Man United Home Woes Continue
Man United faced another disappointing home defeat on Sunday, losing 2-0 to Crystal Palace. The match saw Jean-Philippe Mateta score both goals in the second half, handing the Red Devils their fifth loss in their last six home matches. With this victory, Crystal Palace moved ahead of United in the standings, now sitting in 12th place.
Ruben Amorim’s side had looked to continue their momentum after three straight wins, but a lack of attacking creativity and defensive lapses once again haunted the team at Old Trafford. Amorim made a questionable decision by starting without a natural striker, leaving both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee on the bench.
Despite Kobbie Mainoo starting in the center-forward role after a goal in midweek, the opening half saw limited opportunities. Mainoo’s scuffed strike hit the post, which was United’s best chance. The attacking threat quickly fizzled out.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, showed resilience despite missing their key playmaker, Eberechi Eze, for most of the match. After a brilliant free-kick from Eze, Maxence Lacroix’s header struck the bar, but the rebound fell to Mateta, who slotted the ball home to give Palace the lead.
The situation worsened for United when Lisandro Martínez was stretchered off with a potential knee injury. Palace then capitalized on a counter-attack led by Daniel Munoz, who unselfishly squared the ball for Mateta to score again, sealing the victory.
“It’s aggravating, but we need to accept the repercussions. We didn’t do enough today to earn anything from the match.” – Ruben Amorim, Man United Manager
Spurs Relieve Pressure with a 2-0 Win Over Brentford
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur eased the pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou with a 2-0 victory over Brentford, helping the team move further away from the relegation zone. Despite a series of injuries, including to key defenders Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, Spurs managed to keep a clean sheet and secure a vital win.
The match started with an own goal from Vitaly Janelt, who headed the ball into his own net after Hákon Valdimarsson misjudged a corner from Son Heung-min. Brentford pushed for an equalizer but couldn’t capitalize on their chances, with Yoane Wissa coming close by hitting the bar with a header.
Spurs sealed the win with a second goal from Pape Sarr, who slotted the ball through the legs of Valdimarsson after a counter-attack led by Son.
“We had to work hard for this victory, especially with so many players missing. But it’s a big relief to have three points.” – Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Manager
Arsenal’s Key Clash Against Manchester City
In other Premier League news, second-placed Arsenal will be hoping to narrow the gap to league leaders Liverpool, who sit nine points clear at the top. Arsenal’s next challenge is against defending champions Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium, with both teams set for a thrilling encounter at 16:30 GMT.
“Every match is a new challenge, and City will be tough, but we are ready to fight for the top spot.” – Arsenal Manager, Mikel Arteta