Three Man United players who will surely be axed from XI vs Crystal Palace
Man United have the chance to put their 1-0 defeat at home to Everton behind them as they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday (30 November).
Ruben Amorim‘s side should have been brimming with confidence prior to their Monday night clash against the Toffees, but they were outfought and lacked conviction across the pitch.
Man United failed to score despite playing against ten men for the majority of the game after Idrissa Gueye’s moment of madness with Michael Keane saw him sent off inside the first 13 minutes.
The pressure is now back on Amorim to deliver, as question marks remain around his job, and a daunting task awaits this weekend in high-flying Crystal Palace.
Things have to improve in South London if they are to take anything from the game, and Football Insider have picked out three United players who should not start at Selhurst Park as a result of their poor showings against Everton.
Joshua Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee has failed to make an impact at United ever since he joined the club from Bologna in 2024.
United fans blasted Zirkzee’s performance against Everton as he produced very little to prove that Amorim should have given him more chances so far this term.
He missed two big chances to score in the second-half, while he completed just 15 of his 25 passes attempted (60%), had only five touches in the Everton box and made just one pass into the final third in 94 minutes played.
MORE ON MAN UNITED FROM FOOTBALL INSIDER:
👉 Man United ready to strip player of squad number for Antoine Semenyo to take it despite ‘fresh terms’ signed
👉 Kobbie Mainoo ‘leaving’ in January and what it means for Man United’s PSR
👉 ‘Disgraceful’ – Man United fans tear into ‘awful’ player who was horrific vs Everton
Even if neither of Matheus Cunha or Benjamin Sesko are not fit to play vs Palace, Amorim must drop Zirkzee, with Bryan Mbeumo a potential contender to play as their main striker instead.
Luke Shaw
Luke Shaw is another who has struggled for form in recent times at Old Trafford, yet has been picked more regularly than Zirkzee due to United’s lack of numbers in defence.
Amorim has converted him to a left-centre-back in his back-five formation, and Shaw looked seriously leggy against the Toffees as he failed to progress the ball forward and couldn’t deal with the directness of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Iliman Ndiaye.
The 30-year-old did not complete an accurate cross from four attempts, while he only won two of his eight aerial duels. United have Lisandro Martinez back fit and ready to play, and he should be handed a start ahead of Shaw against Palace.
Patrick Dorgu
Patrick Dorgu has also been criticised by United fans this season for certain performances, with his inconsistencies proven by the fact that he has started seven and been benched for five of their 12 league games so far this term.
The Danish defender was again one of their worst performers against Everton last time out, with a 75% pass accuracy, no aerial duels won of four attempted, no crosses completed of three attempted and two fouls committed as he was hooked off before the hour mark.
Diogo Dalot played well as his replacement, and he put in a superb performance at Selhurst Park last season as he created the most chances (3) in the game, so should be tasked with replicating that on Sunday in place of Dorgu.