Zirkzee & Mount Magic: United Storm Back to Beat Palace 2-1 and Hit Sixth.

Zirkzee & Mount Magic: United Storm Back to Beat Palace 2-1 and Hit Sixth.

Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United: Zirkzee & Mount Fire Reds to Comeback Win as Amorim’s Men Leapfrog Palace into Sixth.

                    Selhurst Park, 1 December 2025 – Manchester United produced a stirring second-half turnaround to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 and climb to sixth in the Premier League, their highest position since March.

            Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount scored their first goals of the season within nine electric minutes after the break, cancelling out Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half penalty and handing Ruben Amorim his third consecutive league victory.

In front of a raucous away end, United overturned a 1-0 half-time deficit to leapfrog Palace in the table and move to within four points of the Champions League places. Luke Shaw, making his 300th appearance for the club, delivered a commanding display at left centre-back, while the Amorim revolution continues to gather serious momentum.

Pre-Match Context: Amorim’s United Starting to Click

United arrived in south London on the back of consecutive 3-0 and 4-0 league wins over Leicester and Ipswich. The Portuguese manager had overseen four victories and a draw in his first six games, transforming a side that looked broken under Erik ten Hag into one that now presses with ferocity and attacks with vertical intent.

Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were unbeaten in five and had taken points off Manchester City and Aston Villa in recent weeks. Selhurst Park has long been a graveyard for United — they had won just one of their last seven visits — but Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, built around high wing-backs and relentless transitions, looked tailor-made to exploit Palace’s high line.

Team news confirmed Lisandro Martínez remained on the bench after a minor knock; Luke Shaw continued as the left-sided centre-back in Amorim’s favoured back three alongside Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire. Up front, Zirkzee started ahead of Rasmus Højlund, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount in the double No.10 roles.

First Half: Palace Penalty, United Frustrated

The opening 20 minutes were frantic end-to-end stuff. Amad Diallo, sensational in recent weeks, forced Dean Henderson into a flying save with a curling 25-yarder, before Eberechi Eze’s wicked free-kick was tipped over by André Onana.

United’s high press caused chaos, but Palace struck first on 27 minutes. Tyrick Mitchell burst past Noussair Mazraoui on the left and was clumsily brought down by the Moroccan full-back inside the box. Jean-Philippe Mateta stepped up and sent Onana the wrong way from the spot. 1-0.

Selhurst erupted. United heads briefly dropped.

The remainder of the half saw Palace grow in confidence. Eddie Nketiah was denied twice — first by a brilliant last-ditch Shaw block, then by Onana’s sharp reflexes. At the other end, Zirkzee had a goal correctly ruled out for offside and Fernandes curled one inches wide.

Half-time: Palace 1-0 United. Amorim was calm but clearly demanded more.

Second Half: Amorim’s Changes Spark Red Revival

Whatever was said in the United dressing room worked wonders. From the first whistle of the second half, the visitors were unrecognisable.

52’ – Mazraoui, desperate to atone for the penalty, bombed forward and crossed low. Zirkzee met it first time on the half-volley, smashing past Henderson at his near post. 1-1. The Dutchman’s first goal since April sent the away end into ecstasy.

The goal ignited United. The press became suffocating. Palace could barely get out of their own half.

61’ – The turnaround was complete. Bruno Fernandes, now operating almost as a second striker, robbed Marc Guéhi 30 yards out, drove forward and slid a perfect through-ball for Mason Mount. The returning Englishman — who had endured a nightmare 18 months of injuries — took one touch and rifled a low drive across Henderson into the far corner. 1-2.

Selhurst was stunned into silence. Mount sprinted to the away end, cupping his ears in pure emotion. His first United goal since May 2023.

From there, United were in complete control. Højlund replaced Zirkzee on 70 minutes and nearly made it 3-1 within seconds, only for Henderson to deny him one-on-one. Amad terrorised Mitchell all evening, while Fernandes and Mount pulled the strings.

Palace threw on Jefferson Lerma and Odsonne Édouard late on, but Shaw, Maguire and De Ligt stood firm. A late Eze free-kick sailed harmlessly over.

Full-time: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United.
Key Moments & Stats
Goals: Mateta pen 27’ | Zirkzee 52’, Mount 61’
Possession: Palace 44% – United 56%
Shots (on target): Palace 9 (4) – United 18 (8)
xG: Palace 1.1 – United 2.4
Big chances created: United 5 – Palace 2
Player Ratings

Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Henderson 7; Clyne 6, Guéhi 5.5, Lacroix 6, Mitchell 7; Wharton 6.5, Hughes 6 (Lerma 75’); Nketiah 6.5, Eze 7, Doucouré 6 (Édouard 80’); Mateta 7 Best: Eze / Mitchell

Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Onana 7.5; De Ligt 8, Maguire 7.5, Shaw 9★; Mazraoui 7.5, Casemiro 7.5, Mainoo 8; Amad 8.5, Fernandes 9, Mount 8.5 (Højlund 70’ 7); Zirkzee 8 (Garnacho 80’) Man of the Match: Luke Shaw
Five Things We Learned
Amorim’s United are the real deal Three consecutive away wins, 11 goals scored, 1 conceded in the league under the Portuguese. The 3-4-3 is unlocking Amad, Fernandes and the wing-backs in ways Ten Hag never managed.

Luke Shaw is back — and in a new role Playing left centre-back in a three, Shaw was imperious: 100 % tackle success, 7 clearances, that goal-saving block on Nketiah. At 30, and on his 300th appearance, he looks reborn.

Mason Mount answers the critics First goal in 573 days. First 90 minutes in 18 months. The £55 m man finally looks like the player United bought.
Zirkzee is starting to justify the fee Took his goal brilliantly and linked play superbly. With Højlund breathing down his neck, competition is fierce — and healthy.
Selhurst curse broken United had won just once here in seven previous visits. Not anymore.

Post-Match Reaction

Ruben Amorim: “This is what I want — character, personality, to come back when things are difficult. The second half was exactly how we want to play. Sixth place is nice, but we are only in December. We keep working.”
Mason Mount: “I’ve waited a long time for that feeling. The manager and the staff believed in me even when I couldn’t train. This one is for them and the fans.”

Oliver Glasner: “We played very well first half, but second half we couldn’t handle their intensity. United were the better team after the break — we have to learn.”

What It Means
Manchester United: 6th on 28 points (level with 5th-placed Chelsea)
Next fixtures: Arsenal (H), Nottingham Forest (H), Man City (A)
The Amorim era is officially underway — and Old Trafford is starting to believe again.

From 12th to 6th in three weeks. From boos to belief. Manchester United are marching.