Manchester: A disappointing start to the new Premier League campaign for Manchester United as they lost to Crystal Palace last night by 1-3 at Old Trafford.
Ole Gunner Solksjaer’s men lined up in a 4-2-3-1formation with Timothy Fosu-Menshah and Scott Mctominay starting the game. But it seemed like they were not quite prepared for the Palace and their defence looked shaky as well.
Eventually it led to the opening goal for Palace. Tyrick Mitchell picked out Jeffrey Schlupp’s run from midfield who squared it off for Andros Townsend making no mistake in putting it past De Gea. Schlupp and Wilfried Zaha looked sharp from the left hand side of the field causing problem to Fosu-Mensah and Vitcor Lindelof who had an off day in the field.
The midfield too wasnt able create any magic with Paul Pogba recovering from illness didnt look at his best. Bruno Fernandes tried hard to make something happen but his teammates were not giving him much support and even with much superior possession on the ball, United were unable to threat to the Palace defence. Two centre backs Sako and Kouyate did well to stop Martial and Rashford getting anything on the ball.
Palace sat deep hoping to defend the lead from the first half and go on the counters whenever they got the chance.69th into the game an scooped effort from Jordan Arew deflected of Lindelof’s hand went for a penalty. De Gea saved it on the first attempt but VAR showed that he lifted his leg before the kick making the referee to give the decision of retaking it. Zaha delivered with power into the top corner making it 2-0.
Debutant Donny Van De Beek who was signed from Ajax few days earlier came out as sub for Paul Pogba and scoring his first goal in new colours after a dangerous cross into the box by full-back Fonsu Mensah not cleared well by Sakho & Kouate found Van De Beek who slotted it past Palace goalkeeper in the 80th minute. But it was nothing but a consolation as Zaha added another in the 85 minute turning while receiving the ball with his back to Lindelof making a mock of him before shrugging him off his shoulder & driving it low with power past De Gea who had no chance into the bottom corner of the net ensuring his team’s lead.
United’s next match is against Brighton on September 26 with manager Ole hoping to fix defensive issues of his side or may be planning to sign a new centre back to for squad.
