Manchester United Suffers Shock Home Defeat to Crystal Palace

Manchester United endured another disappointing day at Old Trafford, falling to a 2-0 defeat against Crystal Palace. The loss sees the Red Devils drop to 13th place in the Premier League table, with Palace leapfrogging them after a clinical away performance.

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice in the second half to condemn United to their seventh home league defeat of the season. Manager Ruben Amorim will likely be urging the club’s board to bring in attacking reinforcements before the transfer window closes.

With Marcus Rashford departing for Aston Villa, Amorim opted to leave Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee on the bench. However, this strategy backfired as United failed to score against Palace for the fourth consecutive match.

The hosts started brightly, with Kobbie Mainoo impressing in an advanced role. Alejandro Garnacho came close early on, while Mainoo himself hit the post. But Palace grew into the game and created several chances before the break.

Mateta broke the deadlock midway through the second half, reacting quickest to tap in after Maxence Lacroix’s header hit the crossbar. United’s complaints of a foul in the build-up were waved away.

The visitors sealed victory late on when Ismaila Sarr released Daniel Munoz, who unselfishly squared for Mateta to score his second. It capped another miserable home performance for United, who have now lost five of their last six league games at Old Trafford.

The defeat raises further questions about United’s progress under Amorim, with the team languishing in mid-table and struggling for consistency. Palace’s organized display frustrated the hosts, who lacked creativity and cutting edge in attack.

United will need to regroup quickly, with the pressure mounting after another setback in front of their own fans. For Palace, the impressive away win lifts them above their opponents and boosts their hopes of a strong finish to the season.