Premier League

MANCHESTER UNITED were held at Crystal Palace on a cold Wednesday evening in South London. Bruno Fernandes’ first-half strike was cancelled out by Michael Olise’s stunning late free-kick.
Bruno Fernandes netted Man Utd’s openerCredit: Reuters
Wout Weghorst made his debutCredit: Getty
But an on-fire David De Gea could do nothing to prevent Michael Olise’s late free-kickCredit: Getty
David De Gea produced a save-of-the-season contender to keep the Eagles at bay in the first half and another strong save in the second, but could do nothing about the free-kick.
While United dominated proceedings in the first half, it was Palace who had the advantage in the second.
Wilfried Zaha in particular caused issues and forced a foul from Casemiro which saw a yellow card issued and will make him miss the weekend clash at Arsenal.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated the Red Devils.
David De Gea – 7
Produced a vital stop just before United’s opener by tipping Odsonne’s Edouard’s effort onto the crossbar.
Absolutely nothing he could do though about Michael Olise’s stunning late free-kick, which crashed in off the bar.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka – 8
Kept up his renaissance with an impressive display, showing willing running down the right and some assured dribbling.
Almost had an assist when crossing for Luke Shaw and won his battle against old mucker Wilfried Zaha.
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Raphael Varane – 7
His partnership with Lisandro Martinez continues to blossom the more they play together.
Showed good pace to race back when Jean-Philippe Mateta was set to pounce on a loose Martinez header.
Lisandro Martinez – 8
Call him Lisandro Butcher. The World Cup winner had his head bandaged up like old Terry after Edouard’s accidental elbow sent him flying.
Outmuscled Mateta at times, despite their size difference, and often brought the ball out of defence with his neat dribbling.
Luke Shaw – 7
The man Erik ten Hag calls a “leader” of his team had another solid game.
Fired a volley wide, showed bravery in the air and almost created Wout Weghorst’s first United goal when the debutant headed his cross onto the roof of the net.
Casemiro – 7
Tidy performance as ever but a late yellow card for a cynical foul on Zaha means he is suspended for Sunday’s titanic clash with Arsenal.
Will be a huge loss given his impact this season since arriving from Real Madrid.
Casemiro will now miss Sunday’s clash against Arsenal owing to the yellow he picked upCredit: PA
Christian Eriksen – 8
Remember when Danny Murphy thought Eriksen would merely be a squad player, someone who would not help United get back to competing at the top?
The freebie Dane picked up his seventh Premier League assist of the season – only beaten by Kevin De Bruyne – by teeing up Fernandes.
Antony – 5
Full of running and full of fire, arguing with both opponent Tyrick Mitchell and his own team-mate Fernandes during the first half.
But did not offer a whole lot more apart from a few tame efforts.
Bruno Fernandes – 7
Was having a mixed game with some decent passes, a few slow touches and a mini-row with Antony… and then he scored.
Lovely finish into the far corner for his fifth for United of the season. Should be targeting far more than that from now until May.
Fernandes fired in United’s opener and put in a strong performance overallCredit: Getty
Marcus Rashford – 6
The man of the moment but not the man of this match. Rashford’s touch looked assured and was full of positive movement but did not threaten too much here.
Fired a free-kick well wide before the break and smashed over after it.
Wout Weghorst – 6
Did pretty well on debut, offering his side a focal point up top and working hard to win back possession.
The nearest he came to a goal was heading Shaw’s cross onto the roof of the net half an hour into the game.
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Scott McTominay (on for Weghorst, 69) – 6
Wanted a penalty when challenged by Chris Richards, but nothing was given.
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Alejandro Garnacho (on for Antony, 70) – 6
You can tell how much confidence this lad has when he’s telling Eriksen where to pass it.
Fred (on for Eriksen, 83) – 6
Brought on to close it out before Palace’s equaliser. More

MICHAEL OLISE ended Manchester United’s winning run in stunning style with a late free kick. Erik ten Hag’s United looked on course for a sixth straight Premier League victory after Bruno Fernandes’ opener.
Michael Olise’s free kick levelled the game for Crystal PalaceCredit: Dan Weir / MatchDay Images Limited
David de Gea was left helpless to the effortCredit: Reuters

But winger Olise curled in a stunner from range to share the points at Selhurst Park.
It leaves United third place, level on points with champions City, who are trailing behind league leaders Arsenal.
Bruno Fernandes told Sky Sports: “We knew it’s tough to play here. We could have lost the game.
“We’re not happy with a draw. We should have taken our chances and closed the game.
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“They scored a great goal at the end. Nothing we can do now. We have to look forward now.
“Other games are coming. We’re still doing good things. We’re really disappointed with the result but the next one is close.
“We have to prepare the game. Not too much time to recover.”
For Palace, they avoided a third consecutive defeat and sit in 12th.
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Manager Patrick Viera said: “I think we deserved the point.
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“Really challenging against a really good side. We found it difficult to close them down but we managed to stay in the game.
“In the last 15 minutes we put pressure on them. Michael scored that free-kick. It was tough, we worked hard and we got rewarded.
“I saw organisation, really good team spirit, communication. We kept our discipline and that helped us stay in the game.”
Crystal Palace players celebrates Michael Olise’s late equaliserCredit: Getty More

