After two draws and a defeat, questions were being raised over whether Manchester United’s poor run of form was back. On Sunday, Ruben Amorim’s men put those doubts to rest, securing a hard-fought 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park, coming from behind to claim all three points.
This victory marked United’s first win in four Premier League matches, halting a troubling sequence that had left fans concerned. The match began with Palace taking the lead in the 36th minute through a successful penalty by Jean-Philippe Mateta. Mateta had to take the spot-kick twice, with the first attempt ruled out after a double touch, but he calmly converted on his second try.
After the break, United drew level thanks to Joshua Zirkzee, who netted from a difficult angle following a precise pass from Bruno Fernandes. It was Zirkzee’s first goal in some time, signalling a boost in confidence for the young striker.
The winning goal arrived in the 63rd minute. Fernandes delivered a well-placed pass to Mason Mount, who fired a low, precise shot into the net. Palace’s goalkeeper was too late to react, leaving United ahead for the first time in the match.
Late in the game, Lisandro Martínez returned to the pitch after 301 days out due to an ACL injury. The Argentine World Cup-winning defender’s presence bolstered United’s defence as Palace pressed in search of an equaliser but were ultimately denied.
With this win, United climb to sixth in the table with 21 points from 13 matches, just ahead of Palace, who remain on 20. Arsenal lead the league with 29 points from 12 games, followed by Manchester City (25), Chelsea (23), Sunderland (22), and Aston Villa (21).
This result will provide optimism for United’s upcoming fixtures, suggesting that the team may have turned a corner after a worrying spell.