palace forward. He picks up a yellow card and Manchester United have to defend a free kick deep in their own half.
Olise swings the free kick into the penalty area but doesn’t beat the first man, Ronaldo, who heads the ball clear.
Man Utd 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
90 mins: Crystal Palace are heading towards a third consecutive Premier League defeat, Manchester United are managing the game quite well. They’re winning fouls and breaking up play not allowing Palace much time on the ball.
Five added minutes to play at Old Trafford.
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