Report and reaction: Olise stunner secures draw with Man Utd

As it happened:

• Vieira makes four changes, with Richards handed first Premier League start
• Hughes, Édouard and Mateta return to starting XI
• Édouard carves out half-chance as Palace make the early running
• Antony hits the side-netting with lobbed effort
• De Gea turns Édouard's rasping effort onto the bar
• Fernandes puts United ahead on the stroke of half-time
• HT: Palace 0-1 Manchester United
• Eze replaces Mateta after 56 minutes
• Zaha threatens in tight second-half
• Guéhi header clawed away by De Gea
• Palace finish strongly and mount wave of pressure
• Olise curls injury-time free-kick into the corner from 30 yards
• Flurry of late chances for both sides
• FT: Palace 1-1 Manchester United

With Joachim Andersen injured, summer signing Chris Richards was handed his first Premier League start against the Red Devils, as Will Hughes, Odsonne Édouard and Jean-Philippe Mateta also all starting in an attacking-focused line-up.

It was intent which transpired to the pitch as Palace made the majority of the early running against the Red Devils, Édouard’s muscle almost carving out a shooting opportunity on the edge of the box in the opening minutes, save for Martínez’s last-ditch intervention.

Whilst the visitors slowly grew to dominate possession as the first-half wore on, Palace were offering equal threat on the break, Olise curling a cross narrowly over the head of the onrushing Mateta at the far post.

At the other end, Guéhi and Richards stood firm when called upon, the former producing an outstanding slide tackle to halt England teammate Rashford in his tracks.

The clearest chance of a scrappy opening period went the way of Erik ten Hag’s side. A moment of hesitation between Mitchell and Guaita allowed Antony to sneak in behind the duo – but the Brazilian found only the side-netting with his lobbed finish.

The half exploded into life in its closing minutes. Collecting an incisive ball from Olise, Édouard wriggled clear of Martínez and unleashed a venomous effort from the edge of the box which soared across goal and – but for De Gea – would have found the top corner. As it was, the United goalkeeper’s fingertips pushed the effort onto the bar, and over.

Buoyed by the moment, Palace poured numbers forwards, but found themselves unpicked in the final minutes of the first-half when Eriksen pulled back for Fernandes – in space near the penalty spot – to rifle past Guaita.

A game precious short on clear opportunities was always likely to be settled in tight spaces, with Vieira introducing Eze for Mateta early in the second-half in a bid to create clearer opportunities.

But the pattern of the first-half pertained, United enjoying more possession, Palace arguably greater threat, but neither with many chances to show for it.

Set-pieces were looking like Palace’s best route back into the game, with Guéhi – imperious at the other end – climbing highest from an Olise corner, only to see his header across goal clawed away by De Gea.

In a match where pinpoint precision counted for so much, it was Olise’s inspiration which secured Palace a point in the first minute of stoppage time .

Shaw fouled Schlupp 30 yards from goal, and up stepped the Palace No.7 to curl the ball up and over the wall. The effort dipped to perfection, striking De Gea’s crossbar on the way into the top corner.

Even then, there were chances for both sides to win it - Casemiro somehow miscuing with the goal at his mercy for United, and Zaha being denied on the break by a last-ditch Wan-Bissaka tackle - but in the end, it was Olise's intervention which secured the Eagles a richly-deserved point.

Palace: Guaita (GK), Clyne, Richards, Guéhi, Mitchell, Doucouré (Schlupp 71), Hughes (Milivojevic 84), Olise, Zaha, Édouard (Ayew 71), Mateta (Eze 56)

Subs: Johnstone (GK), Ward, Tomkins, Riedewald, Ozoh

Manchester United: De Gea (GK), Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martínez, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen (Fred 83), Fernandes, Antony (Garnacho 69), Weghorst (McTominay 69), Rashford

Subs: Heaton (GK), Lindelöf, Maguire, Malacia, Pellistri, Elanga

23:05

And that's all for tonight! We'll see you back at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening as we get set to take on Newcastle United.

COME ON PALACE!

Vieira: We showed resilience

23:00:

Patrick Vieira hailed the mental fortitude shown by his Palace players as they battled to a 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Selhurst Park.

Up against in-form opposition, Vieira’s side refused to be bowed by Bruno Fernandes’ first-half goal and ramped up the pressure in the second-half, earning a fully-merited draw thanks to Michael Olise’s wonderful injury-time free-kick.

Vieira said: “It was important not to lose the game. Against a team who have been playing well, it was important for us to stay in the game as long as we could, and we managed to take a fully-deserved point. I’m pretty pleased with that.

