LAST UPDATE | 5 Dec 2021
Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace
RALF RANGNICK’S REIGN at Manchester United got off to a winning start thanks to a stunning strike from the much-maligned Fred to beat Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
A bright start from the Red Devils fizzled out without reward and the German looked like he might have to settle for a disappointing draw in his first match since taking charge until the end of the season.
But Fred, who had been a target for much of the criticism towards the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s time as manager, produced a moment of magic with a curling effort on his weaker right foot 13 minutes from time to snatch a crucial victory.
United move back to within three points of the top four and up to sixth in the Premier League table.
There were no immediate changes from Rangnick in the line-up as he named an unchanged side from Thursday’s 3-2 win over Arsenal.
But there was an instant change in approach as United pressed Palace into coughing up possession deep inside their own half twice in the first five minutes.
However, there was a lack of precision to match United’s intensity.
Cristiano Ronaldo took his tally of goals for club and country to 801 with a double in midweek, but his long wait to net from a free-kick goes on as his effort from the edge of the box did not dip in time.
Ronaldo also had a shot blocked by Marc Guehi after deciding against hitting Bruno Fernandes’ dinked pass first time.
United’s best chance of the first 45 minutes fell to Fred, but his goalbound effort was bravely diverted behind by James Tomkins.
Fernandes finally tested Vicente Guaita from Ronaldo’s knockdown before Diogo Dalot fired wastefully over on his weaker left foot with the last kick of the first half.
However, United’s early enthusiasm to impress their new boss drained away as the second half performance more closely resembled the final days of Solskjaer’s reign.
Palace should have gone in front 15 minutes from time when Jordan Ayew somehow turned Tomkins’ header back across goal and beyond the reach of Guehi at the back post.
Rangnick comes with a reputation of putting his faith in young players and showed that as he sacrificed Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford for Mason Greenwood and Anthony Elanga in search of a winner.
Greenwood made a telling contribution as it was from his layoff that Fred looped the ball over Guaita.
After a promising start to Patrick Vieira’s time at Palace, the Eagles have now failed to win in their past four and the Frenchman’s caution helped United towards a first clean sheet at Old Trafford in 16 games.
Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze were only introduced off the bench with six minutes remaining, but had little time to make an impact as a nervy United held out.
Clean sheet and a fred winner? Ralf is a genius
@Brian Dunne: just better management already… Sancho not doing it off after 62 mins get greenwood on, greenwood assist for goal, not afraid to make a call, boom!
@Brian Dunne: It was good to see him showing faith in the youngsters by bringing on Elanga and Greenwood and also giving Donny a few minutes. He will shake things up, I’ve no doubt.
@John Kelly: Actually thought Sancho played very well,so good with the ball at his feet in tight spaces. Just think he tired in the second half. Better fitness management will iron that out now.
There will be some battle for fourth spot
@Patrick O Connell: not if West Ham keep doing what they are doing!!
Fred has played very well since Solskjaer left,not saying it will happen but Henderson was in the same boat as Fred until Klopp arrived.Ragnick could well be the manager to transform Fred into the defensive midfielder that Utd have being crying out for
@John Connolly: fred gets a bad rap. He is a decent player and always puts a shift in, no matter how the game is going. People love to highlight his mistakes but are loath to give him any credit. People were all about him crocking de gea the other night against arsenal, but nobody mentions his assist or goal saving tackle in the second half. He was also one of united’s best players in ole’s original purple patch. Good to get off to a winner under ralf. Bit more of a favourable run coming up for united now than the last few weeks, hopefully get more points on the board.
@John Connolly: What a terrible comparison. Different players in different positions and Henderson was already showing promise will before klopp
@Daniel: he was close to being sold to Fulham
@Daniel: You’ve missed the point completely,I didn’t mention anything about positions,I was trying to explain how a quality manager can turn an average player into a quality player
@John Connolly: What does that have anything to with it . Thankfully the club is well run and we didn’t sell him for 1m and buy him back for 100m when became good :)
@Daniel: i dont think a zing of man utd works when you are trying to win an argument with a fellow liverpool fan.
@Daniel: nope. He was terrible pre klopp. I think he’s an excellent player but was def heading toward the door b4 klopp and pool fans quick to forget the abuse they gave him. Much like Utd fans giving Fred.
Pastor fred
Fred is now GOAT, just like stand around watch the match pass him by Ronny last week. Wow! The beat Palace 1-0 let’s start the hyperbole….. Maybe they might qualify for the Europa Cup by legitimate means this season?
@Daniel Kelly: where is the hyperbole? ABU’s love a strawman argument. Basically if a united fan is pleased with a win the42 police are first on the scene to tell them stop getting carried away.
@Fred spins kdb: Please get carried away as it will make it funnier when the new manager bounce is over and Utd play like Utd. As for hyperbole lots of Utd Fan’s were talking about a title tilt when step over Ronaldo returned. The new manager will probably need to buy a new defense and midfield to make Utd competitive in PL and CL. Furthermore, by the time that is assembled your strikers will need replacing. Not a team just overpaid individuals….
@Daniel Kelly: you sound like a spurned ex lad. Its embarassing. Follow your own team, if you actually have one, and stop obsessing over one you claim to hate so much.
@Fred spins kdb: his girlfriend left him for a united fan by the sounds of it!
@Fred spins kdb: Nearly sure it was you that asked me to explain the hyperbole comment?
@Brian Dunne:. That told me!
@Daniel Kelly: you didn’t explain it though, you brought up the reaction to ronaldos signing despite it having no relevance to this result, or the new manager, or as if it was unreasonable for fans to be excited about resigning a club legend and one of the best players of all time. You then went on an arrogant rant about the shortcomings of uniteds team, as if as all the united fans on here watching them religously are not acutely aware of them already. It’s not going to stop me or any united fan being pleased when they win. That’s not hyperbole. It’s called being a football fan. I have a mate who supports palace, i didnt aggro text him detailing the failings of their performance today or the intrinsic issues with the team. I dont understand the mentality behind it. Maybe it’s just me.
@Fred spins kdb: it’s just you
@Daniel Kelly: why are fans of English soccer ball so inarticulate?
When asked by Ralf which was his weaker foot,the one which might need more work on to score crucial goals,he got the answer. Right,said Fred.
No point to miss — they are terrible comparisons full stop even position aside. Rangnick has a lot more to achieve in his career before he can be considered a ‘quality’ manager even pre Liverpool klopp.
You getting very carried with yourself haha.
@Daniel: ok,I’ll bite,tell me what bad comparison I made,a better manager improves an average player,that’s exactly what happened to Henderson and if your read what I said I didn’t say it’s gonna happen with Fred,I said it might happen
@John Connolly: Apology accepted
Change the manager again next month to keep the results coming.
@Roger Bond: win one league in 32 years yer great.
@Derek O Connor: what league
Fred is really Brazilian after all… Who knew eh