Manchester United drew 0-0 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, in which the Reds created plenty of chances but failed to capitalise on them. But a draw could be a reasonable outcome, as Ten Hag's side came close to winning but also came close to losing. A game that should have been a win-or-lose ended in a draw, with the Red Devils failing to avenge last season's 0-4, 0-1 double.
Ten Hag made a surprise shake-up to his starting line-up, with back-to-back goalscoring Marcus Rashford coming to the bench and Amad · Diallo returning to the main line-up. Ten Hag explained: 'It wasn't a difficult decision because we had to rotate. There have been a lot of games this season and we have to give Alejandro [Garnacho] game time. He's scored a lot of goals and assists and he definitely needs to start, and he's only started once this season.'
United played their best first half in recent times, with 70 per cent of the ball in possession and plenty of scoring chances. Less than 10 minutes into the game, Zirkze's through ball sent Garnacho straight to face the Crystal Palace goalkeeper, but United veteran Dean · Henderson saved his shot.
Henderson is clearly very expressive in the face of his old club. Minutes after denying Garnacho's one-on-one effort, Eriksen headed in a corner and De Ligt headed in but was denied by Henderson.
The high-altitude bombing didn't work, Lisandro · Martinez came with a low shot and Henderson saved the ball again. The stats show that Henderson made four saves in the first 15 minutes alone.
The woodwork behind Henderson was as hated by the England goalkeeper, with Garnacho hitting the crossbar before Bruno · Fernandes' follow-up shot bounced off the bar.
As in last season's two-legged fixture, United failed to score against Crystal Palace. It's not the first time that we haven't been able to take advantage of our chances. The stats suggest that United have the second-highest expected goals tally in the league, with 9.53 expected goals in their first five games, but have actually scored just five, with only Southampton, who are in 18th place, worse than them.
The 10 goals against Southampton and Barnsley may have boosted the confidence of the United forwards, but it did not improve their finishing skills. And Ten Hag's on-the-spot scheduling, that is, his substitutions, made the problem even worse.
In the second half he replaced Zirkze, the €42.5 million Netherlands striker is not a traditional number nine, scoring only one goal in seven games, but he likes to drop back and can guarantee an attacking routine for his team. When he was substituted, United's dominance on the ball began to wane in the second half.
With Christian Eriksen and Amad · Diallo also departing, Palace began to control the game and Andre · Onana saw a surge in his performances. While Dean · Henderson was busy, Onana's saves may have been more eye-catching, especially against Nketiah and Sarr.
Like Manchester United, Palace have a weakness in their ability to score, with England international Eze being able to pass beautifully but not be able to put the ball in the back of the net. Both sides may not be happy with the final 0-0 scoreline, with United having plenty of shots on goal but Palace missing just two shots on target.
Manchester United have players worth more than £400 million on the bench, but Ten Hag's substitutions have been unsatisfactory. By the time he tried to bring on Hojlund in the final minute to give the team a real number nine, the Reds had already lost control, and neither Hojlund nor Rashford had been given few chances.
Ten Hag's mismanagement of the game is also reflected in the use of veteran Eriksen, if he is to start against Crystal Palace, why put the 32-year-old Denmark core in the Carabao Cup against League One sides? In addition, Zirkze should probably not be replaced when Rashford is brought on, and the Fee, who makes frequent mistakes, is a better option.
United assistant coach Ruud van Nistelrooy twice on the sidelines in the first half urged his players to calm down, but the players apparently didn't listen. Not only were they not ruthless enough in front of goal, but they were also in defence, with Lima's feet flying lucky to escape a red card.
Manchester United walked away with a point in the end, having failed to win at Crystal Palace's home stadium for the fifth time in a row. Of the teams that have met more than 10 times in the Premier League, the 0-0 chance against Crystal Palace is the highest, with five of the 31 meetings between the two teams ending in a draw, accounting for 16 per cent.
Speaking after the game, Ten Hag said: "We deserved to win, in the first half we ate the opponent raw, we should have scored a goal or two, and the second half was more balanced. But you can't get points from your performance, we were in full control of the game, we played well, the only problem was in the box, that's where the game was won and lost, so we should be calmer. Against Brighton, we should have drawn or even won, so it was a game where three points were conceded. We conceded two points in the first half today, but at least we didn't lose in the end."