Nine minutes and two free kicks enough for United's turnaround

All good streaks come to an end, just like bad ones. Today, both Crystal Palace and United ended theirs. The Eagles were unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League home games and didn’t lose to United in London in their last five meetings. The Red Devils were in worse away shape in general, managing just one win away from home in the last 11 games. But that was solved today with a weird 2-1 win. It was a great victory which will lower the pressure down for at least a couple of days, and it was done without the striking force of Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, along with Harry Maguire. But it was weird as United again showed nothing and still managed to take all three points.

Bruno Fernandes got the two assists but only by accident, he was not creative at all. In fact, nobody was. Manchester again didn’t have any creative solutions, not even clear chances, they didn’t pressure so much and Palace keeper Henderson didn’t have much job. So what happened then? In the space of just nine minutes, United scored from two free kicks and turned the game around, to which the tired Palace couldn’t respond. Henderson didn’t have much job but when he did, he allowed a goal by Zirkzee to his closer side, while the home team defenders in the wall were tricked by Mason Mount during the second goal. Former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah missed a colossal opportunity in the first half to make it 2-0 and will certainly stay on the reserves bench in the future.

One minute. That’s how much United needed to create a fantastic opportunity. A long throw from the left was headed on by Matthijs De Ligt, flicked on by Casemiro, helped back in by Bryan Mbeumo and then held by Dean Henderson. Former United’s keeper needed a few touches to finally get the ball and luckily for him, the Brazilian midfielder somehow failed to put it into the net. And until the end of the first half, it was all Henderson did. United had a couple of shots but off the target and all the danger came from the home side. Manchester’s duo Matthijs de Ligt onto Leny Yoro had a poor day today, and one of their mix-ups today nearly allowed Mateta to score. He was suddenly alone but his shot went wide. Lacroix’s header in the 21st minute went just over the bar, but there was no escape for United after half an hour. Adam Wharton played a smart ball into the path of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who was tripped clumsily by Yoro. The French international scored, but the penalty had to be repeated since he touched the ball twice by accident. Luckily for the home team, Mateta scored again and it was 1-0. Considering the final score, former Arsenal striker Nketiah will have sleepless nights as he missed one on one with Senne Lammens later one. De Light slipped and allowed Nketiah completely alone near the goal. But the Palace reserve player moved too slowly and, in the end, he didn’t even make a shot but was blocked by Shaw. Terrible.

And then a complete turnaround in just nine minutes. First Joshua Zirzkee finally scored for the first time since April 2025 with an excellent individual effort (for which Henderson is also to blame) and then Mason Mount got another one from a set piece, as he tricked the Palace defensive players who were in the wall. Suddenly, everything changed and Palace had to attack now, but it didn’t work out for Glazner’s men. They were already tired from a brutal first half and the Thursday’s European football fatigue started to kick in. They failed to create any chances and lost the game they should have won.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 13

Saturday

Brentford - Burnley 3-1 (0-0)

/Thiago 81(p), 86, Quattara 90 - Flemming 85(p)/

Manchester City - Leeds 3-2 (2-0)

/Foden 1, 90+1 Gvardiol 25 - Calvert-Lewin 49, Nmecha 68/

Sunderland - Bournemouth 3-2 (1-2)

/Le Fee 30(p) Traore 46, Brobbley 69 - Adli 7, Adams 15/

Everton - Newcastle 1-4 (0-3)

/Dewsbury-Hall 69 - Thiaw 1, 58, Miley 25, Woltemade 45/

Tottenham - Fulham 1-2 (0-2)

/Kudus 59 - Tete 4, Wilson 6/

Sunday

Crystal Palace - Manchester Utd. 1-2 (1-0)

/Mateta (p) 36 - Zirkzee 54, Mount 63/

17.05: (1.50) Aston Villa (4.20) Wolverhampton (6.75)

17.05: (2.85) Nottingham Forest (3.35) Brighton (2.65)

17.05: (4.50) West Ham (4.25) Liverpool (1.75)

19.30: (3.35) Chelsea (3.45) Arsenal (2.25)

***odds are subject to change***