Jean-Philippe Mateta is very much back to his best with Crystal Palace.The French striker hit a barren patch of form at the start of the season with the south London side struggling after key exits

Mateta now has six goals in his last five outings for the Eagles, and his afternoon put into brutal perspective United’s own struggles up front. Ruben Amorim felt so unconvinced by Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee that he started without either, and without a striker at all. Neither man did anything once they came on.

Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta scored two goals in an impressive 2-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday. United boss Ruben Amorim deployed midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in a false nine role – but the experiment largely failed – as the Red Devils suffered a seventh defeat in their last 11 Premier League matches.