Louis Sealey
Published December 1, 2025 9:38pm
Updated December 1, 2025 9:38pm
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Ex-Premier League striker Troy Deeney (Picture: Getty)
Troy Deeney has heaped praise on ‘by far the best player on the pitch’ in Manchester United’s Premier League win over Crystal Palace.
United responded from a desperately disappointing home defeat to ten-man Everton with an encouraging 2-1 win at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Back-to-back Premier League defeats looked likely as United struggled in the first half and fell behind to Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty.
But two goals in nine second-half minutes from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount led Manchester United to an impressive comeback win.
United’s first win at Selhurst Park since in over five years sent Ruben Amorim’s up to seventh in the Premier League table, three points outside the Champions League places.
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Ex-Premier League striker Deeney was impressed by Manchester United’s win in south London and named Luke Shaw in his BBC team of the week.
Shaw, according to Deeney, was ‘by far the best player on the pitch’ and can make a ‘late’ run for England’s World Cup squad if he continues this level of form.
Manchester United beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park (Picture: Getty)
Injury issues threatened to ruin Shaw’s Old Trafford career but he is enjoying one of the best periods of his career under Amorim, starting all 13 of United’s league games this season.
‘Luke Shaw was by far the best player on the pitch,’ Deeney said. ‘It wasn’t a great game at Crystal Palace, but he seems to be really thriving as that left-sided centre-back.
‘He’s showing with fitness – and with United looking like they are probably going in the right direction – a late call-up for England may come.’
Luke Shaw after United’s comeback win over Palace (Picture: Getty)
Shaw has earned 34 England caps since making his international debut in 2014 but has not represented the Three Lions in over a year.
According to reports, Manchester United insiders are ‘baffled’ by Thomas Tuchel’s treatment of Shaw, who scored in England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy.
Following the comeback win over Palace, United can make up more ground on their top-four rivals on Thursday when they face struggling West Ham.
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Previous Page Next PageWest Ham travel to Old Trafford sitting 17th in the Premier League, only outside the relegation zone on goal difference, and Paul Merson cannot see them getting anything from United.
‘It was a great result for Manchester United against Crystal Palace,’ the ex-Arsenal and England winger told Sportskeeda.
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‘They never really troubled Palace in the first half and conceded the opening goal. But credit to United, they changed it up in the second half and got the result.
‘Like I said before, I thought they were quite poor in that loss to Everton. This performance was much better in comparison.
‘I’m expecting goals, goals and more goals in this game. I don’t expect West Ham to cause them major problems.
‘Manchester United need some consistency and they will hope this result can spring them in the right direction.’
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