Manchester United have equalled a significant Premier League set-piece record held by Arsenal, following a hard-fought comeback victory against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Comeback Victory Seals Record Equalling Feat
The Red Devils overturned a one-goal deficit to secure a 2-1 win at Selhurst Park, with second-half strikes from Mason Mount and Joshua Zirkzee turning the game on its head. The crucial goals both originated from the delivery of captain Bruno Fernandes, highlighting United's dead-ball prowess.
This result means Manchester United have now scored 10 set-piece goals in the Premier League this season, a figure that excludes penalties. This sees them draw level with Arsenal, who have been widely praised for their effectiveness from such situations.
Joe Cole's Call for Managerial Credit
In the aftermath of the match, football pundit and former England international Joe Cole used his TNT Sports platform to champion the work of United's manager. Cole insisted that Ruben Amorim deserves significant 'credit' for his team's achievement, especially given the criticism he has faced during periods of inconsistent results.
'You have to give the manager credit – and his staff,' Cole stated. 'He’s come under a lot of fire when the results haven’t been deemed to be where they should be. But that’s a positive to be up there with Arsenal. Everyone has been patting Mikel Arteta on the back but fair play to Manchester United.'
Cole also pinpointed the key components of United's success, adding, 'When you’ve got Bruno Fernandes’ delivery and people like Harry Maguire and Casemiro heading it… You don’t need to be a rocket scientist. Great deliveries and great players attacking the ball – they’ve got that.'
Amorim's Analysis and Zirkzee's Drought Ends
When questioned by the BBC about his team's performance, manager Ruben Amorim attributed the comeback to 'the small details'. He noted an improved pace and intensity after the break, which he believed would overwhelm a tiring Palace side.
'We went on to control the game well away from our goal and in the opposition half,' Amorim explained. 'We controlled the game well but just have to be careful about what we did in the first half.'
The match also marked a welcome return to the scoresheet for striker Joshua Zirkzee, who ended a Premier League goal drought lasting 364 days. His previous goals in the competition were a brace against Everton back in December 2024.
Amorim was quick to praise the forward's overall contribution, stating, 'Scoring is important but it’s not just the goals. They give confidence but Joshua has also improved a lot in how he holds the ball. That should give him a lot of confidence. He influences the game and that’s important to our game.'
