Ole Gunnar Solskjaer talks to his Manchester United players during a drinks break

Talking points from United's Palace triumph

Thursday 16 July 2020 23:43

Manchester United kept the pressure on our rivals looking to qualify for the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at in the Premier League.

A composed Marcus Rashford finish put the Reds in front in the first half before Anthony Martial secured the points at Selhurst Park with a strike in the second period.

Front-three fire power


Martial, Rashford and Mason Greenwood have now scored a total of 60 times between them this season, after Anthony and Marcus both notched their 22nd goals of the campaign on Thursday night. The Frenchman has now found the net on 12 occasions in all competitions in 2020 – more than any other Premier League player.

Another record for De Gea

Having recently passed Peter Schmeichel’s appearance tally for a United player from outside the UK and Ireland, David De Gea has now matched the Dane’s clean-sheets total for the club in the Premier League. The Spaniard made several impressive saves against the Eagles to equal Schmeichel’s haul of 112 matches in the competition without conceding – the most notable being a stretching stop to keep out Luka Milivojevic’s free-kick, which looked destined for the top corner on the stroke of half-time.

Champions League challenge continues

Leicester City’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United earlier in the evening meant the Reds needed to win to keep pace with our rivals for a top-four place. The victory at Selhurst Park keeps United level with the Foxes on points and only outside a Champions League spot on goal difference. With two games to go, our Premier League destiny remains in our own hands with a trip to the King Power in store on the final day.
Fine margins

Ten minutes into the second half, the hosts thought they were on level terms when Jordan Ayew arrived at the back post to turn in Wilfried Zaha’s shot-come-cross.

However, the goal was rightly ruled out after VAR official Simon Hooper spotted that the Ghanaian was millimetres offside when the ball was played across the penalty area and United’s advantage was maintained.
Fosu-Mensah returns

Making his first start for the Reds in over three years, Tim Fosu-Mensah will not only be pleased by the result, but the clean sheet too. The 22-year-old, who came in at left-back in place of the injured Luke Shaw and Brandon Williams, last lined up for United in May 2017, also against Crystal Palace – whom he has also played for, on loan.

All eyes on Wembley


Despite the intensity of the hunt for a Champions League place, United also still have eyes on two pieces of silverware this season and Sunday sees the Reds in Emirates FA Cup semi-final action against Chelsea. It’s the 30th time we’ve been in the last four of the competition and a win at Wembley would take us to our 21st final.

We are all United as the Reds go marching on! On sale now, get your 2019/20 kit while stocks last.

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