After a start to the season in which very little seems to have gone right for Manchester United and Erik ten Hag, finally a night when they could do no wrong.
An excellent full debut for Sofyan Amrabat, a victorious comeback by Mason Mount, first goals of the season for Alejandro Garnacho and Anthony Martial, a fourth for Casemiro, and vibrant displays from youngsters Facundo Pellistri and Hannibal Mejbri.
No wonder Ten Hag wore the look of a man who has weathered the worst of the early-season storm after securing a second win in the space of four days.
It’s been a shaky start, no doubt about it, but at least United’s grip on the Carabao Cup remains firm after they began their defence of the trophy against a weakened Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
It may be a different story when these two teams meet again in the Premier League here on Saturday and are back at full strength – United made seven changes last night, Palace eight – but Ten Hag can worry about that later.
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
‘It was a good night, definitely,’ he said. ‘We played well and dominated the game. There is still a lot to come but we’re moving forward.’
Amrabat played the first half at left-back and then moved into midfield when Mount was withdrawn at half-time in a pre-planned move after having a hand in the first two goals on his first appearance in six games.
‘I told the manager, I play where the team needs me – if you need a goalkeeper, I play,’ said Amrabat.
‘It has not been the most easy time, and the pressure is high. But I think it was a perfect night.’
The opening goals came after Dean Henderson’s debut for Palace following a £20million move from United was cut short inside 19 minutes when he seemed to aggravate the thigh injury that required surgery in May.
Henderson was replaced by another ex-United keeper, Sam Johnstone, whose first job was to pick the ball out of the net less than two minutes later.
United’s width caused Palace problems from the start and both their young wingers, Garnacho and Pellistri, were involved in the goal.
Mount’s crossfield pass found Pellistri who 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.
‘You have seen at the start of the season we played him, and his contribution was not good enough,’ said Ten Hag. ‘But you see always he is a threat in the game even when he is not playing that well.’
Pellistri stood out here a week after making his Champions League debut against Bayern Munich. 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 Jeffrey Schlupp before guiding a header wide of Johnstone.
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
Garnacho’s first goal of the season gave Man United a deserved lead at Old Trafford
Casemiro’s well-directed header from Mason Mount’s corner doubled United’s advantage
Ten Hag withdrew Mount at the interval and then Varane on the hour as he continues to nurse his squad back to full health. Amrabat made way as well, but not before his cross was blocked by Jairo Riedewald in the 55th minute and the ball ran loose to 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.
There were positives everywhere Ten Hag looked. Harry Maguire was excellent and grew in confidence following a crucial interception in the eighth minute when he cut out Schlupp’s cross to deny Jean-Phillippe Mateta a certain goal.
Andre Onana continued his recovery from that costly blunder in Munich, making two fine saves from Mateta towards the end of the game.
Palace could certainly have put up more of a fight, and Roy Hodgson will be determined his team do just that when they return to Old Trafford on Saturday.
‘We have a few days to lick our wounds and come back here to give a better account of ourselves,’ said Hodgson. ‘The personnel will be different, but I’m certain we won’t see a worse Man United than we did tonight.’
