Danny Murphy makes Man Utd top four prediction after Crystal Palace draw

Danny Murphy believes that Manchester United’s shortage of goals volition clasp them backmost successful the contention for the Premier League’s apical four.

United’s stuttering commencement to the league run continued connected Saturday arsenic they were held to a goalless gully by Crystal Palace astatine Selhurst Park.

It could person been worse for Erik 10 Hag’s side, with Andre Onana’s second-half goalkeeping heroics ensuring they didn’t gaffe to a 3rd league decision successful 4 games.

However, with conscionable 2 wins successful their archetypal 5 matches, the Red Devils are already disconnected the gait successful the hunt for a top-four spot with pugnacious fixtures against Tottenham and Aston Villa coming up.

Despite smashing 7 past third-tier Barnsley successful the Carabao Cup successful midweek, United person looked blunt successful the league and Murphy believes the chiseled deficiency of an experienced striker whitethorn clasp them back.

‘I deliberation they’ve made immoderate decent signings successful the antiaircraft country of the transportation to assistance them successful that respect,’ helium said connected Match of the Day.

‘But they didn’t code the shortage of goals. Last play they scored the associated lowest magnitude successful the apical half. For Manchester United.

‘They brought successful Zirkzee, the lone attacking player. He’s a young lad, he’s not a extremity scorer per se and he’s not truly a centre-forward.

‘That’s not going to get Manchester United wherever they privation to beryllium successful presumption of competing for the title, adjacent apical 4 I deliberation they’re going conflict adjacent if they marque chances and person creativity successful the team.’

In that regard, United volition beryllium buoyed by the instrumentality of Rasmus Hojlund, whose 15-minute cameo markets his archetypal quality of the season.

The Dane notched up 10 goals successful the league past play but, for Murphy, the Red Devils should person looked for a much experienced attacker to spouse the 21-year-old.

‘They’ll expect much from Hojlund, he’s travel backmost today,’ helium said. ‘But I deliberation Ivan Toney was the one.’

Ten Hag, meanwhile, was besides near lamenting his side’s wasteful show successful beforehand of goal. ‘I deliberation we played precise bully and had full power of the game. In and retired of possession, I deliberation we played precise good,’ the Dutchman said.

‘The lone happening was successful the container and successful the container is ever wherever the crippled is decided. We should beryllium much clinical.

‘There is ever 1 accidental [for the opposition] and they got the accidental successful the 44th infinitesimal – it was a large accidental they got. One mistake leads to a large accidental for them. At the time, we should person been 2-0 oregon 3-0 up.’

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