Crystal Palace vs Manchester United: Unlikely heroes Mount and Zirkzee shine as Red Devils return to winning ways

After losing to Everton less than a week ago, Manchester United claimed their first win in four games with an unconvincing 2-1 win away to Crystal Palace.

The Red Devils had unlikely heroes Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount to thank for their come-from-behind win after initially trailing thanks to a first-half penalty from Jean Phillipe Mateta.

Crystal Palace survived an early scare when Diogo Dalot’s long throw caused chaos in their penalty area, forcing Dean Henderson to deny Casemiro from close range.

Although the Brazilian later headed wide from a Bruno Fernandes free-kick, Manchester United offered little sustained threat in the first half, while defensive hesitancy caused by the low winter sun created opportunities for the hosts.

Jean-Philippe Mateta twice capitalised on errors from Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro but failed to convert, and Senne Lammens comfortably saved efforts from Daichi Kamada and Adam Wharton.

Palace eventually broke through when Yoro fouled Mateta in the box, and the striker converted a retaken penalty to give Oliver Glasner’s men a deserved half-time lead and his seventeenth league goal of 2025.

Despite struggling in recent league meetings with Palace, United re-emerged with renewed energy. Joshua Zirkzee ended a 24-match scoring drought with a superb volley early in the second half, before Mason Mount completed the comeback from a well-worked free-kick.

Palace sought a response, but United controlled the closing stages to secure only their second win in 12 away league matches. For Palace, it marked a second successive 2-1 defeat after leading, and their first home loss against United since 2020.