Five things learned as Manchester United defeat Crystal Palace 2-1 (Premier League)

Manchester United have moved up to third place for the time being, following a tight 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

Following Manchester United securing their place in the Carabao Cup final after defeating Nottingham Forest on Wednesday, the Red Devils returned to Premier League action welcoming Crystal Palace to Old Trafford.

United arrived in excellent form, having lost just the one time since the end of the World Cup break, and ensured that history did not repeat itself having dropped points in injury time against Palace earlier this year.

Dominating large portions of the game, goals from Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford ensured United left with all three points, despite Palace scoring a scrappy goal through Jeffrey Schlupp. Despite the result, the club still faced a major setback after Casemiro saw himself given a straight red card following a VAR check.

1) Anthony Martial’s time at Manchester United has to be coming to an end

A point we in many ways learned weeks ago, but was all but confirmed from the moment the players started to arrive at Old Trafford today, Anthony Martial’s days at Manchester United feel numbered. Undoubtedly the best striker at the club when fit, his injury woes have largely ruled out any of his on-the-field qualities.

Missing his 20th game of the season, having made just 14 appearances across all competitions, the French forward has not played for the full 90 minutes of a match at United since the 22nd of September 2021. Worse yet, he’s not completed a full Premier League game since January 27th of that same year. If you can’t rely on him to stay fit, then a permanent parting of the two companies seems inevitable.

2) This might just be United’s best defence

For all of the doubts that surrounded certain players in the United defence at the start of the season, it looks like the club might have a truly settled backline for the first time in a while.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka has looked a new man since his return to the United XI, Martinez and Varane are composed beyond measure, and Luke Shaw has rarely put a foot wrong over the last few months.

Whilst players such as Diogo Dalot will no doubt be disappointed to lose their starting position, and David De Gea’s role as the club’s starting keeper for the long term may not be guaranteed, for the time being, United defensive unit looks like exactly that. A unit again at last.

3) Marcus Rashford is the best winger in the Premier League right now

With 15 goal contributions in his last 13 games, Marcus Rashford is in the form of his career, rising to whatever task is asked of him by Erik ten Hag.

Deployed off his favoured left side for much of the game, Rashford would move to the striker position with a third of the game left following Wout Weghorst’s substitution. It was then in this position Rashford rounded off an excellent United move to secure his 10th Premier League goal of the season.

The best winger in the league right now? Certainly. The best player in the league right now? Possibly.

4) Casemiro’s red card is the result of an amateurish decision from such a senior player

Whatever you make of the decision to doll out just one red card from the melee that followed after Schlupp’s foul on Antony, Casemiro deciding to grab Palace’s Will Hughes by the throat was only going to end one way.

For a player of such senior status, the decision to grab a fellow player in such a way is undeniably amateurish. Yes, several players from both team’s could, and probably should have seen cards be it red or yellow, but Casemiro’s decision making in the heat of the moment was simply not good enough. The Brazillian international will now miss United’s next three domestic matches.

With United missing Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen, and Donny van de Beek through injury right now, Ten Hag may well be forced to turn to United’s youth department to survive their latest midfield setback.

United deserve credit for surviving that Palace onslaught

Whilst it was a situation that United would liked to have avoided finding themselves in, credit has to go to the players on the pitch for maintaining their lead against Palace despite the masses of pressure they faced.

In a true display of camaraderie, United rode through the storm for almost ten minutes of stoppage time, with each and every player working their upmost to protect the result.

With four centre-backs on the pitch for the Red Devils at the end of the whistle, it didn’t come easy for United, yet with the three points in the bag they all deserve credit for the final outcome.