I think the best thing to do now is to resign. I’m tired of managing average players who don’t like listening to my instructions – Erik ten Hag revealed today after another disappointment performance against Crystal Palace
“Either they sell him or sack me…I can’t manage the team he plays”: Erik ten Hag threatened Man United to sell £77m star or he leaves after horrible display vs Crystal Palace.
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Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United highlights and reaction as both sides waste big chances
A full recap of events from Selhurst Park as Man United drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
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by Samuel Luckhurst, George Smith, Steven Railston
Updated20:15, 21 Sep 2024
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Manchester United wasted a catalogue of chances as they drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
United, who were beaten 4-0 by Palace in May, created a plethora of opportunities in the first half, the best of which fell Alejandro Garnacho’s way. He was denied by Dean Henderson early on before bending an effort against the crossbar.
Bruno Fernandes also hit the woodwork, firing his rebounded effort from Garnacho’s effort against the bar. Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee also went close in the first half, rising high to meet Christian Eriksen corners.
Despite United’s dominance for long spells, Palace had chances of their own to score, the best of which fell Eberechi Eze’s way. He fired a shot wide of the target in the second half from close range after being denied by Andre Onana right at the end of the first half.
Onana was in the thick of the action in the second half, too, producing an outstanding double save to deny Eddie Nketiah and then Ismaila Sarr.
You can recap all of the events from Selhurst Park by scanning through our live blog below…
Key Events
REPORT: United struggle to react to Van Nistelrooy instructions in Palace draw
20:00
PLAYER RATINGS: Onana impresses as United fail to take any of countless chances
19:45
FULL-TIME: CRY 0-0 MUN – United will be ruing those missed chances
19:22
HALF-TIME PLAYER RATINGS: Garnacho lively as United waste countless chances
18:19
HALF-TIME: CRY 0-0 MUN – It’s somehow goalless at the break
18:17
1′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – KICK-OFF!
17:31
20:15George Smith
That’s a wrap
We’re calling time on today’s matchday blog here, folks.
Thank you for following our coverage from Selhurst Park.
Enjoy the remainder of the weekend and take care.
20:00Key Event
REPORT: United struggle to react to Van Nistelrooy instructions in Palace draw
United created chances galore and gifted great chances. In a contest that was descending into win-or-bust, it ended in a draw.
The only similar aspect about United from their mauling at Selhurst Park in May was they did not score. United constructed structured and speedy attacks, threatened from set-pieces and rattled the goalframe.
Rarely have they hogged the ball for 70 per cent and supplemented it with a high chance-creation. United were even guilty of overplaying it – a crime occasionally levelled at the other Manchester club.
Click here to read Samuel Luckhurst’s match report from Selhurst Park in full.
19:45Key Event
PLAYER RATINGS: Onana impresses as United fail to take any of countless chances
United were forced to settle for a point after being held to a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace this evening.
United created a plethora of opportunities to score, particularly in the first half. Both Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes hit the woodwork as Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee also went close.
Here is a flavour of how Samuel Luckhurst rated the players out of 10…
Andre Onana
Primarily had the ball to contribute to attacks until he handled Eberechi Eze’s tame shot. World-class save from Ismaila Sarr on the follow-up. 8
Noussair Mazraoui
Got tight on Eze and did well against the winger in the first half. Not as prominent in attacks as Diogo Dalot on the other side. 6
Matthijs de Ligt
Survived an early scare against Jean-Philippe Mateta and should have scored with United’s best chance of the first half. 6
Click here to read Samuel’s ratings in full.
19:22Key Event
FULL-TIME: CRY 0-0 MUN – United will be ruing those missed chances
It’s all over at Selhurst Park and it has finished 0-0 between Palace and United.
United, particularly in the first half, had a whole host of chances to score. They also continued to knock on the door in the second 45.
However, they also had Andre Onana to thank for ensuring they earned a point after he made an outstanding double save.
On the plus side, it is back-to-back clean sheets away from home in the Premier League for the first time since last November.
19:21George Smith
90+3′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – The corner is dealt with
The corner is initially punched away by Andre Onana before Alejandro Garnacho puts his laces through the ball to clear it away.
19:20George Smith
90+2′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Palace corner
Palace have a chance to snatch a winner late on.
19:18George Smith
90′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Four minutes added on
Four minutes of added time have been signalled.
