Palace-Utd talking points

Manchester United beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Wednesday in an action-packed clash at Selhurst Park.

Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored the key goals for the visitors, either side of James McArthur’s strike, to seal the victory. 

But that only tells part of the story from a controversial clash in south London. Here are the talking points from the game…

Pogba and Ibrahimovic make the difference

Manchester United’s star duo Pogba and Ibrahimovic combined to deliver crucial goals late on in both halves, securing three points for Jose Mourinho’s side and the visitors’ first back-to-back wins in the Premier League since August.

Pogba capped a mixed first-half with a crucial close-range finish in injury-time. The Frenchman had lost possession more times (13) than any other United player in the opening 45, but had also carved out some of their best openings, firing a dipping strike over the bar from range, sending his man the wrong way before playing Juan Mata through and chipping a pass through for Wayne Rooney’s mis-cued half-volley, which should have seen the captain match Sir Bobby Charlton’s scoring record.

He then fired a volley from a tight angle straight at Wayne Hennessey on 41 minutes. But in stoppage time he got the better of the Welshman in controversial circumstances. Ibrahimovic’s flick-on appeared to be with his arm while Pogba was stood in an offside position before slotting in. But the goal stood and United went in at the break on top.

McArthur cancelled out that effort though, and United needed a clinical finish from their Swedish striker with two minutes of normal time remaining to grab the win. Pogba spun away from Yohan Cabaye before feeding his fellow summer signing in the left channel, where Ibrahimovic’s first-time shot flew over the on-rushing Hennessey.

It may not have been United’s finest performance but Pogba and Ibrahimovic delivered in the key moments.

Controversial calls

This was a match packed with controversial refereeing calls at both ends of the pitch …

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