“It was not a relief at all, because our performances have been quite good. We’ve been unlucky not to get more points. Of course, the results say something different, so I was really positive with the players and the way we wanted to play the game, and insisting about what we’ve been doing really well.

“When you don’t win games, there are some parts you have to improve. When you go through a difficult period, you have to keep working well, and working hard. On the other side, we showed some resilience, and that will be really important for the rest of the season.

“We didn’t get the result that we wanted in a couple of recent games, but the process is there. We are creating chances, so it was important [for us] to keep the positivity about how we want to play the game.”

Vieira reserved particular praise for Olise’s superb arcing free-kick, which sailed into the top corner from fully 30 yards.

“It was a fantastic free-kick,” the manager smiled. “It was really good for the team, and allowed us to take a point.

“I would also look at the other side [of Olise’s game] when he went to a No. 10 and he went wide out on the right. He’s improving his tactical game out of possession, and this is something which is really important for me.

“There are still a lot of elements he needs to work on to improve himself, but the quality is there.”

Vieira also took time to praise defender Chris Richards, who impressed on his first Premier League start, saying: “He was really good. I think defensively he was really strong.

“Of course, you can see that he needs to play more games to build his confidence, but when he needed to defend, he did it really well.

“We bought Chris knowing his strength and quality. He’s been really unlucky with a couple of injuries which didn’t allow him to train or play games. Now he’s fully fit, we know he’s a good defender, and he can play when we want to build from the back, so we just need to build his confidence now – but the quality is there.”

Hughes: It was a moment of magic

22:30

Will Hughes was pleased to see Palace’s undeniable quality come to the fore as Michael Olise’s injury-time free-kick earned the Eagles a late point.

The superb goal was just reward for a battling performance across the pitch from Palace, with Hughes hailing both the individual and collective efforts of his side.

The midfielder told Sky Sports: “I think it was [a moment of magic].

“We’ve been going through a difficult period of late, and sometimes you need a bit of magic like from those sorts of players. We’ve got plenty of it in the team – Olise, Wilf [Zaha], Ebs [Eze] – we’ve got individual talent, so I think it was a good point in the end.

“In the end it’s [about] fine margins, but we know we’ve got the talent in the squad – it’s just about doing the basics [right] and winning your duels, and I think we got that tonight. Sometimes you get the rub of the green, and you take it.”

Hughes hopes the point can bolster Palace’s push up the Premier League table, with fixtures against Newcastle United and Manchester United – again – next up.

He continued: “Hopefully it gives us a bit of momentum and belief, because they [Manchester United] have been bang in-form of late. Their manager’s changed their fortunes around this season and they’re a top, top team.

“To go toe-to-toe with them and not be gutted with a point, but deserve it in the end, is a good feeling.

“It’s about consistency. You can’t get ahead of yourself. I think you saw tonight when you do the basics right, you’ve got the talent to win through, so hopefully that’s a mark for future games.”

22:00

Get. in. there!

The point is the least Palace deserve, having given as good as they got against Ten Hag's in-form side.

We'll bring you reaction as soon as we have it.

Full-time

90+5 mins

A breathless finish at Selhurst Park.

90+4 mins

Oh my word! Eze sets Zaha away, but Wan-Bissaka manages to get back to tackle just as the forward enters the box.

What an end to the game!

90+3 mins

That's opened this game right up!

How has Casemiro missed that?! A corner flashes past the Brazilian, who's a yard out and somehow fails to make contact.

Rashford then winds one up from 30 yards - caught by Guaita!

GOAL - OLISE!

90+1 mins

WHAT A HIT!

It's a magnificent, magnificent goal!**

The ball is set slightly wide to the right, but seemingly the perfect position for Olise to hit it over the wall - and into the very top corner of the net via the crossbar! De Gea had no chance stopping that one!

Free-kick of the season? It's certainly a contender.

Free-kick

90 mins

Now then... Shaw knocks Schlupp as he advances towards the box, and it's a free-kick to Palace, 30 yards from goal.

Olise stands over it...

88 mins

We're into the final stages here but the introduction of Fred and McTominay has seen United tighten up in midfield.

Will there be one last clear opportunity for us in this one?

Richards makes a great tackle to prevent Rashford from entering the box. He's enjoyed an impressive first Premier League start, the 22-year-old.

Final Palace change

84 mins

Hughes is off, and on comes Milivojevic in midfield. Can the captain conjure up some more magic tonight?

83 mins

United replace Eriksen with Fred.

80 mins

Brilliant skill from Zaha - and cynical from Casemiro, who picks up a yellow card after chopping down the Palace No.11 on the charge.

