With everyone in the front six injured except for Pogba, it was not an easy outing for Manchester United. United is undefeated in the league after Solskjaer took over, and had a pressure to continue this. Most fans like me thought it was going to be a tough day after the team sheet was released. But it went easy and smooth against Palace after 2 goals from Pogba while Young added the third.
Traveling to Selhurst Park, injury-hit United didn't have the regular playing eleven, and was forced to start with many out of form players. To mention, Lukaku and Sanchez started up-front. Sanchez hadn't been at his best after he came to United. Lukaku hadn't scored for last 8 matches. Fred, Dalot, and Pogba started behind the frontmen with Scott McTominay as defensive midfielder ahead of the back four. United started with a 4-1-3-2 formation, which we haven't seen under Solskjaer. Looking into the formation, with only McTominay ahead of front four, it was exposed heavily. It was the rarest start for the summer signing Fred. With no players upfront, the defender Dalot was provided with attacking role.
From the start, it was a well-balanced match between these 2 sides with more opportunities falling to United's way. The first of it came in the 8th minute from the set piece. The ball swung by Luke Shaw from the corner found Lukaku who was free in the box with nobody to track him. He had ample time and space to guide it home but to everyone's surprise, he blasted the ball over the net. To match Luakau, Townsend missed a good opportunity at the other end after Fred let him free. It was the same story for Fred throughout the first half with many miss-pass and loose balls but played a better second half.
In the 33rd minute, it was brilliance from Luke Shaw that got the first goal for Manchester United. Shaw from the center of the field drove the ball to the box expertly committing many of the Palace's player and opening space for Lukaku. This time, Lukaku didn't do any mistake and placed the ball quickly to the far corner to take United ahead. Just after this, Schlupp missed another great chance for Palace.
United went to the half with a goal advantage and it didn't take long for United to double the lead. In the 52nd minute, Lukaku scored again, this time from the out swinging corner from Young. Lukaku with his strength hold off the defenders and got a side-footed half volley to the top of the net for the goal. United finally paid for their exposed defensive line up. Because of a defensive error from Young and some brilliant work from Palace, Schlupp crossed the ball to find the Joel Ward who was not tracked by Shaw and got a diving header to bring Palace back in the game.
After conceding the goals, United was in pressure and it was not looking good with Palace dominating the possession. But Solskjaer had a different idea and sent Rashford for Sanchez in search of the third goal and replaced Dalot for Bailly to add more men at the back. Alexis Sanchez had been very poor once again today. It went as planned as United found the third goal in the 83rd minute. Young scored this time to ensure a victory for United. Also, James Garner, a 17-year-old midfielder from the youth team, made his senior debut before the end of the match.
United secured all 3 points from Crystal Palace but still are at the fifth after Arsenal won their fixture. It is an 8th straight away win for Manchester United in the league for the first time in the history. Up next United will host Southampton while Arsenal will play against Spurs. It will be chance for United to move back to the top four again if Arsenal fails to win against Spurs before playing to Arsenal in the following week.
Bet:
Didn't have a big stake but it was a sweet win today and the odds were excellent at 2.386.
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