After quenching their thirst for victory in September with a win against Burnley last weekend, Man Utd entered the match against Palace with confidence. Due to their Champions League commitments, the “Red Devils†were exempt from the second round, making this their first match in the journey to defend the League Cup title.
Team Lineups and Strategies: Manager Erik ten Hag made significant changes, experimenting with new approaches. Newcomer Sofyan Amrabat made his debut, slotting in as a left-back, while Mason Mount returned from injury. Substitutes like Hannibal Mejbri, Facundo Pellistri, Alejandro Garnacho, and Harry Maguire were given the opportunity, with Anthony Martial leading the attack.
Early Dominance: Man Utd pressed their opponents from the outset. After persistent efforts, they opened the scoring through a brilliant combination play. Pellistri skillfully crossed for Garnacho to find the net. Shortly after, Diogo Dalot’s cross from a corner kick found Casemiro, who headed the ball into the far corner, leaving Johnstone helpless.
Casemiro’s Redemption: Casemiro’s goal promised a psychological boost, silencing the critics of his early-season performance. Just a week ago, he showcased his class with a brace against Bayern in the Champions League. In this match, the Brazilian midfielder continued to demonstrate his threat in set-piece situations.
Casemiro’s Impact: Not only did Casemiro score, but he also provided the assist for Martial’s third goal early in the second half. His perfectly weighted cross forced Nathaniel Clyne to leave a gap for his teammate to strike. Casemiro’s performance earned him the highest rating of 8.86 from Whoscored.
