Marc Guehi leaned back, looked to the ceiling and faced questions about last summer’s collapsed transfer to Liverpool. Cornered in a rare interview, the club captain rejected the notion that the episode was painful, saying it “wasn’t difficult” to remain at Crystal Palace.

Reports said Guehi completed part of a Liverpool medical amid advanced negotiations before Palace executed a U-turn when it became clear they could not secure an adequate replacement. Manager Oliver Glasner has repeatedly denied suggestions that he threatened to quit during those hours.

Speaking to Sky Sports three months on, Guehi bristled at the phrase “difficult summer.” “I think everyone has this perception and idea that it was difficult,” he said with a wry smile. “It actually wasn’t difficult. It wasn’t difficult at all because when you’re focused on what’s the most important thing it becomes easy.

“I know that God has a plan for me and whatever that plan will be will come into fruition at some point. But the goal and the focus is always been playing football and trying to do that the best I can.”

Guehi’s apparent calm is tempered by the clear reality that the route to a move remains open. The 25-year-old will be a free agent next summer and there is expected to be a queue of suitors. Liverpool could yet make a move as soon as January.

Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp urged his old side to act, saying, “He would be a perfect fit for Liverpool.” After watching what was described as a calamitous defensive display against Leeds United on Saturday night, Redknapp added, “That’s exactly what they need to play alongside Virgil van Dijk. Then you can mix it up and play a back three if you wanted to do that. They need to get another centre back in.”

Those at Crystal Palace are understandably eager to hang on to their captain. Guehi’s Sky interview was conducted alongside defensive colleague Maxence Lacroix, who recalled his own reaction to the changing fortunes on Deadline Day. “To be honest, I will say when some people was saying that he will leave I was a little bit sad you know [in] my heart. ]”

Manchester United staged an impressive second-half turnaround at Selhurst Park on Sunday, inflicting a first home defeat upon Crystal Palace. Palace had entered the contest enjoying a 12-game unbeaten on home soil, while United looked to be reeling after suffering a historic defeat to Everton at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Suddenly, the picture is rosier for Ruben Amorim again, with his side performing with unfamiliar control after taking a 2–1 lead. Their triumph lifts them up to sixth and above the Eagles in the Premier League table, who slip down the seventh. Oliver Glasner’s side remain winless off the back of Conference League outings.

The match swung after the break. Jean-Philippe Mateta converted from the penalty spot after being tripped by Leny Yoro, and although a double touch forced a retake, Mateta sent Senne Lammens the wrong way for his second attempt to give Palace a deserved advantage. United responded early in the second half when Joshua Zirkzee beat Dean Henderson with a fierce left-footed finish from a clever set piece. Mason Mount then made the most of a shoddy Palace wall to score from just outside the area and complete the turnaround.

Lisandro Martínez returned to help see out the result after an absence since February. Palace faded in the second period, with Thursday night’s venture perhaps taking its toll, and United enjoyed their best spell after taking the lead.

Player ratings

GK: Senne Lammens — 7.0
CB: Leny Yoro — 6.2
CB: Matthijs de Ligt — 6.9
CB: Luke Shaw — 7.3
RWB: Amad Diallo — 7.4
CM: Casemiro — 7.8
CM: Bruno Fernandes — 8.8
LWB: Diogo Dalot — 7.4
RF: Bryan Mbeumo — 6.9
LF: Mason Mount — 8.3
ST: Joshua Zirkzee — 8.1

Substitutes used: Noussair Mazraoui (58’ for Yoro) — 6.9; Lisandro Martínez (82’ for Shaw) — N/A; Kobbie Mainoo (90’ for Mbeumo) — N/A; Patrick Dorgu (90’ for Amad) — N/A.

Starting XI: Dean Henderson; Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guéhi; Daniel Muñoz, Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada, Tyrick Mitchell; Ismaïla Sarr, Yeremy Pino; Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Ruben Amorim gave a blunt assessment of Patrick Dorgu’s performances as the Denmark-born wingback was dropped to the bench for the trip to Crystal Palace. The United head coach singled out what he described as visible nerves in possession, tying that critique to Monday’s 1–0 defeat to Everton.

“You can feel the anxiety every time Patrick touched the ball,” United’s head coach damningly outlined, specifically referencing Monday’s 1–0 defeat to Everton . “I can feel the anxiety.” Amorim contrasted that fraught display with Dorgu’s earlier composed finish for Denmark against Scotland, and he highlighted a missed volley against Everton as evidence of inconsistent decision-making.

“He needs to be calmer playing the game,” the United coach sighed. “You remember the shot against Everton. That was easier than the decision he had to make against the guys from Scotland.

“He made a great decision, and I saw it when he played in Italy. But here is different, and sometimes the pressure is hard for them in the beginning, but he has time to improve.”

After six days, Dorgu did not retain his starting berth at Selhurst Park, with Diogo Dalot named in his place. Dalot was introduced from the bench during the Everton game shortly before the hour mark after Idrissa Gueye received an early red card. Amorim was critical of both fullbacks’ attacking output in that match: Dorgu delivered no successful crosses and missed a clear sight of goal; Dalot failed to register a shot and produced only a single snatched chance while not finding a teammate with a ball into the box.

“I think they [Dorgu and Dalot] are far from the best and they know it,” Amorim sighed ahead of Sunday’s clash with Palace. “Like a lot of players in our team, like myself, so I just look at them and I think they have so much more to give.” “What I feel, when I see them training, they are doing so much better than in games,” the United boss added.

Amorim also reiterated the squad need for an attacking wingback option. “We have time to think about that,” he said when the prospect of purchases was raised, “I don’t know what is going to happen in January.”

Beyond individual criticism, Amorim warned of collective defensive weakness: “We have some results of not letting a lot of teams in the final third, but we are being really soft near the box so we need to improve that,” Amorim lamented earlier this week. “[We need to be] more strong on the duels and Crystal Palace are very strong on duels and when they have to defend, they are really strong.

“Those things can change how you see teams, but we need to improve in a lot of things. We need to close our goals because we are scoring goals.” He added that recent lapses are not down to being outnumbered but to the players present in the box not doing enough to stop the opposition.