Crystal Palace 1 United 2

Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount struck in the second half as Manchester United came from behind to defeat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park.

It looked as if the Red Devils might finish November without a victory in four Premier League games when Jean-Philippe Mateta put Palace ahead from the penalty spot in the 36th minute.

Under an updated law brought in for this season, Mateta was ordered to retake the spot-kick due to his initial effort being a double touch, and he converted cleanly at the second time of asking.

But United fought back after the interval as Zirkzee ended his 364-day wait for a Premier League goal, and Mount's 20-yard drive from a free-kick routine decided the contest.

United move one point above Palace, with the teams sitting seventh and ninth in the table.

How the match unfolded

A long Diogo Dalot throw caused chaos in the Palace area in the first minute as Casemiro prodded goalwards, but Dean Henderson smothered it on the line.

Casemiro also flicked a header wide while, at the other end, Mateta spun Leny Yoro to break in behind, only to drag his shot past the left post. 

Yoro was then caught on the wrong side of Mateta again and clipped his heel inside the box. The Frenchman found the bottom-left corner from the spot, but it was ruled a double touch and a retake was ordered following a VAR review. However, he held his nerve to beat Senne Lammens again, drilling into the opposite corner.

But United levelled nine minutes into the second half, with Zirkzee bringing down Bruno Fernandes' lofted free-kick before rifling beyond Henderson from a tight angle.

United's turnaround was complete nine minutes later as Fernandes rolled another set-piece to Mount, who fired his shot through a weak Palace wall and in at the near post, and the hosts never truly threatened an equaliser.

Another European hangover for Palace

Palace approached this game off the back of a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Strasbourg in the UEFA Conference League, but they knew a victory would lift them, at least temporarily, into the top four of the Premier League.

However, Oliver Glasner's side are yet to fully get into the swing of their Thursday-Sunday routine – all three of their Premier League defeats this season have come after midweek European games.

Palace were comfortably the more dangerous team in an open first half. Their first big chance saw Mateta shoot into the side netting after barging down the left flank, while Adam Wharton volleyed straight at Lammens when left unmarked.

Wharton slipped a sublime pass into Mateta in the build-up to the penalty, which saw the striker become the Premier League's first beneficiary of an updated law adopted for 2025/26, with double touch spot-kicks now retaken if the original attempt is successful.

But Palace wilted after giving up their lead early in the second half, leaving supporters to question whether fatigue was a factor at the end of another busy week.

If Palace are to make good on their ambitions to qualify for Europe again, learning to manage that workload will be vital. They are in midweek action on the domestic front against struggling Burnley.

United's forgotten men provide heroics

A run of three straight Premier League victories in October landed Ruben Amorim led to renewed hope that his team had turned a corner.

But November had proven a more challenging month, with the Red Devils drawing with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur then suffering a demoralising 1-0 defeat at home to Everton.

It looked like their downturn would continue as they ended an error-strewn first half behind. Yoro was twice caught out by the intelligent movement of Mateta, while Matthijs de Ligt was fortunate that Eddie Nketiah could not take advantage after his slip allowed the striker in.

United were again without Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko in attack, but Zirkzee and Mount grasped the opportunity to impress. 

Zirkzee's goal was his first in the Premier League for 25 games, having netted twice against Everton on December 1, 2024. The Dutchman survived a nervy moment just after scoring, though, as Noussair Mazraoui's deflection ricocheted off him and almost flew into his own net.

While Zirkzee was helped by some suspect positioning from Henderson for his strike, Mount's goal came when a glaring gap opened in Palace's wall, allowing the midfielder’s shot to soar through.

Amorim will be delighted to see his team dig out a victory without two of their big-money signings, and Thursday's home game against West Ham United offers them a chance to build further momentum.