Zirkzee and Dalot rescue Manchester United from another points drop.
Amorim’s boys finally registered a win after Premier League matches. After losing to 10-man Everton, the media pounced on them. Amorim’s tactics looked bland in the first half. Palace was more dominant in the midfield and was getting spaces in United’s half.
Amorim changed the game in the second half. Zirkzee’s phenomenal goal and Dallot’s perfect placement helped United to get all 3 points.
Next week will be crucial for United. Amorim will try his best to maintain the winning streak and momentum.
Timeline
- 36’ GOAL! Mateta (Crystal Palace): Wharton splits United’s midfield with a clever pass, and Yoro clips Mateta in the box. The striker’s first penalty is ruled out for a double touch, but on the retake, he sends Lammens the wrong way, rolling it into the opposite corner for 1-0 Palace.
- 54’ GOAL! Zirkzee (Manchester United): United works a free-kick routine from the right. Bruno hangs a teasing ball into the area; Zirkzee cushions it on his chest and lashes a fierce volley from a tight angle past Henderson, ending his league goal drought and dragging United level.
- 63’ GOAL! Mount (Manchester United): Another set-piece, another sting. Fernandes taps a short free-kick into Mount’s path outside the box. The midfielder drives a low shot through a flimsy Palace wall and inside the near post, turning the game on its head
Final Score: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United
Tactical Breakdown
Manchester United’s 2-1 win at Crystal Palace was all about surviving a messy first half. Then, using set-piece intelligence to flip the game. Palace’s 3-4-2-1 pressed United into errors, forced long balls, and earned a penalty, which Mateta converted at the second attempt after a rare double-touch retake drama.
United’s 3-4-2-1 looked stale before the break. Wing-backs were pinned, Bruno and Mount were isolated, and Zirkzee fed on scraps. Amorim’s main tweak after halftime was psychological and positional rather than structural—pushing the back line higher and asking Bruno to drift wider to find space for deliveries.
The equaliser came from pure craft: a floated Bruno free-kick, Zirkzee’s velvet first touch, then a vicious finish from a tight angle, breaking his year-long league drought and shifting momentum instantly.
Nine minutes later, another routine killed Palace. A disguised short free-kick from Bruno to Mount, a low strike threaded through a flimsy wall, and suddenly United were in control without ever truly dominating open play.
From there, United managed territory better, Dalot and Shaw squeezing the touchlines while Palace’s legs faded. It was not a performance of flowing football, but of game management, set-piece detail, and making limited control count at exactly the right moment
Standout Performers
- Bruno Fernandes – Bruno was the brain of United’s comeback, even if he never took a shot on goal. His quick thinking from set-pieces changed the entire game: first, a clever short corner for Zirkzee’s equaliser, then a disguised tap free-kick for Mount’s winner. He kept demanding the ball, kept trying risky passes, and dragged United up the pitch when the team looked flat. With those two assists, he also moved past Paul Scholes in the Premier League assist charts for United, underlining just how decisive he remains in big moments.
- Bryan Mbeumo – This wasn’t Mbeumo’s most explosive display, but it was a grown-up one. The Palace back line kept him quiet before the break, yet he kept offering runs in behind and working the channels. In the second half, his combinations with Amad and Mount began to click, helping United pin Palace deeper and create space for Zirkzee to attack. Even without a goal or assist, his movement and pressing helped tilt the pitch United’s way as the game wore on.
- Diogo Dalot – Dalot justified his recall with a solid, no-frills performance on the left. Defensively, he handled Daniel Muñoz well, winning most of his duels and cutting out crosses when Palace tried to overload his flank. In attack, his runs in behind and long throws gave United a more direct option, useful on a tight Selhurst Park pitch. He might not have produced a decisive final ball, but his physical presence and discipline helped United lock the game down once they went in front.
Manager Reaction
🚨🗣️ Ruben Amorim on Joshua Zirkzee: “It’s so important for a striker to score.”
“He is not playing many minutes but the way he responded in the second half, the small details, win the second ball, first ball, it’s important…” pic.twitter.com/PQug8nbQ3w
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) November 30, 2025
Ruben Amorim:
“It’s so important for a striker to score.”
“He is not playing many minutes, but the way he responded in the second half, the small details, winning the second ball, first ball, it’s important…”
Stats
🇵🇹🪄 Bruno Fernandes vs Premier League Midfielders
🥇 Assists – 1st
🥇 Key passes – 1st
🥇 xG + xA – 1st
🥇 Expected goals – 1st
🥇 Progressive actions – 1st
🥇 Long passes completed – 1st
🥇 Progressive passes completed – 1st
🥇 Accurate passes to final third – 1st
🥇 Passes… pic.twitter.com/LmjingagBU— DataMB (@DataMB_) November 30, 2025
Effects on the Premier League Table
Manchester United climbs up to 7th in the table. Arsenal still leads the table by a decent gap. Amorim needs to keep winning to cement their position in the top four.
After Matchday 13 Day 2, the table looks like this:
Fan Reactions
🚨Welcome back, Lisandro Martínez!
After a long battle with injury, our warrior is finally back with the squad.
We’ve missed that passion, aggression and leadership at the back. 🔴💥#MUFC pic.twitter.com/rkOVHzy8ye
— Manchester United Forever (@UtdForever7) November 30, 2025
Conclusion
Manchester United looked nice in the second half. The absence of Cunha is still relevant. Amorim might bench some underperforming players for the next match to maintain the quality.
United won, but they never looked convincing enough throughout the 90 minutes. They need to improve a lot in the midfield and transitions.
