Eagles thrash the Red Devils at home
● Manchester United’s season started with a shock 3-1 defeat by Crystal Palace as Wilfried Zaha grabbed a late double for the visitors in the Premier League last night, though VAR was again the centre of attention.
United looked off the pace early on as Andros Townsend put Palace in front after seven minutes, with the home side’s campaign starting a week later than initially scheduled due to last season’s Europa League commitments running into mid-August.
Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay went close as United chased an equaliser but the hosts could have gone in two goals behind at halftime, with only a brilliant David De Gea save keeping a goal-bound Jordan Ayew’s strike out.
VAR then decided that referee Martin Atkinson should consult the pitch-side monitor and he awarded Palace a penalty for handball against Victor Lindelof.
Ayew stepped up to take the spot kick but De Gea made a fantastic save. But Var informed Atkinson that De Gea had come off his line and the penalty was retaken, with Zaha converting this time.
New signing Donny van de Beek came off the bench to get the home side back in the contest with a goal on his debut, but former United forward Zaha had the last laugh as he made sure of a deserved win for Palace with a fine finish late on.
Barnstorming return
● Promoted Leeds United continued their barnstorming return to the Premier League claiming their first points with a thrilling 4-3 win over Fulham at Elland Road.
Helder Costa gave them a flying start only for Aleksandar Mitrovic’s penalty to level for Fulham before Mateusz Klich restored their lead also with a spot kick before halftime.
Patrick Bamford in the 50th minute and Costa’s second goal of the game six minutes later had Leeds running riot.
Fulham then scored through substitute Bobby Decordova-Reid and Mitrovic.
Calvert-Lewin hattrick
● Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez scored his first English Premier League goal and Dominic Calvert-Lewin bagged a hattrick as Everton thrashed 10-man West Bromwich Albion 5-2 at Goodison Park.
Fulham defender Kieran Gibbs got a red card for pushing James in the face.
Combustible West Brom manager Slaven Bilic was also red-carded by referee Mike Dean as he remonstrated with the official.
The Baggies bagged a superb equaliser from Matheus Pereira’s 30m free-kick, but the Toffees then surged ahead. — Reuters