EPL: Crystal Palace thrash Man United 2-0 at Old Trafford

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored twice to earn Crystal Palace a 2-0 win at Old Trafford as Manchester United, again, succumbed to defeat.

Aiming for back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time this season, it turned out to be an awful afternoon for Ruben Amorim’s side as they were deservedly beaten and lost Lisandro Martinez to what looked like a serious knee injury late in the game.

The win lifts Crystal Palace above their opponents into 12th spot, with United dropping down to 13th – their scoring problems underlined by Amorim benching both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee as Marcus Rashford finalised a move to Aston Villa.

Three consecutive wins for United had lifted the mood around Old Trafford but it was back to square one for Ruben Amorim after another home display lacking in creativity and riddled with defensive lapses.

Amorim’s decision to start without a natural striker backfired with both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee left on the bench.

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo started in a centre-forward role after scoring in a 2-0 victory over Romanian side FCSB in midweek.

The England international’s scuffed strike came back off the post in United’s best effort of a bright opening before their attacking threat fizzled out.

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Palace have lost just one of their last seven league games to recover from a miserable start to the season.

The visitors missed the creative spark offered by Eberechi Eze for the first hour as an injury meant he was only fit enough for a cameo appearance off the bench.

But Eze made an instant impact as from his free-kick Maxence Lacroix’s header came back off the bar and into Mateta’s path to fire home.

Worse was to follow for United as Martinez had to be stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

Palace showed no mercy to secure the three points when Daniel Munoz charged through the middle of the home side’s defence and unselfishly squared for Mateta to knock in his sixth goal in five games.

Tottenham also eased the pressure on Ange Postecoglou by beating Brentford 2-0.

Spurs eased fears they could be dragged into a relegation battle as Postecoglou’s injury-ravaged side kept a rare clean sheet to see off Brentford.

The victory lifts Tottenham to 14th and 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

The Star