Man Utd player ratings: Amad Diallo best of bad bunch in Palace horror show as Harry Maguire dominated by Mateta

RUBEN AMORIM’s striker experiment went down like a lead balloon as Crystal Palace cruised to a 2-0 win over Manchester United. United’s set pieces woes continued. And double goalscorer Jean-Philippe Mateta was the only striker on the Old Trafford pitch on Sunday. AlamyKobbie Mainoo started ahead of both strikers Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund[/caption] GettyRuben Amorim and Oliver Glasner carried wreaths to mark the anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster[/caption] Amorim‘s latest bold tactic saw midfielder Kobbie Mainoo lead the line as the No.9. And it failed miserably, on a day that the club paid tribute to the Munich Air Disaster. Mainoo starred as a No.10 in United’s Europa League win against FCSB win on Thursday. But Amorim can’t do this again in the Premier League. United started well but soon struggled to get out of their own half as Palace established a foothold and were organised without the ball. The Red Devils had ten shots in the first-half, with zero on target. And Oliver Glasner showed United how to use wing-backs. Here SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rates and slates every United player… Andre Onana – 5 Was left vulnerable by a shaky back-line and beaten by Lacroix’s looping header, which came off the crossbar into Mateta’s path. But he couldn’t do much about the second goal. His opposite number Dean Henderson, who departed Old Trafford for Selhurst Park in 2022, had a great game, though. Leny Yoro – 5 Came in for De Ligt, who was benched. Was inches away from scoring his first United goal early on. Did well to block Mitchell after a Mazraoui error, but his positioning was a problem later in the game. Harry Maguire – 3 Lost his battle with centre forward Mateta, who held the ball up well and got in behind every time, and was left stranded for the Frenchman’s first goal. Hasn’t connected with Yoro. Palace, namely Sarr, opened them both up with ease and should’ve buried some chances through Mateta. Lisandro Martinez – 6 Was stretchered off after jarring his knee in the 79th minute. Seems to be enjoying his new role in Amorim’s 3-4-3, with sharp, crisp passing from deep into the forward lines. The Argentine has been scoring the goals recently, but blazed a centre-back’s shot over the bar on the brink of half-time. Martinez was left in tears as he was stretchered off Noussair Mazraoui – 5 He was okay in the right wing-back role again but it is obviously not his best position. Struggled with the dual threat of Mitchell and Daichi Kamada down Palace’s left side. Was asked to shoot too often, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee both sitting on the bench. Replaced in the second half. Diogo Dalot – 4 Bizarrely ducked for Daniel Munoz’s back post headed chance on 10 minutes. Awful link-up play with a horrible blind pass inside the Palace box in a promising team position before the break. He’s not a left winger and it’s clear why Patrick Dorgu has been signed. Manuel Ugarte – 6 Missing in the middle when Mateta’s stunning 80-yard run. Missed half a chance in the second-half. Bruno Fernandes – 5 Restricted. Couldn’t get forward much and was unlucky not to score from his usual 20-yard territory after being denied by Henderson. Was one of three United players booked. GettyBruno Fernandes struggled to break Palace down in the first-half[/caption] Amad Diallo – 6 Great individual runs, on and off the ball. Dropped to wing-back after Mainoo came off and was involved in anything good creatively. Alejandro Garnacho – 5 Predictable build-up. But worked hard tracking back as one of the two 10s. Was quieter in the second half and struggled to step up when the going got tough. Kobbie Mainoo – 4 Huge experiment by Amorim to have Mainoo lead the line, albeit falsely. It didn’t pay off, but it wasn’t all his fault. It looked promising early on when the England star set up Garnacho and hit post inside six minutes. But he didn’t get the service or have the hold up play required to be effective. SUBS Hojlund (’70 for Mainoo) – 5 Came on for the last 20 minutes and ran around a bit without doing much of note. Zirkzee (’70 for Mazraoui) – 5 As above, not a great deal to write home about despite trying to make things happen. De Ligt (’80 for Martinez) – N/A Christian Eriksen (’87 for Ugarte) – N/A

Feb 3, 2025 - 04:34
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Man Utd player ratings: Amad Diallo best of bad bunch in Palace horror show as Harry Maguire dominated by Mateta

RUBEN AMORIM’s striker experiment went down like a lead balloon as Crystal Palace cruised to a 2-0 win over Manchester United.

