Manchester United 3-0 Crystal Palace: Erik ten Hag’s side kick off Carabao Cup defence in style as they return to form at Old Trafford

• Man Utd into fourth round of Carabao Cup after 3-0 win over Crystal Palace 
• Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro and Anthony Martial on the scoresheet for United
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 No doubt this has been a shaky start to the season for Manchester United, but at least their hold on the Carabao Cup remains firm.

Although there were easier third-round ties for United to open their defence of the trophy they won at Wembley in February, Erik ten Hag’s side made light work of a weakened Crystal Palace team at Old Trafford to secure a second win in the space of four days.

Ten Hag will hope that Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony Martial feel the benefit of their first goals of the season, while Casemiro weighed in with his fourth of the campaign. There were vibrant displays from Facundo Pellistri and Hannibal Mejbri, and a promising full debut from Sofyan Amrabat.

Mason Mount made a 45-minute comeback and Ten Hag was also able to manage Raphael Varane’s return from injury as he continues to nurse his squad back to full fitness.

It certainly felt as though United have cleared their heads after those defeats to Tottenham, Brighton, Arsenal and Tottenham as they cruised into the fourth round.

Alejandro Garnacho opens the scoring for Man United in their 3-0 win over Crystal Palace 

Casemiro added a second for Manchester United from a Mason Mount corner before the break

Anthony Martial wrapped up the win with United’s third goal on a comfortable night 

Saturday’s win at Burnley had eased the early-season pressure on Ten Hag, but the United manager could ill afford another setback to invite more scrutiny of him and his team.

‘Pressure is part of life at Manchester United, for everyone involved in the club,’ the Dutchman wrote in his programme notes. ‘But you don’t wear this crest to have an easy life, you wear it because you are capable of handling the responsibility.’

MATCH FACTS  

Manchester United (4-2-3-1): Onana, Dalot, Varane (Evans 60), Maguire, Amrabat (Gore 60), Casemiro, Mount (Lindelof 46), Hannibal (Van de Beek 71), Pellistri, Garnacho, Martial (Hojlund 75)

Subs not used: Bayindir, Fernandes, Rashford, Heaton 

Goal-scorers: Garnacho 21, Casemiro 27, Martial 55

Booked: Hannibal 

Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Henderson (Johnstone 19), Clyne, Holding, Richards, Mitchell, Doucoure (Hughes 60), Riedewald (Ozoh 80), Rak-Sakyi (Geuhi 46), Schlupp (Eze 60), Ayew, Mateta 

Subs not used: Ward, Andersen, Ebiowei, Ola-Adebomi 

Booked: Holding  

Ten Hag made seven changes from the weekend to Palace’s eight, with many of the players who will contest the Premier League meeting between these two clubs here on Saturday starting on the bench.

It meant a full debut for Amrabat, who looked comfortable playing out of position at left-back until the second half even though he almost hit the ball out of the stadium with the first effort of the game in the seventh minute.

There was also a rare opportunity for Harry Maguire who settled any nerves with an excellent interception to cut out Jeffrey Schlupp’s cross and deny Jean-Phillippe Mateta a certain goal just a minute later.

And Mount marked his return from injury after a five-game absence by helping to set up United’s two goals before half-time.

Both came after Dean Henderson’s debut for Palace following a £20million move from United was cut short inside 19 minutes.

Worryingly, it looked as though Henderson may have aggravated his right thigh which required surgery in May when he launched a long ball downfield. He was replaced by another ex-United keeper Sam Johnstone whose first job was to pick the ball out of the net in the 21st minute.

United’s width had caused Palace problems from the start and both their young wingers, Garnacho and Pellistri, were involved in the goal.

Garnacho started the move before Mount’s crossfield pass found Pellistri. He picked out Diogo Dalot’s darting run and the defender pulled the ball back for Garnacho to rifle home from the edge of the six-yard box.

The Argentine has cut a frustrated figure so far this season – subbed in his opening two games, a late sub in three more, and unused on two occasions – but hopefully this will be the goal that gets him going.

Harry Maguire was given his first start of the season in defence and played the 90 minutes 

There was a full debut for summer recruit Sofyan Amrabat who started the game at left-back 

Pellistri, meanwhile, stood out here a week after making his Champions League debut in Munich, doing a lot right and working his socks to win back the ball when it went wrong.

He almost got on the scoresheet when Chris Richards made a crucial block, but it only delayed United’s second goal by a few moments in the 27th minute.

The ball went out for a corner and Mount’s delivery found Casemiro who crucially stole a few yards on Schlupp before guiding a header wide of Johnstone. The Brazilian hasn’t had the best start to the season but, remarkably, this was his fourth goal of the campaign.

Mount was withdrawn at half-time, allowing Amrabat to move into midfield where the Moroccan immediately looked at home.

It was his blocked cross in the 55th minute that led to United’s third goal. Jairo Riedewald’s scuffed clearance only went as far as Casemiro who delivered to the back post.

Martial had got away from Nathaniel Clyne but there was still plenty to do from a tight angle, and the Frenchman produced a wonderfully controlled finish to guide the ball back across Johnstone.

The only thing missing was a save from Andre Onana as he continues to get over that blunder in Munich, and he produced two from Mateta towards the end of the game.

 

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