Crystal Palace 0-0 Manchester United. Manchester United were left frustrated as they squandered several clear-cut chances in a 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace in the Premier League at Selhurst Park. Despite dominating possession and creating a number of opportunities, Erik ten Hag’s side couldn’t find the breakthrough they needed.

Coming off an emphatic 7-0 EFL Cup win over Barnsley earlier in the week, United started positively. Alejandro Garnacho, who was given the nod ahead of Marcus Rashford, nearly opened the scoring early on, but Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson tipped his effort around the post.

United continued to apply pressure, with defenders Matthijs de Ligt and Lisandro Martinez both denied by Henderson’s quick reflexes. Garnacho later hit the crossbar, with the rebound falling to Bruno Fernandes, who saw his follow-up effort clip the top of the bar.

Crystal Palace began to find their rhythm as the first half progressed, and Eberechi Eze tested United goalkeeper Andre Onana with a shot straight at him when left unmarked in the box.

The second half was a more even contest, though United continued to push for a winner. Fernandes curled a shot wide, while Garnacho forced another save from Henderson. At the other end, Eddie Nketiah had a chance, but Onana’s sharp save kept the game level.

Palace had the best opportunity of the second half when Eze, once again unmarked, missed the target from 12 yards out. United’s goalkeeper, Onana, also made a critical save from Nketiah’s close-range effort to preserve the clean sheet.

The draw leaves Manchester United in 11th place, while Crystal Palace remains winless in 16th. Erik ten Hag will likely view this result as two points dropped rather than one gained, especially given United’s dominance in possession, with 66.8% – their highest away possession since April 2023.

Despite controlling much of the game, Manchester United’s familiar weaknesses resurfaced. They generated several scoring chances but lacked the clinical edge to finish them. The Red Devils currently rank second in the Premier League for expected goals (xG) with 9.53 across their first five matches, but they’ve only managed to find the net five times. This underperformance in front of goal is only rivaled by Southampton, who sit in 18th place.

One bright spot for United was the return of Danish striker Rasmus Højlund. The 21-year-old came off the bench in the second half, making his first appearance of the season after recovering from injury. Højlund’s return gives Ten Hag more options up front alongside Joshua Zirkzee, who was well-contained by the Palace defense throughout the match.

Crystal Palace, under manager Oliver Glasner, had a difficult start to the match, with United dominating the opening 30 minutes. Palace struggled to get out of their half and were reliant on Henderson’s goalkeeping heroics to keep the score level.

As the game progressed, Palace grew in confidence and created some decent chances, particularly through Eze. However, the Eagles will likely be disappointed not to have capitalized on their best opportunities, especially Eze’s two unmarked chances in both halves.

The point continues a positive run for Palace, with three consecutive league draws and recent progress in the EFL Cup. They are still adapting to life without key players like Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich, and Joachim Andersen, who moved to Fulham. However, with a solid defensive foundation and improvement in the attack, Palace will be hopeful of securing their first league win soon.

source – BBC

Southampton 1-1 Ipswich Town. Southampton manager Russell Martin expressed his frustration after Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy scored a dramatic injury-time equalizer, leaving the Saints without a win in their return to the Premier League. The match ended 1-1 at St Mary’s Stadium, as both sides continue their search for a first league victory this season.

Southampton, having lost their opening four top-flight games of the 2024-25 campaign, struck early thanks to 18-year-old Tyler Dibling. The young midfielder netted his first goal for the club just five minutes into the match after capitalizing on a defensive error by Ipswich’s Axel Tuanzebe. The Saints kept the pressure on, with 36-year-old Adam Lallana setting up Dibling, who coolly slotted the ball past Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.

Cameron Archer, who had missed a penalty in Southampton’s previous 3-0 loss to Manchester United, almost doubled the lead but was denied by the post. Archer, a £15 million summer signing from Aston Villa, had another chance to score, but his effort was well saved by Muric.

The missed opportunities would come back to haunt Southampton, as Ipswich’s Morsy equalized in the 95th minute. His long-range strike, deflected off Joe Aribo, left Saints goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale with no chance, securing a dramatic point for the visitors.

After the game, an irritated Russell Martin shared his disappointment: “I’m really angry and frustrated that we didn’t see the game out. We allowed them too much space in the final moments, and that cost us. We made fundamental errors that we don’t make in training, and that has to be down to the anxiety of the situation. It was our best performance, but it wasn’t enough to get the win.”

Both teams remain winless in the Premier League this season, but Ipswich will be the happier side, as they continue to defy expectations in their first top-flight campaign since 2001-02. The draw is Ipswich’s third in five matches, moving them up to 16th place in the table. Southampton, meanwhile, picked up their first point of the season, moving from 19th to 18th.

Ipswich’s last Premier League victory came in April 2002 when they beat Middlesbrough 1-0. Town boss Kieran McKenna had hoped to target this game as an opportunity for another win, especially against a side that, like Ipswich, earned promotion from the Championship in 2023-24.

The game started in Southampton’s favor when Lallana, showing his experience, assisted Dibling’s opener with a deft pass. Dibling controlled the ball well, creating space to fire past two Ipswich defenders and find the back of the net, marking his first senior goal.

