Manchester United’s pursuit of Champions League qualification gathered pace on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace that put the team in a strong position to exploit any slip-ups by Arsenal or Manchester City.
A Damien Delaney own goal in the fourth minute coupled with a rare strike from Italian defender, Matteo Darmian, 10 minutes into the second half, meant United moved to only two points behind third-place City and one behind Arsenal.
With United in touching distance of the top four Champions League places and through to the FA Cup semi-finals, the season is not looking as bleak as it once did for manager Louis van Gaal.
But what will have troubled United’s hierarchy were the thousands of empty seats inside the usually packed 76,000-seat Old Trafford.
Saturday’s semi-final opponent, Everton, is in turmoil after being crushed 4-0 by Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.
Two goals in the last three minutes of the first half through Divock Origi and Mamadou Sakho meant The Reds went into the break with a well-deserved two-goal lead.
Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho completed the rout in the 61st and 76th minutes respectively – that was after Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori was dismissed five minutes into the second half.
Everton’s only win in the last eight games was in the FA Cup and the team’s progress in the competition could determine the fate of struggling manager Roberto Martinez.
“It was a disaster,” a disappointed Martinez said after the game.
“A horrible showing that started with the best intentions but ended up with the inability to get the basics right.
“We forgot to defend the box and gave them a soft two-goal lead. We got emotional with the red card and from then on Gareth Barry was injured and John Stones was ill, it was a chain reaction.
“A disaster. An impossible experience.”
The second FA semi-final on Sunday sees Palace play Watford, which rested many first-team regulars as it prepared for Wembley by losing 3-1 at West Ham.