Another promising set-piece... Eze takes... it sails over the wall, dips, but is at a comfortable height for De Gea.

77 mins

We're in the mood now!

Clyne scampers down the right and hangs a teasing ball in the air which is only just too high for Ayew - in between Martinez and Wan-Bissaka - to reach six yards out.

Hughes then picks up a booking, I believe for an incident earlier in play.

COME ON PALACE!

Chance!

75 mins

Ohhh - Guéhi comes close from a corner!

It's a fine cross-field pass - and great take from Olise - to buy it, and the No.7 steps up and swings the ball in. Guéhi rises highest and heads goalwards from 10 yards or so, but de Gea springs to his left and punches well clear. A great save.

So unlucky!

73 mins

McTominay and United appeal for a penalty for a foul by Richards, but neither the referee - nor VAR - believe it is a foul. The ball had already run through to Guaita.

Up the other end and Palace have a free-kick wide out left in a promising position, Zaha being caught by McTominay on the follow-through. Have to make the most of this...

Double Palace change

71 mins

Double substitution of our own: off come Doucouré and Édouard, and on come Schlupp and Ayew.

69 mins

Double change for United as Weghorst and Antony, both shackled well today, are replaced by McTominay and Garnacho.

66 mins

It's a hackneyed cliché - but the next goal in this game will make such a difference to its course.

Defences have been on top in the third quarter of this game, but as United demonstrated in that first-half, it only takes one moment to fall for you to change a match's course.

Keep pushing, lads.

61 mins

We're getting some consistent joy this half down the right-hand side, where Zaha is looking for any and every opportunity to run at Shaw.

Twice in the last few minutes he's taken on his man and delivered teasing deliveries which United have been first to - but only just. An attacking avenue to look out for.

Palace substitution

56 mins

Vieira's first change of the match sees Mateta make way for Ebere Eze.

You suspect Palace will revert to their more regular shape now, with the No.10 likely to sit behind Édouard in attack.

50 mins

Now it's a corner to United.

It's played in, half-cleare,d and Hughes blocks from Fernandes, who lays off for Eriksen to shoot from the edge of the 'D'... wildly over, as it turns out.

47 mins

That'll be our first yellow card of the game, I suspect. Olise beats Martinez for skill by the corner flag and the Argentinian drags our No.7 back.

Referee Robert Jones obliges with the booking, before Varane heads clear Olise's delivery.

Second half

46 mins

Here we go then - COME ON PALACE!

Half-time

Enjoy some of the best images from the first-half below.

Half-time

45+3 mins

A first-half comprising only of half-chances - until those final five minutes.

United have had the majority of possession but Palace more than matched their attacking output, looking to have had the best chance of the half when Édouard had a fizzing effort turned onto the bar by David de Gea.

Then, almost out of nothing, Fernandes put United in front with a rasping finish from 12 yards.

Work to do for the Eagles, then.

45 mins

Cruel on Palace, whose next aim will be to get through to half-time without any further damage - United are on the attack again.

Goal - Manchester United

43 mins

Just as Palace were enjoying their strongest period of the game, Manchester United score - Bruno Fernandes.

It's a simple enough goal as Shaw plays a one-two with Rashford before pulling the ball back towards the United captain on the penalty spot.

Fernandes has time and space to take aim and unleash a powerful effort past Guaita.

OFF THE BAR!

40 mins

Ohhh, the closest we've come to a goal as Édouard strikes the crossbar!

It's incisive build-up play from Palace as Olise checks inside from the right and feeds Édouard on the edge of the area. He touches it past Martïnez and hammers an effort towards the top corner.

De Gea somehow gets a glove to it and tips it onto the bar! Varane heads clear the subsequent corner.

COME ON PALACE!

Great tackle

37 mins

It's been a game of committed challenges - albeit no bookings - so far, and Guéhi pulls off yet another: an immaculately timed intervention on the slide to prevent Casemiro bursting through.

We've been struggling to keep hold of the ball as the half has wore on, but have plenty of attacking ammunition on the pitch to capitalise when we do.

33 mins

Head tennis!

It's a set-piece opportunity for Palace as Zaha is chopped down in midfield. Olise swings the delivery in, and it reaches Mateta at the far post.

It's an awkward one to reach and the Frenchman bends his run before heading back across goal... but Varane is first to it, and, after multiple attempts, the visitors smuggle it clear.

31 mins

The first real attacking threat offered by United debutant Weghorst, who's picked out by Shaw but - running away from goal - glances his header over the bar.

The Palace back four have been impressive so far and restricted the visitors to half-chances - now, to take one of our own...