Southampton almost doubled their lead midway through the first half, but Archer’s attempt hit the post after rounding Muric. Ipswich fought back, with Southampton’s Ramsdale forced into a series of saves to maintain the lead, denying efforts from Dara O’Shea, Leif Davis, and Omari Hutchinson.

As the game neared its conclusion, Southampton looked set for their first Premier League victory since March 2023, when they beat Leicester City 1-0. However, Ipswich’s late push resulted in Morsy’s equalizer, with the captain’s deflected strike salvaging a point for his side.

Reflecting on the match, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna praised his team’s resilience: “It was a fantastic way to finish the game. For the captain to step up and strike it well, in front of the away supporters, to get a point is a great thing for the group. Scoring late goals and never giving up has been a massive part of our success, and it’s good for this new group to experience that.”

McKenna added that Ipswich is “edging in the right direction” and emphasized the importance of continued improvement as the team adapts to Premier League competition.

With both sides yet to find a victory, the pressure will continue to build, especially for Southampton as they aim to break their winless streak in their Premier League return.

source – BBC

Leicester City 1-1 Everton. Leicester City salvaged a crucial point in a 1-1 draw against Everton at the King Power Stadium, thanks to a second-half equalizer from Stephy Mavididi. Both sides continue their search for their first Premier League win of the season as they face off in treacherous weather conditions.

The match kicked off under clear skies, but a sudden thunderstorm and torrential downpour turned the game into a battle against the elements. Everton, still seeking momentum this season, claimed their first point, bringing a slight sense of relief after a challenging start.

“It was bizarre,” said Everton boss Sean Dyche about the dramatic weather change. “In the warm-up, it was so hot that my goalkeeper coach told me to put on sunscreen. But during the game, I’ve never seen conditions as bad as that.”

Everton Strike Early

Everton found the back of the net within 12 minutes, with Iliman Ndiaye scoring his first Premier League goal. The forward latched onto a precise pass from Ashley Young and fired a low shot that ricocheted off the post and into the net, giving the Toffees a much-needed early lead.

Leicester City thought they had responded when Mavididi’s cross hit the bar and bounced down, but referee Darren England ruled that the ball hadn’t crossed the line, leaving Leicester fans frustrated.

The second half was delayed due to the adverse weather, but the action resumed with Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen making a vital reflex save to deny Dominic Calvert-Lewin, keeping the Foxes in the game.

Mavididi to the Rescue

Leicester’s persistence paid off in the 73rd minute when Mavididi reacted quickly during a corner, swiveling and firing a shot into the back of the net. The goal leveled the match and earned a valuable point for manager Steve Cooper’s side, although both teams remain winless.

Everton, for the fourth consecutive game, will feel they let another lead slip away. Despite Ndiaye’s early goal, the Toffees failed to build on their advantage, continuing a troubling trend. In their last two league games, Everton surrendered 2-0 leads to lose 3-2, and they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Southampton earlier in the week after leading 1-0.

Jesper Lindstrom, on loan at Everton, was guilty of missing several golden opportunities, including a volley wide early on and a powerful shot saved by Hermansen.

Despite a depleted squad due to injuries and illness, Everton fought to hold on as the game wore on, but their winless streak on the road now stretches to 15 matches.

Dyche acknowledged the positives but lamented the missed opportunities. “I thought it was a positive display. There are lots of question marks around us not winning, but I think it’s a point gained. We put in a solid performance under difficult circumstances,” he said.

Leicester’s Early Season Struggles

For Leicester, the rain nearly spoiled their day, but Mavididi’s goal saved the Foxes from a defeat. However, the club’s return to the Premier League has been far from ideal, with just three draws from their first five games. The Foxes now sit 15th in the table and will need to find victories soon if they hope to avoid a relegation battle.

Manager Steve Cooper’s winless run in the Premier League, which dates back to his time with Nottingham Forest, has now stretched to 18 games. Leicester, who were relegated two seasons ago after a crucial draw against Everton, have now failed to keep a clean sheet at home in their last 16 Premier League matches.

Cooper emphasized his team’s improvement in the second half but admitted they were lacking in the first 45 minutes. “We were stronger in the second half but nowhere near good enough in the first half. We wanted to take the game to Everton, but we didn’t,” he said.

Leicester had several chances to grab a winner, including a glaring miss by Caleb Okoli, who sent a free header over the bar from close range. Despite a late push, they couldn’t find a second goal.

Final Thoughts

Both Leicester and Everton will be left wondering what might have been after another draw leaves them still searching for their first league wins of the season. While Everton will take comfort in moving off the bottom of the table, Leicester will need to convert their draws into wins if they hope to remain in the top flight.

Key Takeaways:

• Stephy Mavididi Saves Leicester: His second-half goal rescued a point for Leicester, but the team’s winless run continues.
• Everton’s Struggles: Despite taking the lead, Everton’s inability to close out games remains a concern, having now failed to win any of their first four matches.
• Weather Drama: The sudden storm made conditions challenging for both teams, adding an unpredictable element to an already tense contest.

Leicester and Everton must now regroup quickly as they continue to search for their first Premier League victories of the season.

source – BBC