Following their impressive 7-0 victory over Barnsley in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, Erik ten Hag’s team started positively, effectively breaking through Crystal Palace’s defense in the first half.
Alejandro Garnacho, who replaced Marcus Rashford in the lineup, had an early shot that was tipped around the post. Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez also had attempts thwarted by home goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
The visitors kept pressing, with Garnacho hitting the bar after a run down the left flank. The rebound fell to Bruno Fernandes, who frequently orchestrated the attack, but his shot bounced before clipping the top of the crossbar.
As the half progressed, Palace became more involved, with Eberechi Eze coming closest to scoring but firing directly into Andre Onana’s hands while unmarked at the penalty spot.
The second half was more balanced, with Fernandes curling a shot wide and Garnacho’s attempt being tipped around the post.
At the other end, Eddie Nketiah had a shot that Onana deflected back into play, but the goalkeeper managed to recover and make a crucial save.
The clearest chance of the half fell to Eze, who inexplicably missed the target from 12 yards when unmarked.
This result leaves United in 11th place, while Palace remains winless in 16th.
**Same Old Story for United**
As Ten Hag travels back to Manchester, he will reflect on this match as one that should have been won. There were positives, such as their 66.8% possession, the highest for an away game since April 2023.
However, old weaknesses were evident once again. Although they didn’t squander any clear-cut chances, the United manager will believe his team created enough opportunities to secure all three points.
Martinez might feel he should have scored from a corner, and both Garnacho and particularly Fernandes will regret hitting the woodwork.
United boasts the second-highest expected goals (xG) in the league at 9.53 over their first five matches, yet they have only managed five goals. Only Southampton, currently 18th, is underperforming their xG more.
A bright spot for United was the return of striker Rasmus Hojlund from injury. The 21-year-old made his first appearance of the season off the bench in the second half, adding depth to Ten Hag’s options alongside Joshua Zirkzee, who was well-contained by the Palace defense.
**Palace Resilient but Lacking in Attack**
Oliver Glasner’s team could have found themselves significantly behind after the first half hour. They struggled to gain control, often remaining deep in their own half, and were reliant on Henderson’s excellent saves to deny Martinez and De Ligt.
As the match continued, the Eagles improved and likely created the better chances overall. Eze’s two unmarked opportunities—one in each half—should have yielded at least one goal, while Sarr will likely replay his missed chance repeatedly.
After Onana’s parry into the penalty area, Sarr had to adjust quickly but failed to lift the ball over the Reds keeper, who made a brilliant save.
While still seeking their first league win, three consecutive draws and progression in the EFL Cup indicate that Palace is starting to find their rhythm after losing Michael Olise to Bayern Munich and Joachim Andersen to Fulham.
