Crystal Palace secured a historic 4-0 victory over Manchester United at Selhurst Park on Monday, marking their first-ever league double against the Red Devils. Michael Olise shone with a brace, supported by goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell.
Manchester United, hampered by injuries and missing Bruno Fernandes for the first time in his 230-game tenure, fielded a makeshift defense featuring Casemiro at center-back. The vulnerability of this arrangement was exploited by Palace, leaving United manager Erik ten Hag under increased scrutiny.
The defeat leaves United in eighth place with 54 points from 35 games, trailing sixth-placed Newcastle United by two points. Their aspirations for European football next season are dwindling rapidly. Meanwhile, Palace sits in 14th place with 43 points from 36 matches.
Reflecting on the performance, midfielder Christian Eriksen acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “Today it didn’t matter who we played. Everyone could have done better. We’ll take the blame as players.”
This loss marks the first time in the Premier League era that Manchester United has suffered 13 defeats in a single season. Despite Oliver Glasner’s revitalization of Palace, United’s struggles underscore their urgent need for improvement as the season draws to a close.
The match saw Palace take the lead within 12 minutes through Olise’s clinical finish. Despite a disallowed goal from Casemiro’s header, Palace continued to dominate, with Mateta extending their lead before halftime. Mitchell added a third after the break, with Olise sealing the victory with his second goal.
Palace defender Chris Richards expressed confidence in their performance, noting, “I think we could have got a few more. That shows the potential we have to play against any team in the league.”
