Ruthless Crystal Palace dismantle Manchester United as new superstars continue to emerge in massive win

You can’t have everything you want in this life, but Crystal Palace got everything they wanted and more at Selhurst Park. Once again this season, facing Manchester United proved the gift that keeps on giving.

Many who did not watch this game will awake on Tuesday morning rubbing their eyes as they read that Palace thrashed United 4-0, but in truth it could and should have been more.

Suggestions last season of there being a new talisman at Palace have been confirmed this term. No longer does Wilfried Zaha wear the red and blue of the Eagles, but Michael Olise still does and he was the star of the show again.

The 21-year-old scored the clinical first and stunning fourth as Palace made it four wins and a draw in their last five games.

United, it must be said, were hopeless for 90 minutes, ceding possession and feeding Palace. Clearly no one gave them the memo that Oliver Glasner’s side need no helping hand at the moment. The visitors were much too obliging. Their loss, literally.

More than anything, they were too dysfunctional — a total far cry from the organised unit Glasner’s has turned Palace into over the past month. Daniel Munoz was his overlapping best at right wing-back, Adam Wharton dictated the tempo as he got the better of the Red Devils’ own midfield starlet, Kobbie Mainoo, and, of course, Olise was an absolute delight to watch. It is no surprise United want him.

Casemiro was beaten too easily by Olise for his first, gave the ball away for the fourth, and Jonny Evans was left in Jean-Philippe Mateta’s wake as he burst through to make it 2-0 before the break. So, yes, Palace were certainly not made to work hard for this seismic victory, but their work rate since Roy Hodgson made way for Glasner has improved massively and they never let up.

Their rampancy was down to the ever-more synced three-pronged attack of Mateta, Olise and Eberechi Eze, who did not score or assist in this one but has done this season, will do again, and is making a real case to make England’s Euro 2024 squad. Gareth Southgate was watching on.

The third goal perhaps showcased best what this new iteration of Palace is about. Yes, the magic of Olise and Eze remains, but the Eagles are now a well-oiled machine. Wharton sent a cultured ball into the box, Joachim Andersen dived in to square for Tyrick Mitchell, and up popped the left-back — the unlikeliest source of goals — to slam past Onana. A well-worked goal, with United beaten all ends up.

Olise arrowed into the top corner for four, and by 92 minutes Odsonne Edouard was striking the post and Palace still hunting for more goals. It was ruthless, brutal and utterly selfish of them. But they could see United were there for the taking.