Second-half goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount earned Manchester United a comeback win at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Palace had deservedly went in at the break 1-0 ahead thanks to a Jean-Philippe Mateta penalty as he notched his sixth goal in 12 Premier League games this season.
Mateta had shown great composure after scoring at the second attempt, after VAR spotted a double touch on his first effort which meant a retake was ordered.
The French striker went for opposite bottom corners with each spot-kick, sending United goalkeeper Senne Lammens the wrong way each time.
But the Eagles, who were beaten 2-1 away to Strasbourg in the Uefa Conference League on Thursday night, ran out of steam in the second half as United hit back with two quick-fire goals.
The first came courtesy of much-maligned Dutch attacker Joshua Zirkzee who scored his first Premier League goal in 364 days with a fine finish from an acute angle in the 54th minute.
Nine minutes later, Ruben Amorim's side were in front when Mason Mount struck a low free-kick through a poor Palace defensive wall, catching out Henderson.
And United comfortably held firm from there to end a run of three matches without victory – including a disastrous home defeat against a 10-man Everton on Monday – and secure their first win at bogey ground Selhurst Park since July 2020.
“It was small details that helped,” said Portuguese coach Amorim. “The pace and intensity was better in the second half. I could see that Palace were getting tired at the end of the first half and knew they would suffer if we scored.”
It had been a frantic, end-to-end opening to the match in South London which saw both sides miss a number of glorious chances to open the scoring.
There was not even a minute on the clock when Casmiro saw his lose-range effort blocked at point-blank range by Henderson who then quickly gathered up loose ball to deny his former club.
Mateta had Palace's first big opportunity when he rolled United defender Matthijs de Ligt but could only fire into the side netting.
Brazilian midfielder Casemiro was then left screaming in frustration after heading a Bruno Fernandes free-kick wide of the target.
Adam Wharton should then have scored his first goal for Palace but struck his half-volley straight at Lammens in the United goal.
On the 15-minute mark, Mateta had the biggest opportunity yet when found himself clean through on goal only to drag a low shot wide of the target.
Palace Daichi Kamada had a shot easily saved when well placed while United defender Leny Yorro produced a brilliant block on a powerfully hit Yeremy Pino strike.
Yorro, though, would soon blot his copybook as it was the French defender's clumsy challenge on Mateta that gifted Palace the opening goal.
The Eagles striker picked himself up to score but an accidental double touch when he kicked ball off standing foot meant Mateta would have to go again. The Frenchman coolly stepped up, finishing confidently into the opposite corner.
The second period would be less frenetic with Palace seemingly running out of gas and United able to take advantage.
The scores were level when Fernandes surprised the Palace defence by picking out Zirkzee with free-kick from left rather curling over to back post, and the Dutchman – who had barely figured in the match – smacked home a sweet finish from a tight angle.
The game had been turned on its head not long after when Fernandes rolled a free-kick into the path of Mount who took advantage of a gaping hole in the Palace defensive wall and an unprepared Henderson to slot home a low finish.
It was captain Fernandes' 56th Premier League assist with only Ryan Giggs (162), Wayne Rooney (93), and David Beckham (80) having provided more for United in the competition.
There was more good news for United when Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez made his first Premier League appearance since February, much to the delight of the noisy away contingent at Selhurst Park.
Palace never looked like they would restore parity and United eased to victory with the final whistle, sparking major celebrations from the away side.
“I don't want to talk about the missed chances,” said Palace manager Oliver Glasner, whose side missed out on a top-four spot. “If we need more than one minute to be organised for a free-kick, it is our fault. How we scored is a penalty. It is how it is.
“We deserved to have the lead and then it is about small margins. I can't remember if Manchester United had a chance in open play but they were really good from set pieces and that's why we lost in the end.”