19:11George Smith
83′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Hughes into the book
Palace substitute Will Hughes is yellow carded for a foul on Manuel Ugarte.
19:06George Smith
78′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Garnacho position change
Alejandro Garnacho has moved over to the right following the introduction of Rasmus Hojlund.
The Dane is operating through the middle and Marcus Rashford is on the left.
19:04George Smith
75′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Two United changes
Erik ten Hag is turning to his bench for a second time, making two alterations.
OFF: Christian Eriksen, Amad
ON: Manuel Ugarte, Rasmus Hojlund
19:01George Smith
72′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Eze misses a sitter
How is this game still goalless?!
Palace have arguably the best chance of the match through Eberechi Eze, who shoots wide of the target after being picked out by Ismaila Sarr. It looked easier to score.
18:54George Smith
65′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Onana to the rescue
Take a bow, Andre Onana.
He has barely had anything to do all evening but he has just preserved his clean sheet with an outstanding double save.
First, he keeps out Eddie Nketiah’s low drive before thwarting Ismaila Sarr’s effort on the rebound. The second stop was superb.
18:51George Smith
63′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Garnacho denied again
United are knocking on the door with purpose. Alejandro Garnacho bends a shot towards goal and has it tipped behind by Dean Henderson.
It is one-way traffic at the moment.
Meanwhile, Lisandro Martinez has just got in the book.
18:49George Smith
61′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – United substitution
Erik ten Hag is making his first change for United.
OFF: Joshua Zirkzee
ON: Marcus Rashford
18:45George Smith
57′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – United need to keep their cool
The longer this remains 0-0, the more frustrated these United players are going to get – and that is only natural.
So many opportunities have been wasted, but the chances are one will be taken before too long with the way this game is continuing to go.
Amad and Alejandro Garnacho are still causing problems in the wide areas.
18:41George Smith
52′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Fernandes fires just wide
Brilliant combination play between Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes on the edge of the box results in the latter firing an effort just wide with the outside of his right boot.
The build-up play was sublime, but it goes down as another missed chance.
18:39George Smith
50′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Amad goes close
Amad has United’s first chance of this second half, curling an effort just over the top. It was dipping and Dean Henderson was not totally convinced it wasn’t going to loop over him and go in.
18:35George Smith
47′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Palace win an early corner
Great work from Eberechi Eze to win Palace a corner right at the start of this second half.
The hosts cannot possibly be in any worse in this second 45.
18:34George Smith
46′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Second half kicks-off
We are back up and running at Selhurst Park.
The home side have made a double change, bringing on Ismaïla Sarr and Jefferson Lerma in place of Jean-Philippe Mateta and Adam Wharton.
18:19Key Event
HALF-TIME PLAYER RATINGS: Garnacho lively as United waste countless chances
Here is how Samuel Luckhurst has rated United’s players out of 10 following the opening 45 minutes at Selhurst Park…
Onana
Had the ball to primarily attack. 6
Mazraoui
Done well against Eze. 7
De Ligt
Should have scored. 6
Martinez
Confident half. 7
Dalot
Best half of the season. 7
Eriksen
Vindicated his selection. 7
Mainoo
Most accomplished 45 minutes for a while. 7
Amad
Started slowly but grew into the game. 6
Fernandes
Far too sloppy. 5
Garnacho
Had good chances. 7
Zirkzee
Had a good chance. 6
18:17Key Event
HALF-TIME: CRY 0-0 MUN – It’s somehow goalless at the break
There goes the half-time whistle here at Selhurst Park and it is goalless – somehow.
A bucket load of chances have fallen United’s way, but they have not taken any of them. They will have no idea how this is still 0-0.
18:16Samuel Luckhurst
45′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Van Nistelrooy telling the players to calm down
Ruud Van Nistelrooy is telling United players to calm down again. It is not a surprise that this game has been one-way traffic yet the best chance has fallen to Palace. The game has been heading in that direction through United’s profligacy and, as well as they have played, there would be some merit in making a half-time change to try and sharpen them up in attack.
18:15George Smith
44′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Eze wastes a great chance
That was a chance for Palace. A rare forray forward results in the ball being cut back to Eberechi Eze and he fires low at Andre Onana from a central position.
He will not want to see that one back.
