Manchester United vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League result as hosts lose at Old Trafford again
Manchester United 0-2 Crystal Palace: Ruben Amorim’s experiment failed as the Eagles won at Old Trafford for the second season in a row
Manchester United spectacularly failed to win back-to-back Premier League games for the first time under Ruben Amorim as Crystal Palace secured an away victory at Old Trafford for the second season in a row thanks to a second-half double from Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Mateta pounced from two yards after Maxence Lacroix struck the crossbar with a header from Eberechi Eze’s free-kick, and the Frenchman doubled Palace’s lead in the 90th minute as Daniel Munoz squared to him for a simple finish after a swift counter-attack
It earned the Eagles a third win over United in their last four games and the result also took Oliver Glasner’s side into 12th, above United in the table.
Amorim experimented with a striker-less line-up, benching both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, as Kobbie Mainoo led the line. Although United started brightly, with Mainoo hitting the post, the plan did not work and Palace grew into the game.
Mateta, who went close in the first half when Andre Onana got a hand to his chip past the post, proved to be the central presence for Palace that United lacked and was in the right place to tap in from two yards after Lacroix’s header hit the crossbar.
United were rocked by the sight of Lisandro Martinez being stretchered off after appearing to twist his knee, before Mateta doubled Palace’s lead to the delight of the away fans in the corner of Old Trafford. Follow all the reaction and re-live the action below
Ruben Amorim insists Man Utd are ‘trying everything’ to improve his squad
Ruben Amorim says Manchester United are “trying everything” to improve before Monday’s transfer deadline having suffered a damaging defeat to Crystal Palace and lost Lisandro Martinez to injury.
The Red Devils’ run of three wins in all competitions came an abrupt end on Sunday afternoon as Jean-Philippe Mateta’s brace helped the Eagles soar to a fourth Old Trafford triumph in their last six visits.
The 2-0 defeat was United’s 11th league loss of the season, underlining the rebuild required at a club that has so far this window brought in Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu, 20, and unproven 18-year-old Arsenal defender Ayden Heaven.
Ruben Amorim insists Man Utd are ‘trying everything’ to improve his squad
Ruben Amorim’s failed experiment sums up his weirdest day at Manchester United
As Manchester United prepared to finalise the departure of the only player to score 30 goals in a season for them since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, Ruben Amorim omitted the two strikers who cost the club a combined £110m, selected a midfielder in attack and saw them fail to score and lose.
An afternoon to encapsulate much about the modern United – the waste of money and potential, the lack of logic, the underachievement, the increasingly dreadful returns at Old Trafford – was awful for Amorim. “The result is really bad,” he said. This was his worst day so far, despite stiff competition.
If the sacked Erik ten Hag was no stranger to odd selections, Amorim’s decision to field Kobbie Mainoo as his centre-forward ranked as his weirdest to date. While Mainoo hit the post in the first 10 minutes, an odd experiment became a failure.
Amorim’s failed experiment sums up his weirdest day at Man Utd
Marcus Rashford undergoing medical ahead of Aston Villa loan move
Marcus Rashford is having a medical at Aston Villa as he prepares to leave Manchester United on loan with a view to a potential permanent exit.
The 27-year-old forward’s future has dominated headlines throughout the transfer window having admitted he was “ready for a new challenge” after being dropped for the Manchester derby.
Rashford has not played since the Europa League trip to Viktoria Plzen on December 12 and head coach Ruben Amorim this week said he “has to change” to have a future at Old Trafford.
That appearance in the Czech Republic could prove his 426th and final match for United as he prepares to move to Villa in a loan deal that includes an option to make the move permanent.
Marcus Rashford undergoing medical ahead of Aston Villa loan move
Manchester United's last seven results at home
L - vs Nottingham Forest, 2-3
L - vs Bournemouth, 0-3
L - vs Newcastle, 0-2
W - vs Southampton, 3-1
L - vs Brighton, 1-3
W - vs Rangers, 2-1
L - vs Crystal Palace, 0-2
Ruben Amorim on 'serious' Lisandro Martinez injury
Ruben Amorim says Lisandro Martinez’s injury is “serious” although the Manchester United head coach adds it is too early to tell.
“We are going to see in the next days but I think it is a serious situation. He is not only a great player but a strong character in the dressing room.
“He felt it and when you are a player, you know when it is something serious. We are here to help him in this difficult moment like he has helped us."
FULL TIME! Manchester United 0-2 Crystal Palace
Ruben Amorim also tells Sky Sports that Manchester United’s defeat is a “really bad result”.
“The performance was a little bit better than the last games. We controlled the transitions quite well for Crystal Palace. We suffered two goals that we can avoid and the injury on Lisandro Martinez was tough for the team,” says Amorim.
"It's normal for the fans to feel negative, it is a hard season for them but football can change in certain moments. I will prepare the next game and move forward. Better things will come."
Crystal Palace's Mateta: 'We know how they play'
A “very happy” Jean-Philippe Mateta after his two goals earned Crystal Palace their 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
“We know how they play with the new manager, we worked on a plan during the week and we stuck to the plan,” Mateta said.
We listened to the gaffer and worked hard and I think we deserve this win. I just put my head down and worked hard and I think sometimes when you do that, you get the reward."
Ruben Amorim on 'really disappointing' Man Utd defeat
Ruben Amorim, speaking to the BBC, on what went wrong for Manchester United this afternoon:
“I felt that the team did some things well. We suffered two goals that we can avoid, which is really disappointing today.
“We take some things from the performance but not the result. It is a hard season at this moment, the players try different things to improve. We need to move forward.
“We had more possession, more connections, we created chances but we couldn't score and that was the difference today."
FULL TIME! Manchester United 0-2 Crystal Palace
Manchester United, who started without a striker today, have now failed to score in nine of their 24 Premier League games this season. Only Everton and Southampton have failed to score in as many games, with 12 and 10 respectively.
FULL TIME! Manchester United 0-2 Crystal Palace
As for United... well, it’s one step forward and another two back for Ruben Amorim’s side, who had won three in a row before today.
Their disastrous home season at Old Trafford continues: SEVEN Premier League defeats at Old Trafford from just 13 games this season, and five from their last six games. Ruben Amorim has lost back-to-back home games in the Premier League for the third time this season.
Since the opening day of the season, the only teams United have beaten at home have been Brentford, Leicester, Everton and Southampton.
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