Crystal Palace 2-3 Manchester United: 5 Talking Points

#3 Marcus Rashford’s introduction swings the game in United’s favour

Impact sub

With Scott McTominay struggling to cope with a physically powerful Palace team and already on a yellow card he received in the first half, Jose Mourinho hauled him off at the interval and replaced him with Rashford.

The move immediately paid dividends, as the 20-year old slalomed his way towards the left byline and posed the first real threat to Wayne Hennessey’s goal.

United looked reluctant to use the flanks in the first half and Rashford’s introduction galvanized the visitors almost instantly.

Despite conceding the second goal to quick Palace thinking early in the second half, United was in the ascendancy and one could sense that the comeback was truly on.

Rashford’s intensity helped Antonio Valencia find his feet in the game, as he too began surging up the pitch and putting in crosses, one of which perfectly found the head of Chris Smalling to halve the deficit.

The rejig in personnel late in the game – with Luke Shaw replacing Ashley Young and Lingard replacing Valencia at right-back to accommodate Juan Mata – put United in the driver’s seat.

Rashford gave young wan-Bissaka a hard outing on one wing, while van Aanholt was mainly resorting to defensive duties against the pace of Lingard and Mata’s inward approaches.