18:14Samuel Luckhurst
44′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – A draw will feel like a defeat at this rate
If United end up drawing this, it will feel like a defeat. They have been that dominant this half. United are winless in four here but there has been no indication that it is a bogey ground and their performance has been more in keeping with some of the strolls they enjoyed here in the Nineties.
18:13Steven Railston
42′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – United go close yet again
It’s becoming a bit of a joke now… United have been excellent but haven’t found a breakthrough and Alejandro Garnacho was inches away from finding the net there, with shades of Paul Gascoigne sliding in at Euro 96.
18:09Steven Railston
38′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Garnacho should have been away
Alejandro Garnacho should have been away on the counter-attack from the Palace corner but Bruno Fernandes’ ball through was under hit. There have been plenty of openings to write about and yet the game is goalless as we approach half-time. Alejandro Garnacho’s yellow card felt slightly harsh just there but it was a needless foul.
18:07Samuel Luckhurst
36′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Garnacho booked
I was just saying about not letting Palace into the game and then Alejandro Garnacho does that. He was obviously frustrated he didn’t retain the ball but giving the foul away and getting booked was only ever going to lift a crowd that has sounded more like mutineers for portions of this half. Half-time is around the corner and United are starting to show signs of frustration.
18:05Steven Railston
35′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – It could already be game over
The longer a wait goes on for a United goal, the more chance Crystal Palace have of getting something for this game. It could have been buried by the interval if United had taken their chances, but the home fans are turning on their team and there is a huge opportunity to break the deadlock before half-time. That’s what United deserve and they will only have themselves to blame if they go behind in this one.
18:04George Smith
33′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Zirkzee heads wide
Another United chance goes begging. A corner from the right comes over, Joshua Zirkzee connects with it at the back post and nods it wide. He should have hit the target at the very least.
18:01Samuel Luckhurst
30′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Amad advised to calm down
Erik ten Hag and Ruud van Nistelrooyboth urged Amad to calm down after that overzealous foul. United have managed this game so well apart from chance-conversion that they daren’t lose their way and let Palace back into it. The home supporters sound completely irked by Palace’s performance.
17:59George Smith
27′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – United hit the bar – twice
How unlucky can you get?! First, Alejandro Garnacho fires a curling effort against the bar after getting on the end of an excellent pass from Diogo Dalot, before Bruno Fernandes hits the bar with the rebound.
United could have had three or four by now.
17:57George Smith
25′ CRY 0-0 MUN – United well on top
In the last 10 minutes of this game, United have played 24 passes into the final third. Palace, by comparison, have played just four into the same area of the pitch.
United need to make this dominance count because it is inevitable that Palace will have a spell of pressure at some point.
17:54Steven Railston
23′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – United operating with a higher defensive line
It feels like United are playing a higher defensive line than usual and it’s making it difficult for Crystal Palace in midfield. The gaps that were exposed against Liverpool aren’t there today and those in white shirts have control because everything is more compact. This has been a brilliant start and it just needs a goal.
17:53Samuel Luckhurst
21′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – All that’s missing from United is a goal
That is harmless from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Oliver Glasner looks a bit stumped down below us. Last season, that ended up in a goal against United but, thankfully for Erik ten Hag, this is a very different United and the only thing missing from their performance is a goal.
Bruno Fernandes has possibly been United’s weakest performer so far, so he is liable to do something out of nothing soon.
17:46Samuel Luckhurst
16′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Eriksen justifying his starting berth
Christian Eriksen is showing why he is starting. His interplay when United have the ball and work at set pieces have hugely contributed to United’s sharpness. It’s been by far their best first 15 minutes since Wolves away in February.
17:45Steven Railston
15′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – United well on top
This is what fans expect to see – United on top. Dean Henderson has made another two crucial saves and it seems like only a matter of time before United take the lead. Alejandro Garnacho is becoming increasingly involved and looks a threat on the left. Joshua Zirkzee should have done better before when he could have played him through for a second time.
17:44George Smith
13′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – De Ligt denied
Another chance for United results in a Dean Henderson save. Christian Eriksen sends over a corner from the right, Matthijs de Ligt climbs highest at the back post and Henderson keeps out his header.
United are well on top.