28 mins

The first time tempers have flared as Antony and Mitchell become embroiled in a war of words - but nothing comes of it.

Antony then misplaces a simple pass to Fernandes amidst a promising break for United. The Palace fans enjoyed that one!

Chance

22 mins

Close for the visitors.

A first-time ball forwards from Casemiro sees both Mitchell and Guaita hesitate, and that allows Antony to sneak in.

From the corner of the box, the United forward lobs it on the stretch. It beats Guaita - but thankfully finds the side-netting.

16 mins

Half-chances for both sides.

First, Olise is fed by Doucouré, cuts back onto his favoured left foot and curls an inviting, floated cross towards the far stick which evades everybody attacking it - and the far post, just about.

Up the other end, United enjoy a spell of sustained possession around the Palace area, before it drops for Shaw to half-volley goalwards from a tight angle. He cuts across it, and the ball sails wide of Guaita's far post.

A cagey game so far.

10 mins

Fernandes chips one over the top for Rashford to race onto, but Guaita reads the forward's attempt at a dinked finish and catches comfortably.

The striker was a few yards offside anyhow, as it turned out.

Great tackle

7 mins

Brilliant work from Zaha, cutting out a cross-field pass from Shaw on the halfway line and exchanging passes with Hughes. It breaks to Mitchell who fizzes a low half-volleyed cross in - but it can't quite find a Palace shirt.

Up the other end, Guéhi makes a superb tackle to prevent a galloping Rashford from checking back onto his favoured right foot.

4 mins

Oh - nearly half a chance there for Palace.

The ball bobbles in midfield, Olise plays it forwards, and Mateta's sheer frame causes Martínez some difficulty.

It reaches Édouard on the edge of the box, but the Palace man is tackled as he shapes to shoot. United attempt to break but Guéhi is in the right place at the right time to intercept.

2 mins

Former Palace man Aaron Wan-Bissaka plays an early cross into the box seeking United debutant Wout Weghorst, but Palace deal with it assuredly.

Kick-off

1 min

Here we go then - COME ON PALACE!

Édouard gets the game underway.

19:55

The two teams emerge from the tunnel to a roar of noise, and, of course, Glad All Over.

It's quite some noise, that - another magnificent backing.

Richards is on his knees on the turf in front of the Holmesdale Road End - he's embracing this moment, and rightly so.

Kick-off is just moments away...

19:50

Warm-ups have wound down, the two teams have returned down the tunnel, and we're just moments away from kick-off.

The air may be crisp and the temperatures plummeting - but these Palace fans are about to generate one red-hot atmosphere in SE25.

Let's do this, lads!

19:40

The stage is set...

19:30

The two teams are out warming up and there's a real sense of purpose about these Palace players tonight.

After all, all Palace needed was a sprinkling of good luck to turn their much-improved performance against Chelsea at the weekend into points.

The Eagles were positive from the outset and came close on several occasions, forcing Kepa Arrizabalaga into several crucial saves, but just could not find that opening goal.

The Red and Blue Army will be doing everything in their power to make that happen tonight - you can be sure of it.

19:20

There's more than just football which ties these two clubs together.

In the wake of the Munich Air Disaster, which claimed the lives of eight Manchester United players and 15 others, Crystal Palace reached out to pay tribute.

Three years after his death, the club helped to fund a stained-glass window commemorating Duncan Edwards in Dudley, his home town.

Both Palace and Brentford, and local bowling club Wren’s Nest, helped United to finance the tribute inside St Francis church, and as such as there is Palace crest alongside two depictions of Edwards.

It's a moving tribute - read more about it here.

19:10

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira explained that his players will not compromise on their desire to go toe-to-toe with every other side in the Premier League.

He said: “The table will change from one week to another. The ambition that the players have – the ambition the football club has – is to try to finish higher than we did last year.

“We want to improve every aspect of the football club. Look at the performance we had [against Chelsea on Sunday]. In that performance, we showed ambition in the way we want to play the game.

“When you are on the field, it’s 11 [players] against 11. We went toe-to-toe with Chelsea and we will try to do the same against United. With a little bit of luck, we can score those goals.

“We have to compete on the field with the quality, ambition and values we have. We will compete, and this is good for the football club.”

Team news

19:00

Chris Richards makes his first Premier League start for Palace against Manchester United, one of four changes Patrick Vieira makes to his starting XI.

Richards, Will Hughes, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Odsonne Édouard all start, as Joachim Andersen – who was substituted in the first-half against Chelsea – drops out of the squad, and Jeffrey Schlupp, Ebere Eze and Jordan Ayew move to the bench.

