Manchester United continue to make the Premier League look easy, smashing Crystal Palace 4-0 at Old Trafford.
United came into the game with high spirits, following an emphatic midweek 4-1 victory over Moscow in the Champions League. Mourinho went with his standard Premier League starting XI, with the devastating front 4 of Rashford, Mata, Micky, and Lukaku starting in attack.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, have had an abysmal start to their season. They have lost all 6 of their opening Premier League matches, and have yet to score a goal. They’ve already gone through a managerial change, as former England manager Roy Hodgson took over after the firing of Frank De Boer. Palace also came into to Old Trafford with a lengthy injury list. Benteke, Zaha, Loftus-Cheek, and Tomkins were all out through injury, and Fosu-Mensah was unavailable as United are his parent club.
Within the first two minutes, United had already grabbed a goal. Rashford spun around his marker, and fired a low cross into the penalty area. It fell to Juan Mata, who made no mistake by placing it into the corner. Palace’s gameplan to sick back and defend was immediately thrown out the window.
Palace had a decent chance to grab their first goal of the campaign, when Cabaye’s whipped in cross found Sakho, but the former Liverpool man headed it wide.
The match hit a bit of a lull, as neither team could carve out any solid chances.
That changed 10 minutes before half-time. Ashley Young got the ball on the left wing, and cut inside on his stronger right foot. He whipped in a delightful cross to the back post, over the heads of the Palace defenders, right to Fellaini. The Belgian got his foot to the ball, and volleyed it past Hennessey.
Smalling almost got on the score-sheet soon after, but his header from a United corner just went wide of the post.
Young continued to shine, as he danced around one defender and nutmegged another, before being taken down by a third.
The free-kick awarded to United for that foul lead to the third goal of the game. Rashford smashed it across the face of goal, and Fellaini was able to head it in from a yard out. It was the Belgians second of the match, and fans began to dream of a Fellaini hat trick.
There was a slight scare for United fans as Rashford was on the ground receiving treatment. A stray hand from Sakho smacked Rashford in the gut, knocking the air out of him. He was able to get back up and continue.
Lukaku could’ve got on the scoresheet himself when Lingard played him through, but his placed effort rolled by the wrong side of the post.
Martial came on for Rashford, and immediately put on a show. He danced by the Palace full-back and crossed it into the area, but it was well dealt with by Sakho. Martial picked the ball back up and instantly nutmegged his marker, sending Old Trafford into a round of applause.
Juan Mata came off for Ander Herrera, as Mourinho looked to kill off the game defensively.
Martial had a good chance to add a 4th goal when he was played through by Ander Herrera on a counter attack. Martial had to take it with his weaker left foot, and was only able to force a save out of Hennessy.
Lukaku was able to grab a goal of his own five minutes before full time. A slick forward attack was finished off when Martial’s low cross was tapped in by Lukaku.
It was another clean sheet at home for United, and another four goal output from the attacking line.
United’s next game following the international break is away to Anfield, to face off against bitter rivals Liverpool.
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