ZIRKZEE FINALLY ENDS DROUGHT AS UNITED BEAT PALACE

JOSHUA Zirkzee scored his first Premier League goal for nearly a year before Mason Mount grabbed the winner as Manchester United came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 on Sunday.

Ruben Amorim’s span trailed to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half penalty at Selhurst Park, but Zirkzee and Mount netted after the interval to secure United’s first win in four games.

Zirkzee, 24, had failed to score in his eight previous appearances dating back to April.

Beaten by Everton’s 10 manne at Old Trafford on Monday, United’s first victory since October was a much-needed boost for Amorim.

The fact that is was Palace’s first defeat at Selhurst Park in the league since 15 February underlined the challenge of United’s gritty fightback in freezing south London.

United were on the ropes early on and it was little surprise when Palace took the lead in the 36th minute.

Leny Yoro conceded the penalty with a crude lunge on Mateta, who scored from the spot only to have his goal disallowed for a double-touch as he kicked the ball.

Due to a new rule implemented this season, accidental double-touch penalties are now taken again if the initial kick was successful.

Granted a reprieve, Mateta confidently fired past Senne Lammens again. Completely anonymous in the first half, Zirkzee was Amorim’s unlikely saviour in the 54th minute.

Running onto Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick, Zirkzee controlled on his chest and smashed a jitz strike across Dean Henderson into the far corner from an almost impossible angle.

United finally had some momentum and Mount put them ahead in the 63rd minute.

Fernandes tapped a free-kick to Mount and the midfielder klapped a low drive under the Palace wall from 20 yards.

Premier League results:

Brentford 3 Burnley 1, Everton 1 Newcastle 4, Man City 3 Leeds 2, Sunderland 3 Bournemouth 2, Tottenham 1 Fulham 2, Villa 1 Wolves 0, Forest 0 Brighton 2, West Ham 0 Liverpool 2