Manchester United vs Crystal Palace result: Patrick van Aanholt's late goal earns shock win

Manchester United 1-2 Crystal Palace: While Palace leave Old Trafford with their first three points of the campaign, United are left to nurse their wounds after a third defeat in their last five home league matches

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United suffered their first major setback of the new Premier League season on Saturday as Crystal Palace claimed a shock 2-1 win at Old Trafford.

Daniel James appeared to have rescued a late point for Solskjaer’s side when he cancelled out Jordan Ayew’s opener, but Patrick van Aanholt’s stoppage-time winner earned Palace their first top-flight win over United in 21 attempts.

There was yet more penalty woe for United too. With Palace leading 1-0, Marcus Rashford was handed an opportunity to level from the spot when Scott McTominay was tripped by Luka Milivojevic midway through the second half, but his attempt hit the post.

It was the first failure from the spot of Rashford’s career, coming just five days after he controversially allowed Paul Pogba to take and miss a penalty in Monday night’s draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Rashford's blushes might have been spared by James' 89th-minute equaliser, but in the third minute of added-on time, David de Gea was unable to contain a near-post Van Aanholt effort.

It was only the second stoppage-time winner to be scored against United in the Premier League era, after Thierry Henry with Arsenal in January 2007.

While Palace have their first goals and points of the new campaign, United and Solskjaer are left to reconcile themselves with a third defeat in their last five home league matches.

United back to their bad old ways

After two relatively promising performances against Chelsea and Wolves, this was an unwelcome return to the wasteful and chaotic United witnessed during the final weeks and months of last season.

For the second game running, penalties will be a point of discussion, after Rashford followed Pogba in missing a crucial kick from the spot, but United risk overlooking over more significant issues.

Despite making far more attempts on goal than their opponents, Solskjaer’s side failed to create much that could be described as clear-cut. There is still vulnerability through the middle of the pitch and individual errors, like Victor Lindelof and David de Gea’s for the goals, are far too common.

Big away days suit Palace perfectly

Very few people predicted any sort of result for Palace at the start of the day after last week’s dismal showing at Bramall Lane. Hodgson’s conservative set-up did not suggest that their wait for a first league goal of the season would end, either.

But Palace were the only Premier League team to pick up the majority of their points away from home last season. There were victories at the Etihad and the Emirates, as well as a narrow 4-3 defeat at Anfield and a goalless draw at Old Trafford.

This is the sort of game which appears to suit Roy Hodgson’s side, who struggle to break down opponents without space to play into but thrive when more ambitious opponents leave gaps to exploit.

Patrick van Aanholt scores the winner for Palace (Reuters)

United free-kick duties need revising

For all the debate about penalties this past week, it is about time United had a second designated free-kick taker. Solskjaer’s reign began with a Marcus Rashford scoring a free-kick against Cardiff City, but that has been the exception to the rule.

Rashford’s knuckleball striking technique is a distinctive one but not particularly successful. One woeful attempt at Molineux on Monday night was followed with two off-target efforts in the first half here.

Then again, perhaps a rotation policy is not the answer either. When Anthony Martial was brought down on the edge of the box at the end of the first half, Paul Pogba stepped up. He blazed over.

Lingard struggles sitting off the striker

Jesse Lingard has not scored or assisted a league goal for United since December. He can offer more than just raw output, as he did at Wolves on Monday, but his lack of significant attacking contributions appears to be affecting him.

Twice on Saturday, poor touches led to groans from the Old Trafford crowd. Assistant manager Mike Phelan regularly had to leave his seat to coach him through the game, before he was replaced by Mason Greenwood after 55 minutes.

United need him to rediscover the form he showed during the 2017-18 season. Lingard appears to be Solskjaer’s chosen No 10 in his preferred 4-2-3-1 system but it remains to be seen whether Lingard is up to the mark.

United trio left in the cold again

Plenty of attention has been paid to Alexis Sanchez’s future over the past week, but there are other senior figures at Old Trafford who cannot buy a place in Solskjaer’s matchday squad.

For the third consecutive game, Fred, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were left out. One was a new, £52m signing this time last year. The other two have signed new long-term contracts in the last nine months.

And yet, with Solskjaer happy to promote younger players like Axel Tuanzebe and Andreas Pereira above them, it is difficult to see how the trio force their way back into their manager’s plans.