Michael Olise scored a brace as Crystal Palace completed a league double over Manchester United for the first time in their history with a commanding 4-0 win at Selhurst Park on Monday that will pile on the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
A makeshift United defense that included Casemiro at centre-back was easily torn apart by Palace on several occasions as Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell joined the scoring in the impressive victory.
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United remain in eighth place with 54 points from 35 games, two points behind Newcastle United in sixth place, and their hopes of European football next season are fading fast. Palace remain in 14th place with 43 points from 36 games.
United had several injury absences and were without Bruno Fernandes, the first time in his 230-game career at Old Trafford that he missed a game through injury, but the ease with which they were beaten will be a major concern for everyone in the team. club.
It is the first time in the Premier League era that United have lost 13 games in a season and the result could have been worse.
Palace have found their rhythm under new manager Oliver Glasner, but United are limping towards the end of a season that cannot end soon enough for Ten Hag.
The locals took the lead in the 12th minute and it was too easy. Olise took a shot and evaded a challenge from Casemiro, and with no United player trying to close him down, he was able to unleash a low shot from inside the area.
United had the ball in the back of the net after a header from Casemiro, but the attempt was disallowed after contact by Rasmus Højlund on Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
The home team was 2-0 up five minutes before half-time when Mateta beat United defender Jonny Evans and put the ball into the net for his ninth goal in 11 games since Glasner's arrival in February.
The striker had scored 11 goals in his previous 80 games for Palace.
United's defense was struggling to contain their hosts' movement and when Diogo Dalot failed to finish a ball at the far post, Mitchell had a touch as the home players lined up to score.
Olise's second goal added insult to injury and could have been worse for the visitors as Odsonne Édouard saw his shot hit the post late on.
