Manchester United racked up their 13th Premier League defeat of the season as they were thrashed by Crystal Palace on Monday night.
An injury-ravaged squad had little answer to the home side’s dangerous attack as Michael Olise bagged an impressive double alongside efforts from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell.
The result leaves United down in eighth with a negative goal difference, with manager Erik ten Hag not knowing where to look after arguably the worst result of his reign at Old Trafford so far.
So, did anyone impress at Selhurst Park? Here are Man Utd’s best and worst performers from the 4-0 loss, courtesy of 90min’s player ratings.
Man Utd’s best players vs Crystal Palace
Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund – 5/10
Mainoo and Mount offered moments of resistance / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages
Er, well, this is a bit awkward. Truth be told, there wasn’t really a ‘best player’ for United on Monday night – just players who were less culpable than others. That’s the case for the quartet above.
Kobbie Mainoo, Mason Mount, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund were all caught up in the storm but were the least damaging of United’s troops on the night.
Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund have been bright sparks in a difficult campaign while Mount has only just shaken off the injury problems that have plagued his first season at Old Trafford. They weren’t to blame for the hefty loss but undeniably have to learn from such a chastening experience.
Man Utd’s worst player vs Crystal Palace
Casemiro – 1/10
Casemiro was all over the place / ADRIAN DENNIS/GettyImages
It’s really difficult to know where to start with Casemiro’s performance as a fill-in centre-back. Things started badly when Olise rolled away from the Brazilian with incredible ease and his decision-making only got worse and worse as the game progressed.
Having rushed out to hand Palace their first goal, the former Real Madrid midfielder’s night got worse when he had possession stolen off him by Daniel Munoz, who then assisted Olise as the French attacker belted in his second of the evening.
With so many absentees, United could have done with a mature outing from a player who has won it all at club level. Instead, he displayed the grace of a reversing dump truck without any tyres on.
Dishonourable mention
Jonny Evans – 3/10
Evans was essentially powerless / Alex Pantling/GettyImages
United’s problems clearly do not start and end with veteran defender Jonny Evans. The Northern Irishman has been a steady head at points in 2023/24 and the side would be worse off without him given the injuries sustained by Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof throughout the campaign.
Having not played for a month due to a fitness issue of his own, Evans understandably looked off it from minute one. He could only fling a leg towards Mateta before the striker put Palace 2-0 up with a devastating finish.
Ten Hag clearly needed someone to play alongside Casemiro at the back, but Evans could do little against the fervent Palace attack.
….another dishonourable mention
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 3/10
Wan-Bissaka couldn’t deal with Olise or Munoz / ADRIAN DENNIS/GettyImages
Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s defensive attributes have always been hailed as his strongest, but none of those skills were evident on his return to his old stomping ground.
With little defensive organisation around him, the former Palace defender didn’t know whether to track Olise or flying wing-back Munoz and ended up dazed and confused as the Eagles duo bagged braces of goals and assists respectively.
He hardly looks comfortable in possession, either.
