Manchester United lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday, continuing their terrible home record this season.
Palace was the superior team in the first half at Old Trafford, squandering multiple chances to take advantage of their superiority, even though United was attempting to win four straight games in all competitions.
After 64 minutes, the visitors did score one goal, with Jean-Philippe Mateta giving his team a well-earned lead by being the first to react after the ball had struck the crossbar.
United tried to equalise but ran out of ideas. Mateta’s late second goal condemned the home team to their sixth league loss this season, and Palace moved up to 12th position in the standings, above 13th-place United.
After defeating Steaua Bucharest in all competitions for the third time in a row on Thursday, United entered Sunday’s match riding their greatest run under Amorim.
However, since taking over in late November, Amorim has not yet experienced consecutive league victories.
Since Tommy Docherty in 1972–73, no United manager has had to wait that long to do it.
Following a pregame memorial service for the victims of the Munich air disaster 67 years ago, Kobbie Mainoo, in a new role as a centre striker, nearly gave United the winning start by hitting the post with a deflected shot.
Early on, Palace, who had won four of their previous five away games, were more dangerous as defenders Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell came close to opening the scoring.
As halftime drew near, Mateta was denied by a spectacular save by Andre Onana as the visitors persisted in their pressure.
After failing to score in the first half of a league game once more, United needed to improve.
This season, they have already gone 18 games without scoring in the first half.
The visitors’ effort was rewarded with Mateta’s close-range finish after Maxence Lacroix’s header struck the crossbar, but Palace custodian Dean Henderson was eventually put into action, making deft saves to deny Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte.
In the 89th minute, Mateta completed a Palace counter to send the away fans into raptures, but despite all of their pressure, United’s openings fell flat.
In addition to 1893-94, United has now lost seven of their first 13 league home games this season, which is tied for the most at this point in the season.
In the second half, United defender Lisandro Martinez appeared to have suffered a major knee injury and was taken off on a stretcher.
