Crystal Palace clobbered injury-plagued and passion-lacking Manchester United 4-0 at Selhurst Park on Monday as Erik ten Hag’s visiting Red Devils struggled to do much of anything while their top-six hopes took another hit.
Palace got two goals from rumored United target Michael Olise in addition to markers from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell in a performance that left no doubt which side was better on the day.
[ MORE: Erik ten Hag reacts to latest Man United messy loss ]
Palace are in great form — unbeaten in five and winning four of those — as Oliver Glasner’s project has taken off in recent weeks and the 14th-place Eagles’ 43 points have them as close to fifth as the bottom three.
WATCH CRYSTAL PALACE v MANCHESTER UNITED FULL MATCH REPLAY
Manchester United have been hit hard by injuries all season long and were forced to again play Casemiro at center back, but this performance carried no hope of overcoming the absent quality.
Ten Hag’s team has 54 points, below seventh-place Chelsea on goal differential and two points behind Newcastle United. The Red Devils also have an FA Cup Final against Manchester City and that could end up being their best route to Europe, which is stunning for a side that finished third last season.
Red Devils have no threat without Bruno Fernandes
We’ve often asked what Manchester United would be without Bruno Fernandes. If Monday is any indication, the answer is pretty darn bad.
Yes, the Red Devils were missing a boatload of players but Fernandes has been so critical to any success the club’s had this season and his purple patch in recent weeks kept the team afloat through some poor performances.
Fernandes has missed two Premier League matches this season and Man United was shutout in both of them. The 0-0 draw at Anfield in December at least carried the positives of an away draw against a bitter and better rivals, but this 4-0 loss was mostly lifeless.
The 10 goals and seven assists provided by Fernandes in Premier League play this season account for nearly one-third of the Red Devils’ 52 goals. The 29-year-old has dragged the Red Devils into the top-six fight, and on Monday it looked like they didn’t want to be there.
Sad state of affairs at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Michael Olise was electric again, his two goals on six shots stealing the headlines, but so many Palace players were terrific. Eberechi Eze won 12-of-18 duels,and USMNT back Chris Richards was nearly perfect at left center back and had an assist. Few players looked good for United, but Mason Mount stood out as a healthy man making a rare start in a lost season.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Palace go to Wolves at 10am ET Saturday, then host Aston Villa at 11am on Championship Sunday.
Man United host Arsenal at 11:30am Sunday before Newcastle come calling on May 15. Brighton host Man Utd on Championship Sunday.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 3pm ET Monday (May 6)
TV Channel: USA Network
Online: Watch live online via NBC.com
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United live updates — By Nick Mendola
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United final score: 4-0
Goalscorers: Olise (13', 66'), Mateta (40'), Mitchell (58')
Michael Olise goal — Crystal Palace 4-0 Manchester United (66th minute)
Daniel Munoz cooks Casemiro and pushes the ball into the box for Olise.
It’s a grandstand finish. What has happened to Man United?!
Tyrick Mitchell goal — Crystal Palace 3-0 Manchester United (58th minute)
Will Hughes nearly beats Andre Onana, but the United keeper turns the danger into a corner kick.
Adam Wharton starts a corner routine that comes back to him, and his swept cross is nodded back across goal by Joachim Andersen.
Mitchell pushes it home for 3-0. Another blowout coming?
Halftime — Crystal Palace 2-0 Manchester United
Man United have not produced much danger for their former goalkeeper Dean Henderson, who is waiting to make his first save.
Andre Onana at the other end has one save to go with two conceded goals, and his Red Devils are not doing much in front of him despite 62% possession.
This is a deserved 2-0 lead for Oliver Glasner’s Palace.
J-P Mateta goal! Crystal Palace 2-0 Manchester United (40th minute)
Chris Richards sends a good ball to Jean-Philippe Mateta, who cuts past Jonny Evans no problem in a move that — to borrow a hoops term — posterizes the Northern Irish back.
Mateta then tears into a left-footed shot that beats Onana upper 90. 2-0 on Mateta’s 12th Premier League goal of the season.
Garnacho wins dangerous free kick, Man Utd see goal overturned
Alejandro Garnacho dribbles across the top of the 18 and hits the deck upon a kick from Will Hughes.
Christian Eriksen and Mason Mount preside over the free kick from maybe 22 yards. His effort redirects off the wall and over the goal.
An ensuing chance sees Rasmus Hojlund go up for a 50/50 with Dean Henderson and make contact before the ball drops and bounces over the line.
There’s a brief pause before a foul is confirmed.
At the other end, Onana denies Olise on a break. There should be another goal in this, and soon.
Fortunate Man United
Mateta keeps the ball centrally before giving it to Olise, who finds a striding Munoz down the right.
Munoz cuts it back to Olise in the box and his first-time shot might’ve beaten Andre Onana had it not hit the back of Mateta.
A minute late, Olise curls a shot right to Onana.
Erik ten Hag’s men are not doing much.
Michael Olise goal! Crystal Palace 1-0 Manchester United (13th minute)
Casemiro the center back is well out from his box a la Casemiro the midfielder, and Michael Olise sends him for lunch.
Olise then drives toward the United box and gets time and space to hit a low shot across goal that Andre Onana cannot reach in time.
1-0, Eagles.
Pre-kickoff notes
Bruno Fernandes will be out for Manchester United, who are missing many others in addition to their best player. Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Scott McTominay, Luke Shaw, and Marcus Rashford remain unavailable. Mason Mount will start in a midfield with Kobbie Mainoo and Christian Eriksen. How will that play?
Palace don’t get Marc Guehi back and Jefferson Lerma also remains out but the Eagles do get another game where Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, and J-P Mateta are all able to start and that’s exceptional news.
Crystal Palace lineup
Henderson, Munoz, Clyne, Andersen, Richards, Mitchell, Wharton, Hughes, Olise, Eze, Mateta
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Casemiro, Dalot, Mainoo, Eriksen, Mount, Antony, Garnacho, Hojlund
Crystal Palace focus, team news
Palace will press United high and then rely on the quality of Eze and Olise on the ball, while Mateta is in fine form and they will look to set him free behind United’s creaking and injury-hit defensive unit. Wharton has been a revelation in midfield and he will look to get Palace going on counters early and often.
OUT: Matheus Franca (adductor), Sam Johnstone (elbow), Rob Holding (thigh), Cheick Doucoure (achilles - out for season), Jefferson Lerma (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Marc Guehi (knee)
Manchester United focus, team news
Casemiro seems likely to start at center back once again as United’s injury crisis at the back continues with Harry Maguire the latest to go down as they have no fit center backs left. United need a win to keep their Europa League hopes alive and the likes of Antony, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund will need to be sharp on the counter as United will likely soak up pressure at Palace and look to their young forward to show their quality on the break.
OUT: Harry Maguire (muscle), Victor Lindelof (thigh), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (thigh), Lisandro Martinez (calf), Raphael Varane (ankle), Willy Kambwala (undisclosed) | QUESTIONABLE: Anthony Martial (groin), Bruno Fernandes (undisclosed), Scott McTominay (knee), Marcus Rashford (ankle), Jonny Evans (undisclosed)
