Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt after a missed chance. (Image: Getty.)
Manchester United drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace as they struggled to find a way past their former goalkeeper Dean Henderson, with the Eagles stopper leaving his ex-employers with egg on their faces a year on from his unceremonious exit.
After a first half that saw no goals but plenty of chances for the visitors, with Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes both hitting the woodwork in the same move, but neither team were able to break the deadlock.
The second half followed much of the same vein, United dominating possession but without the goals to boot, ensuring they remain in the bottom half of the Premier League table with pressure rising once again on Erik ten Hag.
Express Sport runs the rule over the biggest talking points from United’s trip to Selhurst Park.
Ten Hag admits Rashford mistake
Ten Hag surprisingly left Marcus Rashford out of the starting lineup for the trip to Selhurst Park, despite scoring three goals in his last two games, with the boss even describing the decision as “not difficult”.
His explanation was to given Garnacho a start, but he did so in midweek against Barnsley and the two thrived together, with Rashford central.
Before the hour mark, however, Rashford was getting changed and soon brought on with United lacking a cutting edge that he had given them with three goals in his last two games – Ten Hag quickly realising that he made an error.
He replaced Joshua Zirkzee and played through the middle, where he bagged twice against Barnsley in midweek, but could not replicate his efforts up against Marc Guehi and co. Though had he been on the end of the big chances created earlier in the game, the tale of the tape could have been much different.
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Ugarte may not have been needed
United largely dominated Palace away from home, which is no easy feat, with a midfield partnership of Kobbie Mainoo and Christian Eriksen.
Many would have thought that the pair were too unbalanced, especially on the road, but proved just as they did against Southampton that they are more than capable against the majority of Premier League teams.
United may end up paying as much as £51million for Manuel Ugarte, while Casemiro also sat on the sidelines on big wages, but Ten Hag may have stumbled on another pairing that – outside of matches against their top-four rivals – is sufficient enough.
It’s an expensive and new issue for Ten Hag.
Christian Eriksen continued alongside Kobbie Mainoo. (Image: Getty)
Eze fails United audition
Eberechi Eze faced United for the first time since he was shortlisted by the Red Devils ahead of a potential 2025 summer transfer, when his £68m release clause becomes active again.
If he wished to follow his former team-mate Michael Olise and move up the football food chain, he had a golden opportunity to wow those in charge of United on Saturday evening.
However, it was a quiet affair from the England international. He had a chance to open the scoring just before half-time, having found acres of space inside the area, but fired a tame shot straight at Andre Onana.
He squandered a similar chance in the second half, latching onto a cut-back, but this time fired wide and left the home supporters rueing what could have been.
Martinez lucky not to see red
Lisandro Martinez will be feeling fortunate that he was not shown a straight red card after his two-footed tackle on Daichi Kamada in the second half.
The ball popped loose on the edge of Palace’s penalty area and as Kamada went to clear it, was met by a flying Martinez in the air who made contact with the Japan international.
Despite protests from the home players, the referee awarded just a yellow, much to Martinez and United’s relief.
A red card could have been deemed serious foul play and would carry a three-match ban, after spending the last 25 minutes with 10 men.
Lisandro Martinez received a yellow card for his infringement. (Image: Sky Sports.)
Henderson proves United wrong
Henderson left United for Palace on sour terms, having previously fumed at what he perceived to be mismanagement from the club, which left him as number two to David De Gea.
But a year on from his exit, the goalkeeper has proven exactly why he believed that he should have been the undisputed starter and clearly had a point to prove on Saturday.
Henderson made a string of saves to keep United at bay in a dominant performance outside of his penalty area, with Palace largely underwhelming throughout, in contrast to Onana with little to do at the opposite end of the pitch apart from a stunning double from Eddie Nketiah and Ismaila Sarr save shortly after the hour mark.
