Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United: Five Talking Points

Marouane Fellaini’s late winner inched Manchester United closer to a return to the Champions League as the visitors arrested their three-game losing run by beating Crystal Palace. The Red Devils took the lead in the first half as Juan Mata scored from the spot after Scott Dann handled Ashley Young’s cross. Second half substitute Jason Puncheon levelled the score with a deflected free-kick past David De Gea for him to concede a goal in that fashion for the second week running. Fellaini then scored from another cross from Young on his 50th appearance for United to put the Red Devils seven points clear at fourth place.Here are the major talking points from the game.

#1 De Gea to the rescue again

Whether you are challenging for the title or fighting to stay in the league, you need a good goal keeper. And while De Gea proved his worth thanks to a couple of crucial saves, Julian Speroni made a mess of a hopeful cross and gifted United the win.

The amount of times, the Spaniard has come to United's rescues has simply been astonishing and yet time and again the 24-year-old has shown just why he is one of the best keepers in the world. At Selhurst Park, he was having an ongoing duel with Palace striker Glen Murray and emerged victorious thanks to two sublime saves, one with his right hand and the other with his feet, when it looked as though he was beaten all ends up.

The confidence with which De Gea came for crosses is a sign of how far he has and if United are to have any chance of competing for the title, they need to hold onto their Spanish shot-stopper.