Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho runs with the ball watched by Crystal Palace’s Chris Richards, right, during the English Premier League soccer match between Crystal Palace and Manchester United at Selhurst Park in London, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Erik ten Hag’s men had to be content with a point from their trip to Selhurst Park on Saturday as United played out a nil-nil draw against Palace.
Manchester United and Crystal Palace played out a 0-0 stalemate at Selhurst Park on Saturday as neither side was able to find the back of the net in their Premier League encounter.
Erik ten Hag’s men had to be content with a point from their trip to London as both sides failed to get the decisive touch despite a swathe of goal-scoring chances.
United boss ten Hag started proceedings with Andre Onana in goal behind the defensive quartet of Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. Christian Eriksen, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes were in the middle of the park with Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo on the flanks. Joshua Zirkzee started upfront for the visitors.
Oliver Glasner set his Palace side up with former United goalie Dean Henderson between the posts, while Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi and Chris Richards lined up in a back three. Daniel Munoz, Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada, and Tyrick Mitchell were deployed further up. Eddie Nketiah, Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta lead the attack for the Londoners.
Garnacho was played through on goal and was in a brilliant position to score during the first period, but Henderson produced a save the match the effort coming off his line.
Argentine Garnacho was unlucky to hit the bar after being played through by Dalot as his curling effort smashed against the post, before falling to Fernandes, who also clipped the bar on the second effort.
United started quick off the block after the break and Diallo nearly made his curler from the edge of the area count, but the attempt went agonisingly wide of the mark and Palace had an opportunity on the counter, which ultimately came to nothing.
Fernandes came up with a neat exchange with Zirkzee to find himself in shooting range, but his outer foot effort went just wide of the post. Garnacho tested the keeper from range around the hour mark as Henderson emerged up to the task yet again with a fine save.
Onana came up with a brilliant double save to deny Mateta’s shot from the edge of the area and Sarr’s subsequent attempt off the rebound to keep the scoreboard from ticking. Eze was inches away from helping the hosts to the lead as his attempt from inside the area went the wrong side of the post as Selhurst Park let out a collective sigh.
Rasmus Hojlund and Manuel Ugarte replaced Eriksen and Diallo with fifteen minutes to go as ten Hag sought to freshen things up with all still to play for.
However, at the end of the ninety minutes of play, a game that could have gone either way went neither way as the sides settled for a nil-nil stalemate.