Crystal Palace extended their unbeaten run away from home to eight games with a comfortable victory over Manchester United.
Jean-Philippe Mateta's second half brace was enough to win Palace three points at Old Trafford against Ruben Amorim's insipid Red Devils.
Here are Bobby Manzi's talking points:
NEW DEAL NEEDED FOR JP
Jean-Philippe Mateta has been angling for a better contract at Crystal Palace for quite some time, and his transformation under Oliver Glasner has validated those demands.
The Frenchman is contracted at Crystal Palace until 2027 after the club unilaterally trigged a one-year extension — at the same terms — on his current deal.
Mateta, 27, will be heading into the final two years of his contract at the end of the season which leaves Palace with a vital decision to make. Sell him for a substantial transfer fee, or throw the sink at a new contract.
Selling such a pivotal player should not be considered, especially in a window where the chance of losing captain Marc Guehi is more than likely.
Summer signings Eddie Nkeitah and Daichi Kamada both rake in considerably bigger salaries than Palace’s prolific striker, yet there have been no signs of a new deal.
(Image: PA)
His two finishes at Old Trafford took the ‘fantastique’ forward to ten goals in the top flight this term, an invaluable contribution. He deserves his reward.
Both goals against Manchester United showed his abundance of class with two one-touch strikes leaving Andre Onana helpless. His work-rate is second to none, chasing after every ball.
He is the perfect striker in Glasner’s system and is quite clearly adored in South London. Mateta is Palace’s talisman, it is about time the club offered him a contract to match his impact.
EZE'S IMPORTANCE SHINES THROUGH
Sometimes, you do not realise how good someone is until they are gone. That can certainly be said about Eberechi Eze. The attacker has been subject to criticism from the Crystal Palace support this season — most notably against Brentford last weekend when every mistake was met with excessive groans.
Although his play has been frustrating at times, with the 26-year-old occasionally reluctant to take a player on, it does not take away from the fact that Eze's absence typically correlates to Palace creating fewer chances.
The Englishman has produced 42 chances in 1,620 minutes this season, 12 more than any other Palace player and the ninth-highest in the Premier League.
Alongside his high rate of chances created, Eze has crafted seven ‘big openings' and amassed five assists, topping both Palace’s assist and chance creation chart.
(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA)He has been a victim of circumstance this season; the pressure has fallen on his shoulders with the departure of Michael Olise in the summer, alongside the loss of incisive passer Adam Wharton through injury.
Expectations remained the same while having a hand tied behind his back.
Against United, Eze began on the bench because of a foot injury which has caused him problems for a couple of months and while Palace performed well, his introduction in the 61st minute had an immediate impact.
Three minutes after Eze set foot on the pitch, Palace won a free-kick deep into the Manchester United half. The Englishman stepped over it and whipped a brilliant delivery into the United box, Maxence Lacroix thundered a header towards the United net but was denied by the crossbar before Mateta followed the rebound into the back of the net.
Promptly, Eze had a say on the affair, creating Palace’s crucial opening goal.
Yes, he has missed big chances this term and his goalscoring numbers could and probably should be better, but his creative impact should not be understated — his immediate impact against United showed that.
WELCOME WHARTON CAMEO
Somewhat surprisingly, Glasner made the welcome declaration in his pre-match press conference that Adam Wharton would be named in the matchday squad to face Manchester United after four months on the sidelines.
Wharton had just a week of full training before Sunday’s victory at Old Trafford, so it was hard to know what to expect from the 20-year-old.
With two minutes left of normal time — and nine minutes of stoppage time to follow — Glasner called upon the Englishman to take Will Hughes’ place in the middle of the park.
(Image: PA) Following in Eze’s footsteps, Wharton, too, made a prompt impression from the bench. Breaking up a United attack, the midfielder intercepted the ball before swiftly slotting a pass to Sarr, who broke at speed and crafted Mateta’s second goal via Daniel Munoz.
After four months out, it felt like Wharton had never been away — the trademark speedy and incisive passing Palace had become accustomed to at the end of last season had returned.
As well as his pivotal role in the goal, the England international won both of his duels in his eleven-minute cameo while making a brilliant challenge to win the ball of Diego Dalot.
It will be important to manage his minutes as he gets back up to scratch, but his return is a welcome one for Palace, especially after Cheick Doucoure’s ACL injury.