HOLD the champagne and put the bunting away.Manchester United’s Premier League title dreams are on the back burner after their nine-match winning run was brought to a dramatic end at Selhurst Park.
Bruno Fernandes’ opener looked to have won the game for UnitedCredit: Reuters
Michael Olise’ stunner earned Crystal Palace a pointCredit: Getty
Michael Olise’s stunning 90th minute equaliser wrecked Erik ten Hag’s hopes of moving up to second place in the table for the first time in God knows how long.
And now they must travel to League leaders Arsenal on Sunday without midfield general Casemiro, who collected his fifth booking of the season and will now be suspended for United’s biggest game of the season.
It was a bitter pill for the travelling fans to swallow after it looked for all the world as though their team were firmly on course for a  tenth straight victory.
But then Luke Shaw tripped Jeffrey Schlupp on the edge of the area and Olise delivered an inch perfect free-kick off the underside bar and over the line.
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Yet even that cruel denouement should not take the gloss off another encouraging performance for a United team who are now level on points with the noisy neighbours.
So it’s hard to believe that it was less than eight months ago that Erik ten Hag was sitting in the stand at Selhurst Park wondering what the hell he had just signed up for.
Because the last time United travelled to Crystal Palace on the final day of last season, they stank the place out. 
A miserable 1-0 defeat meant they finished the campaign a mammoth 35 points behind City and desperately clinging on to the last available Europa League spot.
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But now they are genuine title contenders once again and playing with the kind of swagger not seen since Sir Alex Ferguson was calling the shots.
There were only two survivors from last May’s Palace debacle in last night’s starting line-up and both played a key role again.
Skipper Bruno Fernandes scored the all-important breakthrough goal just minutes after David de Gea’s fingertip save had clipped the Eagles’ wings.
Usually when United get their noses in front there is only going to be one outcome. In fact last night was the first time all season they had not gone on to win the game after taking the lead.
But the signs of nerves were there when Brazilian show pony Antony clashed with Fernandes after accusing his skipper of failing to make a run.
He had already taken exception to being flung to one side by Palace full-back Tyrick Mitchell and was clearly in the mood for a row.
Fortunately for United, they had the calming influence of Casemiro to cool his compatriot down before things got out of hand.
Fernandes fired United aheadCredit: Reuters
Olise made it 1-1 with a fine free-kickCredit: Getty
Absolutely nothing seems to ruffle the veteran midfielder, who was even happy to pose for a selfie with a second-half pitch invader before the miscreant was eventually led away by the stewards. 
He might have been only one booking away from ban but Casemiro has become so integral to ten Hag’s plans that there was no way he was going to be left out of this one.
But it was a gamble which backfired when he scythed down Wilfried Zaha in the 80th minute and could have absolutely no complaints when he received his fifth yellow card of the season.
And how he will be missed at Arsenal on Sunday.
He will never be the most eye-catching of United’s players but the way he protects his back four and tidies up in the middle of the park has been key to his team’s recent revival.
His mere presence in the engine room gives Fernandes and Christian Eriksen licence to push forward and both men were quick to take advantage of that freedom.
Twice in the opening ten minutes, Fernandes delivered perfect passes into the danger zone which Marcus Rashford and Antony were unable to take advantage of.
Then it was Eriksen’s turn to threaten with a rasping first-time effort which whistled just past the far post before Luke Shaw’s cross picked out Wout Wegorst for a header which looped just the wrong side of the bar.
The giant Dutchman might not be every United fan’s cup of tea after arriving on loan from Burnley last week but he gives their team a serious physical presence up front.
No-one relished a scrap with United more than Patrick Vieira during his time as a midfield enforcer but these days the Palace boss is confined to the sidelines and unable to offer much more than encouragement and tactical advice.
But there was little he could say to striker Jean-Philippe Mateta which was going to help end Palace’s recent goal drought.
The powerful target man controls the ball further than most players can kick it and so many Palace attacks floundered due to his inability to retain possession.
So it was left to Odsonne Edouard to briefly threaten United’s serene progress with a 40th minute shot on the turn which required a fingertip save from de Gea to push the ball against the bar.
But if Vieira thought that the tide was finally turning, his hopes were cruelly shattered four minutes later when Fernandes forced the breakthrough which United’s domination deserved.
Rashford’s pass picked out Eriksen’s forward run and when he pulled the ball back for Fernandes he had enough time and space to take a touch before lashing an unstoppable shot into the far corner.
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It was only his fifth goal of the season yet no-one can question his growing influence on a team which is clearly going places again after far too long in the doldrums.
But Palace simply refused to accept their fate and Olise’s stoppage-time stunner means United remain eight points behind Arsenal having played a game more.
Erik ten Hag’s was not a happy figure after United dropped points late onCredit: Getty More

CASEMIRO was hailed after being left unfazed as a fan ran onto the field to take a selfie with the Manchester United star.With United leading 1-0 at Selhurst Park, a supporter evaded security to snap a picture with Casemiro.
A pitch invader takes a selfie with Manchester United’s CasemiroCredit: PA
And the Brazilian looked completely unbothered as he posed for a picture and even gave a little smile.
One fan said: “Cannot get over Casemiro posing for the photo! LEGEND.”
Another added: “Casemiro just casually posing for a selfie. Guy’s a living legend.”
One posted: “Casemiro is class man. Stands there and smiles for the lad.”
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There was plenty to smile about for United’s players and fans, as Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring.
But one supporter took it one step further as he sprinted onto the Palace pitch to meet Casemiro.
It came on the same week a disgraced Tottenham supporter KICKED Aaron Ramsdale after the conclusion of the North London derby.
Ramsdale helped keep a clean sheet as Arsenal beat Spurs 2-0 away from home.
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But things turned ugly as the England keeper went to collect his water bottle following the final whistle.
A 35-year-old Spurs fan named Joseph Watts kicked Ramsdale in the back and has subsequently been charged by the Met Police.
He was charged with assault by beating, trespassing onto a football pitch and throwing a missile.
Aaron Ramsdale was kicked by a Tottenham fan at the weekendCredit: Sky Sports More