Manchester United secured a fantastic turnaround on Sunday afternoon, with second-half goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount securing a 2-1 Premier League win against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.
Rúben Amorim chose to select Mason Mount in the front three as Manchester United travelled to South London to face Crystal Palace in a midday Premier League tie on Sunday afternoon.
The tie started with both sides having chances, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Casemiro failing to convert in the opening 10 minutes. It quickly became clear that both sets of players were suffering from the intense, bright sunshine in South London.
It was Palace who then started to take control in the first half, and their relentless attacking play was rewarded when Leny Yoro fouled Mateta in the box. He converted the penalty, but it had to be retaken due to a double-hit, although the French striker had no issues from the spot a second time around.
Following the goal, the home side continued to dominate, although United also started to show a little more time with the ball at their feet, but couldn’t secure an equaliser before half-time. With United needing a goal in the second 45 minutes, Joshua Zirkzee came up with the goods.
Chesting the ball down from a Bruno Fernandes free kick, the Dutchman turned and finished past Dean Henderson from an almost impossible angle to level the score. Then, with 30 minutes left to play, a clever free-kick play saw Mason Mount hand Amorim a much-needed lead.
With Oliver Glanser’s men throwing the kitchen sink at Senne Lammens‘ goal for the remainder of the fixture, United remained firm and secured a much-needed three points.
#1 – Amorim will be frustrated with his wing-backs
Ahead of the game, Amorim spoke extensively about his wing-backs, making a public plea for more wide players like Amad at the club. Against Palace, the United boss changed both of his wide players, only reinforcing his point.
With Diogo Dalot and Amad as the two wing-backs at Selhurst Park, Amorim had both players playing very high up the field, but beyond a few individual moments, the former felt like he was taking far too long to make any decisions in the first half.
Amad was much better in the second half, but while Dalot was also more involved, far too often it felt as if a chance went awaste or failed to properly materialise with the Portuguese international on the left wing – something that will undoubtedly frustrate Amorim.
#2 – United need to be less single-minded with chance creation
Against Everton earlier this week and in the first half against Palace, it felt as if United’s only real route to goal was through endless crosses, though there was little threat through the middle despite Joshua Zirkzee’s height.
When Zirkzee finally netted, it came through a more controlled, dinked effort into him that led to a fantastic finish, and finally a bit of invention from the Reds. Then, for Mount’s finish, it was once again a bit of off-the-cuff play from Fernandes that created the goal.
Once United got themselves organised and working as a team, they were so much better at creating. The challenge is now to keep it that way.
#3 – United feel very confidence based
As has been the case under Amorim for his first year in charge, United still felt as if they were very much relying on confidence to play their best football.
Against Palace, once the home side started to get to grips with their attack, mistakes were flying out of the United back line. But once Zirkzee’s moment of magic gave them hope, the side sparked into life.
While it was enough to get the Reds over the line on Sunday afternoon, Amorim must look to make sure the side has more belief across a 90-minute display.
#4 – A case for Fernandes to play higher up
While having Fernandes in the middle of the park is useful for Amorim to help try to dictate play, it’s just so evident that if the club captain has the ball at his feet while closer to goal instead, he’s the one who can make magic happen.
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Granted, his two assists on Sunday afternoon came from set-piece situations. Still, almost every time he was within five yards of the area, United looked ten times more dangerous and unpredictable, which has been sorely missing of late.
With Amad and Bryan Mbeumo set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations in a few weeks, the United boss must experiment with Fernandes on the right of the front three, which leaves space for Kobbie Mainoo in the midfield, alongside Casemiro.
#5 – A fantastic response to this week
After the Everton loss on Monday night, a lot was said about United’s lack of invention, grit, and ability to break teams down. Even at half-time against Palace, the same questions were being asked.
However, the second-half display on Sunday afternoon was the perfect response. Despite missing star forwards Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško, United looked fantastic with the ball at their feet and was a team with much more organisation.
With six favourable fixtures in December, Amorim will be looking to end their 2025 on a high.
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