Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace: Ralf Rangnick's reign starts with a win as Fred scores

Manchester United made a winning start to life under interim boss Ralf Rangnick thanks to Fred's 77th-minute winner.

A more energetic United display looked like going unrewarded against a dogged Crystal Palace outfit until Fred struck first-time from Mason Greenwood's lay-off to send a superb 20-yard effort curling over Vicente Guaita and into the top corner.

It was only Fred's second goal of the season - and the first time since the middle of September that United have recorded back-to-back league wins.

Until the Brazilian's effort, Rangnick's side created numerous decent chances, without really looking as though they were going to score and Guaita would probably have saved an Alex Telles free-kick that skimmed the bar had it been on target.

Indeed Palace, who were looking to win for a third successive season at Old Trafford, came close themselves when Jordan Ayew turned James Tomkins header across the face of goal and narrowly wide of the far post.

The victory meant that Rangnick emulated three of United's other four new managers since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 by winning his first match at the helm, with Louis van Gaal the only man to fail.

More to follow.

helpHow to play

Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection

Manchester United

Crystal Palace

Squad number13Player nameGuaita

Squad number17Player nameClyne

Squad number5Player nameTomkins

Squad number6Player nameGuéhi

Squad number3Player nameMitchell

Squad number15Player nameSchlupp

Squad number8Player nameKouyaté

Squad number23Player nameGallagher

Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew

Squad number20Player nameBenteke

Squad number11Player nameZaha

Squad number7Player nameOlise

Squad number10Player nameEze

Squad number22Player nameÉdouard

Line-ups

Man Utd

Formation 4-2-3-1

1de Gea

20Dalot2Lindelöf5Maguire27Telles

39McTominay17Fred

25Sancho18Bruno Fernandes10Rashford

7Cristiano Ronaldo

Substitutes

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-3-3

13Guaita

17Clyne5Tomkins6Guéhi3Mitchell

15Schlupp8Kouyaté23Gallagher

9J Ayew20Benteke11Zaha

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Manchester United 1, Crystal Palace 0.

Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Crystal Palace 0.

Dangerous play by Anthony Elanga (Manchester United).

Tyrick Mitchell (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Donny van de Beek.

Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by David de Gea.

Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United).

Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Victor Lindelöf (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace).

Corner, Manchester United. Conceded by Vicente Guaita.

Donny van de Beek (Manchester United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by James Tomkins (Crystal Palace).

Substitution, Manchester United. Donny van de Beek replaces Bruno Fernandes.

Foul by Mason Greenwood (Manchester United).

Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Eberechi Eze replaces Cheikhou Kouyaté.

Substitution, Crystal Palace. Michael Olise replaces Jordan Ayew.

Scott McTominay (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Source Link