Manchester United are BACK in the top three after a wild comeback at Old Trafford!

Manchester United climbed into the Premier League’s top three with a hard-fought 2–1 comeback victory over 10-man Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday, extending Michael Carrick’s impressive unbeaten start as interim manager.

The visitors stunned the home crowd after just four minutes. Maxence Lacroix rose above Leny Yoro at a corner to power a header past André Onana, giving Palace the lead with the earliest league goal United have conceded this season. United struggled to find rhythm for much of the first half, with Palace looking compact, organised and dangerous on the counter as they took a 1–0 advantage into the break.

The match turned decisively early in the second half. Matheus Cunha broke into the Palace box and was dragged down by Lacroix, leaving the referee to consult VAR before awarding a penalty and showing the defender a red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Captain Bruno Fernandes stepped up and coolly converted from the spot in the 57th minute to level the scores and ignite the Old Trafford crowd.

With a man advantage, United pushed forward in search of a winner and were rewarded just eight minutes later. Fernandes delivered a teasing free-kick from the right, and Benjamin Šeško met it with a precise header to make it 2–1, completing the turnaround and registering his latest decisive contribution in a United shirt.

Palace, reduced to 10 men, tried to respond but were largely pinned back in their own half as United controlled possession and managed the closing stages professionally. The visitors’ early promise faded under the weight of United’s pressure and their numerical disadvantage, and they were unable to fashion a clear late chance to snatch a point.

The result lifts Manchester United to third place in the Premier League table on 51 points after 28 matches, marking the club’s first return to the top three since May 2023 and reinforcing their push for Champions League qualification. For Carrick, it represents a sixth win in seven league games and stretches his unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January, further strengthening his case to remain at the helm beyond this season.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, remain on 35 points and slip to 14th, left to rue Lacroix’s costly foul and a missed opportunity to claim a statement result away at Old Trafford after such a bright start.
Follow us on Tiktok for more football content