Match report: United 1 Palace 0

FIRST HALF

Ralf Rangnick was eager to point out pre-match that time on the training ground with his new team was limited, but signs of his influence were clear in an energetic first half at Old Trafford.

It took only a couple of minutes for a first chance, Marcus Rashford cutting across James Tomkins in the box and winning a corner, of which there would be many for United. Following that was a left-footed effort from Alex Telles which flew wide of the right post. Less than a minute later, Ronaldo shaped up to shoot but was tackled as he pulled the trigger.

The intensity of United's out-of-possession play was encouraging. Rather than a constant, aggressive pressure, Rangnick's Reds engaged in regular sudden bursts of intensity against the Palace defence. It paid off regularly, the team led by a two-man attack of Ronaldo and Rashford, supplemented by Sancho and Fernandes behind them.

Ronaldo spotted a late run by the latter on the left side of the box and powered a fast cross towards him, only to see his compatriot unable to find enough height on his jump to meet it. 

Palace found space to launch a couple of counter-attacks, but they never threatened De Gea's goal seriously. A long-range effort from Zaha only forced the Spanish keeper to collapse on the ball before playing it out.

Floated passes over the top of the Palace defence were regular, almost always coming from Fernandes to Ronaldo or vice versa. The most threatening of these saw Ronaldo chest the ball down with his back to goal and have a shot blocked for a corner. A minute later, the Portuguese link-up continued as Dalot crossed well for Ronaldo, his header from 15 yards out going wide.

Sancho's quick feet on the left wing excited the home support, and it was the no.25 who laid the ball back to the edge of the area for Fred to shoot. The Brazilian's effort was decent, but Tomkins managed to get an important head in the way to block it.

With 25 minutes gone, the pressure intensified, as if it wasn't effervescent enough already. Ronaldo headed back to Bruno who saw a shot saved by Guaita, then the pair both had efforts blocked after good work by Rashford on the left wing. It felt like a goal was imminent, but the Reds couldn't find it and the venom was taken out of United's momentum when Fred required treatment after a challenge by Clyne that merited a yellow card.

Two more chances came before the break in proceedings, to make it 11 in the first half. Sancho danced inside from the left and saw a deflected shot loop upwards and land on the roof of the net, and Dalot fired wide after a good move in from the right.

Key first-half stat: 231 of United's 264 completed passes went forward.