Manchester United fail to crack Crystal Palace
Relive all of the action from the Premier League fixture at Old Trafford
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Your support makes all the difference.A tepid Manchester United dented their hopes of catching up with the Premier League's top four after failing to spark in a dour 0-0 home draw with 15th-placed Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The result left United in seventh place on 21 points from 13 games, 14 adrift of leaders Manchester City and six behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who were hosting third-placed Chelsea in the 1730 GMT kick-off.
Striker Romelu Lukaku returned to United's starting line-up after being dropped in four previous games in all competitions but he looked rusty and the home side were fortunate to scrape a share of the spoils against the more adventurous visitors.
Wilfried Zaha and Patrick Van Aanholt came close for Palace in the opening half and Cheikhou Kouyate had a goal correctly disallowed for marginal offside, while keeper Wayne Hennessey denied Jesse Lingard at the other end.
Lukaku also had a goal scrapped for fractional offside in the 57th minute before Andros Townsend spurned a gilt-edged chance for Palace when he shot wide from 10 metres after a good solo run.
Having introduced Marcus Rashford and Alexis Sanchez in the second half, United manager Jose Mourinho finished the match with all his forwards on the pitch but the home side failed to carve out any supply routes in the closing stages.
Reuters
What time does it start?
Manchester United vs Crystal Palace kicks off at 3pm (BST) on Saturday 24 November.
Where can I watch it?
The match will not be shown live on TV or online in the UK.
Independent Sport will keep you up to date with all the goals as they fly in via our live blog.
Highlights will be shown at 10:30pm on BBC One.
Player to watch…
Anthony Martial: The Frenchman pulled out of international duty with an abductor injury, but has been in excellent form of late. The 22-year-old has scored three goals in four games, including the penalty in United’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City. United’s best attacking work against City came through Martial, and while he wasn’t at his efficient best he will no doubt be a threat to the Palace defence.
Form guide…
Manchester United: DLWWWL
Crystal Palace: LLDLLL
Odds…
Manchester United to win: 2/5
Crystal Palace to win: 15/2
Draw: 15/4
25 minutes
This is as bad as Chelsea have looked all season.
Spurs look a threat every time they have the ball and are stringing together passes impressively despite a bobbly Wembley pitch that looks rather worse for wear.
26 minutes
Chelsea now work a move of their own, and Hugo Lloris saves brilliantly from Alvaro Morata.
The Spaniard is offside anyway, but Lloris wasn't to know and showed superb reactions to get behind Morata's side foot from six yards out.
28 minutes
Maurizio Sarri is in a mood.
He lets out some frustration after Morata again strays offside. Not a good start from his team.
29 minutes
This time the Chelsea player in front of Harry Kane stands their ground, blocking his shot behind for another Spurs corner.
Nearly! It is played short but worked back to Christian Eriksen. Toby Alderweiereld flicks Eriksen's ball in goalwards and Kepa does well to get down low and save.
On the follow-up, Juan Foyth back heels it from behind him scorpion-style and nearly finds the side-netting. It flies wide, but that was closer than it appeared on first look.
31 minutes
Razzle-dazzle from Mateo Kovacic, but his rabona cross is ill-advised and simply offers Spurs an opportunity to break.
The home side take that opportunity and again find Heung-Min Son, but the South Korean's final product has been lacking so far. He curls wide and over the bar from 20 yards on his left foot.
34 minutes
Chiropractic stuff from David Luiz, dragging Harry Kane's body into a peculiar shape as the pair prepared to contest a free kick on the edge of Spurs' box.
A Tottenham free kick, and a change of shirt for Kane.
36 minutes
Ben Davies escapes the clutches of two Chelsea shirts and plays a simple ball forward, but somehow Heung-Min Son is immediately in a three-on-three situation.
He slides it down the line to Harry Kane, who produces a step over before trying an ambitious cross for Dele Alli at the far stick. Goal kick.
38 minutes
A pretty woeful challenge from Jorginho.
He somehow escapes a booking for a shin high scythe on Kane.
39 minutes
Chelsea need to be careful.
They are getting into the game a bit more but still look remarkably open at the back, and pouring men forward in pursuit of a goal really isn't helping.
Better option-taking from Harry Kane would have seen Heung-Min Son with an opportunity to make it three. The South Korean was in acres of space by the penalty spot but Kane instead looked for Dele Alli and it remains 2-0.
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