Manchester United suffered a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford, with Joachim Andersen’s first-half strike proving the difference. Ebere Eze provided the assist, and United struggled to create clear chances in response throughout the game. Here are four things we learned from this painful loss.
Sofyan Amrabat’s Limitations at Left-Back
Sofyan Amrabat impressed midweek in an unfamiliar right-back role, but his struggles at left-back against Palace were evident. While his passing was once again on point, defensively he found it difficult to contain Jordan Ayew’s direct running. It’s no surprise given that Amrabat is naturally a midfielder and is only filling in due to United’s ongoing injury crisis in defence. However, this game highlighted that he isn’t a long-term solution at left-back. Once the team has its regular full-backs fit, Amrabat should return to his preferred position in midfield.
Onana Misses Out on a Clean Sheet
After keeping two clean sheets in his last two matches, Andre Onana saw his run come to an end in frustrating fashion. Palace’s goal came from a well-delivered free-kick by Ebere Eze, which was allowed to sail across the box unchecked before Joachim Andersen connected to volley it into the top corner. There was little Onana could do, especially as the ball took a deflection off Diogo Dalot’s shoulder, looping past the goalkeeper. While he couldn’t be blamed for the goal, the lack of defensive organisation in the build-up will surely be a concern for Erik ten Hag.
Garnacho Deserves a Starting Spot
Alejandro Garnacho was a standout performer in midweek and could feel hard done by not to start this match. When he eventually came off the bench, the young Argentine immediately injected energy and threat into United’s attack, offering far more than Marcus Rashford had throughout the game. Rashford’s ineffectiveness saw him substituted in the 79th minute, potentially signalling that Erik ten Hag is losing patience with his current form. Garnacho’s lively cameo will have made a strong case for him to be in the starting XI going forward.
VAR Controversy Strikes Again
Manchester United once again found themselves on the wrong end of a VAR decision, with Joel Ward’s apparent handball in the box going unpunished. Many felt it was a clear-cut penalty, and Erik ten Hag will likely be frustrated by the inconsistency in decisions going against his side in recent weeks. That said, United should not be relying on VAR to get results, especially at home against teams like Crystal Palace. The lack of cutting edge in attack remains a bigger issue that needs addressing urgently.
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