Man Utd suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace away last season and will need to correct the mistakes from that match.
Erik ten Hag smiled when greeting Oliver Glasner, but that smile quickly faded.
Manchester United’s humiliating 4-0 loss at Selhurst Park in early May marked their 13th defeat of the Premier League season, setting a new club record. Paul Scholes, acting as a pundit that night, compared the performance to the 4-1 loss to Watford in November 2021, which led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking. “Tonight felt like the final nail in the coffin,” Scholes said. He criticized the team’s lack of effort and know-how, remarking that United should never lose 4-0 to Crystal Palace, regardless of their situation.
Scholes felt Ten Hag might be on borrowed time, noting that it felt similar to Solskjaer’s last days at Watford. However, Ten Hag defied expectations just weeks after that crushing defeat, guiding United to a stunning FA Cup victory over Manchester City, effectively saving his job.
Now, with a chance to avenge that loss, Ten Hag’s United faces a Crystal Palace side struggling early in the season after losing key players like Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen. Despite Palace’s poor form, United can’t afford to underestimate the challenge of an away match under the floodlights.
One critical decision for Ten Hag is who to start in midfield. Casemiro returned for the Carabao Cup match midweek but was dropped in the Premier League last weekend. Selhurst Park was the site of one of Casemiro’s worst performances for United, where he made sloppy errors leading to multiple goals for Palace.
Manuel Ugarte, on the other hand, has impressed in his recent appearances and should be given his full Premier League debut against Palace. His defensive capabilities, mobility, and ability to break up play could be vital in securing a win. A midfield trio of Ugarte, Kobbie Mainoo, and Bruno Fernandes seems like the perfect balance to control the game and improve upon previous displays.
With fit center-backs available, United has a strong chance to deliver a much-improved performance this time around.