For it seems that the majority of teams in the Premier League have a reliable striker who can cause nightmares for defenders.

And one of them, Jean-Philippe Mateta, proved to be a thorn in the home side as they lost yet again at Old Trafford.

The French forward scored twice to earn the Eagles a fourth win in six – and a fourth victory in six at United.

Amorim left Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund – who cost a total of £100 million – on the bench and played defensive midfielder Kobbie Mainoo as a false number nine.

It shows how little faith the Portuguese, who was appointed in November, has in Zirkzee and Hojlund, who have scored just 11 goals between them in all competitions.

And only four other teams have scored fewer goals in the league.

Then there is Marcus Rashford, who has also been cast aside, albeit for all different reasons, and his impending loan move to Aston Villa.

United, who had won three on the spin, made their first foray into the opposition box in the fifth minute when a great ball from Bruno Fernandes found Nossair Mazraoui.

The Moroccan international sent the ball in for Alejandro Garnacho, but he was denied the chance to take a proper shot by the outstretched leg of Palace defender Chris Richards.

They went close again a minute later when Mainoo's curling shot rattled the post, and there was nobody close enough to take on the rebound.

At the other end, Tyrick Mitchell's curling ball into the box found fellow defender Daniel Munoz, only for the Colombian to head wide of the woodwork.

Palace, who had won three of their last five league games after an upturn in form under charismatic boss Oliver Glasner, dangerous on the break, with Mateta's pace and power causing problems for United's backline.

He raced through on 18 minutes and fed the ball to Maxence Lacroix, whose 25-yard rocket was parried by home goalkeeper Andre Onana, only for Jefferson Lerma to hit a wild volley which span away for a throw-in.

Their momentum continued minutes later after Ismailia Sarr steamed forward and found Daichi Kamada, who laid it off for Mitchell, but he fired his shot across goal.

The visitors' best chance came on 39 minutes after Lerma played in Mateta but, one on one with Onana, he fluffed his lines as his ball grazed the post and went behind.

It was United who were on the front foot at the beginning of the second half, with Fernandes forcing a diving save Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson, while the former United stopper also denied Manuel Urgate's close-range effort.

But they were left to rue their missed opportunities when the Eagles went in front on 64 minutes.

Substitute Eberechi Eze's free-kick was headed against the crossbar by Lacroix and Onana could not get back on his feet in time, which meant an easy tap in for Mateta.

The Reds' afternoon went from bad to worse 15 minutes later when centre-back Lisandro Martinez was stretchered off after a crude challenge by Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma.

Amazingly, referee John Brooks did not even show the Ecuadorian hard man a yellow card, while a lengthy stoppage ensued as United's medical staff tended to Martinez, who was also ruled out for two months around this time last year.

And his tears as he was taken off indicated he may have suffered yet another long-term injury.

Palace sealed the three points on 89 minutes when Sarr pounced on Zirkzee's misplaced pass and raced to get it forward to Munoz, who slid it in for Mateta for an easy finish.

Amorim said: "It was a hard day for the team and the fans.

"We had more possession and conceded two goals that we could have avoided.

"We need to improve in every way, especially at the front because we need to score more goals.

"We need to win more games and get into the winning momentum."

Glasner said: "The players put in an excellent performance.

"We had big chances in the first-half and we encouraged them to stick to the plan and gave them belief.

"Mateta has the confidence at the moment because it is not always easy to be a number nine as everyone expects a lot of goals".

Manchester United: Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez (De Ligt, 81); Mazraoui (Zirkzee, 69), Urgate (Eriksen, 86); Dalot; Fernandes, Diallo, Garnacho; Mainoo (Hojlund, 69)
Substitutes not used: Bayindir, Harrison, Lindelof, Casemiro and Collyer.

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes (Wharton, 87), Lerma, Mitchell (Clyne, 87); Sarr, (Devenny, 90), Kamada (Eze, 60); Mateta.
Substitutes: not used Turner, Kporha, Esse, Schlupp and Nketiah.

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