17:43Samuel Luckhurst
12′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – United should be ahead
Bruno Fernandes let off some steam there. Joshua Zirkzee did well for Alejandro Garnacho’s chance but he regressed to the first half of Liverpool then. United should be 1-0 up. They have had two great openings and they have dominated proactively so far.
17:41Steven Railston
10′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Henderson with a big save
Fantastic save from Dean Henderson to deny Alejandro Garnacho the opener. Joshua Zirkzee played him through after the advantage from the referee. This has been a bright start from United and a huge improvement on their performance in the opening exchanges last weekend. Bruno Fernandes has looked sharp and has been in the thick of the action so far.
17:40Samuel Luckhurst
9′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Palace can’t keep the ball
It was a pity for United that Christian Eriksen’s pass was overhit as they worked the overlap well for Alejandro Garnacho. Diogo Dalot moved into midfield and even with one man on the flank against a team with wing backs, United created the opening effortlessly. Eriksen is drifting out to the left an awful lot when United have the ball. Palace have kept it for barely 20 seconds when they have had it.
17:37Steven Railston
6′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Dalot drifting into midfield
Diogo Dalot has just drifted into midfield and will play the inverted full-back role when it’s appropriate. You can’t see the United away support from the press box but you can certainly hear them. They’re drowning out the Palace ‘ultras’ who need a drum to make noise.
17:35Samuel Luckhurst
5′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Ten Hag has already had a word with one
Chris Richards started here in May and has had an utterly appalling start with those two errors where the ball went into touch. As early as it is, there is a bullishness about United, well backed by their away fans in the Arthur Wait Stand. Erik ten Hag has already given Noussair Mazraoui some instructive advice.
17:32Steven Railston
2′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Midfield battle will be worth keeping an eye on
It’s my first time watching Adam Wharton in the flesh and United will have to keep him quiet to control this game. He’s a superb talent and will battle Kobbie Mainoo in the centre of the pitch. Crystal Palace looked to be away just there but the referee blew for a foul.
17:31Steven Railston
1′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – Dalot at left-back again
As expected, it’s Diogo Dalot at left-back and Noussair Mazraoui on the right side. Who keeps their place when Luke Shaw returns could be decided in this game. United are wearing their white third kit for the first time today and it’s incredibly smart.
17:31Key Event
1′ – CRY 0-0 MUN – KICK-OFF!
We are off and under way at Selhurst Park. United are looking to make it three wins on the spin.
17:29Samuel Luckhurst
United’s bench cost millions to assemble
United’s bench was assembled at a cost of more than £400m and that’s excluding Marcus Rashford’s worth. Eight of them walked out one after the other. Casemiro accompanied the staff to the dugout, perhaps preparing to transition to a coaching role at some point in the near future.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
17:27George Smith
Here they come
Both sets of players have emerged from the tunnel and are about to go through the pre-march formalities.
Stay tuned to this live blog for regular updates and analysis throughout the game. Remember: there is no need to refresh the page, updates will appear automatically.
17:22George Smith
Why Ugarte is on the bench
Erik ten Hag has said he wants to keep a feeling of continuity in midfield amid his decision to name Manuel Ugarte on the bench for the clash with Crystal Palace.
Signed from Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day last month, the Uruguay international made his first start for United in Tuesday night’s 7-0 win over Barnsley in the Carabao Cup, just three days after making his debut via the bench in the 3-0 win at Southampton.
Ten Hag, speaking to MUTV, said:
“That is one of the reasons, yes. There is a connection. I didn’t want to interrupt, but also Manuel needs some time to be integrated and to get used to English football. It will go quickly, but it is more to keep the connection in midfield as it is.”
Click here to read more.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
17:20George Smith
Kick-off in 10 minutes
The countdown to kick-off at Selhurst Park is almost over. The players will be making their entrance from the tunnel in the not too distant future.
17:16Samuel Luckhurst
Times have changed
One of the abiding memories of United’s Monday mare here in May was of Rasmus Hojlund arriving and stopping to greet some influencers before heading into the dressing room. Different generations et al. but it set the wrong tone. You can imagine what Roy Keane would have made of it.
Hojlund’s callow performances in the run-in contributed to his removal from the starting XI for the FA Cup final. He has been a better substitute than starter since March and when he does start again he needs to hit the ground running.
Players are so pandered now it is a surprise if they wear the club suit to games. United should still travel in their Paul Smith two-piece and red ties
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