Richards has thus far seen injury limit his minutes for Palace to four substitute appearances in the Premier League – plus one start in the Carabao Cup – but gets his opportunity from the start against Manchester United.

The 22-year-old defender is expected to line-up in a back four featuring Nathaniel Clyne, Marc Guéhi and Tyrick Mitchell ahead of goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.

Hughes is likely to join Cheick Doucouré in midfield, supporting wingers Michael Olise and Wilfried Zaha – a former Manchester United player himself – and forwards Édouard and Mateta.

Palace: Guaita (GK), Clyne, Richards, Guéhi, Mitchell, Doucouré, Hughes, Olise, Zaha, Édouard, Mateta

Subs: Johnstone (GK), Ward, Tomkins, Riedewald, Milivojevic, Schlupp, Ozoh, Eze, Ayew

Manchester United: De Gea (GK), Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martínez, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen, Fernandes, Antony, Weghorst, Rashford

Subs: Heaton (GK), Lindelöf, Maguire, Malacia, Fred, McTominay, Pellistri, Elanga, Garnacho

<br> 18:50

Team news in 10 minutes’ time, then... and one man who stands on the cusp of a landmark week is Wilfried Zaha.

The Palace No.11 is on 448 career appearances for the Eagles and, should he feature against both Manchester and Newcastle United in the next three days, will hit the 450 mark on Saturday.

Incidentally, Zaha has scored three Premier League goals against the Old Trafford side; with one more tonight, he would become the top scorer among former United players against them in the competition..

Not a bad time to do it, Wilf!

18:40

Our 12th match programme of the season is a bit of a cracker, if we do say so ourselves.

Our feature interview is with Academy graduate and England left-back Tyrick Mitchell, while there are features on Patrick Vieira and Luka Milivojevic, updates from David Ozoh and Hollie Olding, and a message from Doc Brown on Palace Patterns.

You can get your hands on the Man Utd programme from vendors in and around Selhurst Park for just £3.50. You can also order programmes online for delivery straight to your door. You’ll need to do this at least three days before the game.

Alternatively, you can read a digital version right now for £1.99 by clicking here or below.

Gold, Junior Eagles Gold and International Members, and Season Ticket+ holders, get the digital programme sent direct to them at no extra charge – you can become a Member by clicking here!

18:30

Ahead of all the on-field action: a moment to be proud off it.

Palace fans have once again excelled themselves in supporting Palace For Life’s annual Christmas appeal this year, donating an incredible 550 essential individual items to City Harvest, a food redistribution charity.

Banding together to combat the current challenges faced by households in need, Palace fans’ generous donations will be allocated by City Harvest to grassroots organisations in the local community.

Find out more about the success of the campaign here.

Recent meetings with United

18:20

Palace will hope for a repeat of last season’s finale, when Wilfried Zaha’s goal ensured three points on the final day and the Eagles kept their sixth consecutive home clean sheet.

Current Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was in the stands that day, so will be no stranger to the Selhurst Park atmosphere. Indeed, the Red Devils have failed to score on their last two visits to SE25.

Palace have won three of the last six meetings between the two, as many as they won in the previous 31.

18:10

There are plenty of ways you can follow the action from SE25 this evening.

You’ve got this live blog for one - hello! - and our Match Centre, where as well as a range of stats and facts, you can also find every piece of build-up to the game you could possibly need.

Then, one hour before kick-off (19:00 GMT), attention turns to team news across all our web, app and social (Twitter and Instagram) channels.

During the game, Palace TV+ offers live audio commentary, and there’ll be instant reaction across all our channels on the final whistle as well.

Alternatively, the game will be broadcast on Sky Sports in the UK.

Take your pick!

Welcome to south London

18:00

Good evening and welcome once more to Selhurst Park, where Crystal Palace are preparing to take on Manchester United in a mouthwatering Premier League match-up.

It was as little as ten days ago that a necessary - if challenging - adjustment to the fixture calendar saw this game transpire, with the Eagles - off the back of successive London derbies - seeing their next three fixtures now read: Man Utd (H), Newcastle United (H), Man Utd (A).

And yet this is a fixture Palace have certainly had the better of in recent times, winning three of their last six encounters with the Red Devils.

You sense all we need now is that final touch to some of the impressive build-up play we’ve enjoyed in recent weeks - that clinicality manager Patrick Vieira has spoken about - and sparks will fly with this side.

We’ll have all the team news, stats, build-up and live text commentary you need on this page, right here. Refresh periodically for our updates.

In the meantime… COME ON PALACE!!!