EPL: Man United lose 3-1 to Palace in season opener

But they could have no complaints about the result as they looked way off the pace in their first match of the new campaign, little over a month since they ended the last one with defeat to Sevilla in the Europa League semi-finals.
United finished last season on a 14-match unbeaten run in the Premier League to secure a third-place finish and raise hopes of mounting a title challenge to rivals Liverpool and Manchester City this season.
But on this evidence they need far more than the solitary signing of Donny Van de Beek, who scored on his debut, to compete at the top of the table.
Solskjaer kept faith with De Gea in goal ahead of Dean Henderson, who has returned to Old Trafford from an impressive loan spell at Sheffield United.
The Spanish international was beaten after just seven minutes but was blameless as the United defence was carved open by Jeffrey Schlupp’s run and cross from the left and Townsend ghosted in ahead of Luke Shaw to convert at the far post.
Solskjaer had left Mason Greenwood on the bench after complaining he was thrust into the spotlight too soon by England after the 18-year-old was sent home in disgrace from international duty for breaking coronavirus protocols.
But without the teenager, United looked toothless in attack, while Palace always posed a threat on the counter-attack.
De Gea justified his inclusion even before the penalty save with a brilliant stop from Ayew in first-half stoppage time to keep the Red Devils in the game.
Greenwood was called for at half-time and he headed wide United’s best chance to equalise from Timothy Fonsu-Mensah’s cross.
Zaha failed to make the grade in two seasons at United, but with Alex Ferguson, the man who signed him in 2013, in attendance, he showed why remains in such high demand.
The Ivorian’s first goal of the afternoon was ruled out by the offside flag from another promising Palace counter-attack.