United’s set pieces woes continued. And double goalscorer Jean-Philippe Mateta was the only striker on the Old Trafford pitch on Sunday.

Kobbie Mainoo of Manchester United dribbling the ball during a soccer match.
Alamy
Kobbie Mainoo started ahead of both strikers Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund[/caption]
Two soccer managers carrying wreaths onto a field.
Getty
Ruben Amorim and Oliver Glasner carried wreaths to mark the anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster[/caption]

Amorim‘s latest bold tactic saw midfielder Kobbie Mainoo lead the line as the No.9. And it failed miserably, on a day that the club paid tribute to the Munich Air Disaster.

Mainoo starred as a No.10 in United’s Europa League win against FCSB win on Thursday. But Amorim can’t do this again in the Premier League.

United started well but soon struggled to get out of their own half as Palace established a foothold and were organised without the ball.

The Red Devils had ten shots in the first-half, with zero on target. And Oliver Glasner showed United how to use wing-backs.

Here SunSport’s Katherine Walsh rates and slates every United player…

Andre Onana – 5

Was left vulnerable by a shaky back-line and beaten by Lacroix’s looping header, which came off the crossbar into Mateta’s path.

But he couldn’t do much about the second goal.

His opposite number Dean Henderson, who departed Old Trafford for Selhurst Park in 2022, had a great game, though.

Leny Yoro – 5

Came in for De Ligt, who was benched. Was inches away from scoring his first United goal early on.

Did well to block Mitchell after a Mazraoui error, but his positioning was a problem later in the game.

Harry Maguire – 3

Lost his battle with centre forward Mateta, who held the ball up well and got in behind every time, and was left stranded for the Frenchman’s first goal.

Hasn’t connected with Yoro. Palace, namely Sarr, opened them both up with ease and should’ve buried some chances through Mateta.

Lisandro Martinez – 6

Was stretchered off after jarring his knee in the 79th minute.

Seems to be enjoying his new role in Amorim’s 3-4-3, with sharp, crisp passing from deep into the forward lines.

The Argentine has been scoring the goals recently, but blazed a centre-back’s shot over the bar on the brink of half-time.

Injured soccer player being carried off the field on a stretcher.
Martinez was left in tears as he was stretchered off

Noussair Mazraoui – 5

He was okay in the right wing-back role again but it is obviously not his best position.

Struggled with the dual threat of Mitchell and Daichi Kamada down Palace’s left side.

Was asked to shoot too often, with Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee both sitting on the bench. Replaced in the second half.

Diogo Dalot – 4

Bizarrely ducked for Daniel Munoz’s back post headed chance on 10 minutes.

Awful link-up play with a horrible blind pass inside the Palace box in a promising team position before the break. He’s not a left winger and it’s clear why Patrick Dorgu has been signed.

Manuel Ugarte – 6

Missing in the middle when Mateta’s stunning 80-yard run. Missed half a chance in the second-half.

Bruno Fernandes – 5

Restricted. Couldn’t get forward much and was unlucky not to score from his usual 20-yard territory after being denied by Henderson.

Was one of three United players booked.

Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United gesturing during a match.
Getty
Bruno Fernandes struggled to break Palace down in the first-half[/caption]

Amad Diallo – 6

Great individual runs, on and off the ball. Dropped to wing-back after Mainoo came off and was involved in anything good creatively.

Alejandro Garnacho – 5

Predictable build-up. But worked hard tracking back as one of the two 10s.

Was quieter in the second half and struggled to step up when the going got tough.

Kobbie Mainoo – 4

Huge experiment by Amorim to have Mainoo lead the line, albeit falsely. It didn’t pay off, but it wasn’t all his fault.

It looked promising early on when the England star set up Garnacho and hit post inside six minutes.

But he didn’t get the service or have the hold up play required to be effective.

SUBS

Hojlund (’70 for Mainoo) – 5

Came on for the last 20 minutes and ran around a bit without doing much of note.

Zirkzee (’70 for Mazraoui) – 5

As above, not a great deal to write home about despite trying to make things happen.

De Ligt (’80 for Martinez) – N/A

Christian Eriksen (’87 for Ugarte) – N/A