Sofyan Amrabat is already changing the way opponents approach Manchester United

It took just 15 minutes for the Crystal Palace analysts inside Old Trafford to identify their main problem.

Blessed with a vantage point high up in the ground, they could see the entire pitch and didn't take long to notice Sofyan Amrabat drifting into central midfield. The Moroccan started his first game for Manchester United in Wednesday's 3-0 Carabao Cup win - ostensibly at left-back, although in reality his role was far more varied.

Tasked with marshalling the young and exciting Jesurun Rak-Sakyi when out of possession, Amrabat was instructed to move into central midfield and beyond when United had the ball. Within the first 20 minutes he had ballooned an effort over from the edge of the box and pressed Tyrick Mitchell, Palace's own left-back.

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With United dominant in possession and Palace sitting deep, Amrabat was allowed to push into central midfield at will and it was from there that he caused problems. Roy Hodgson's side sat with two narrow banks of four but often left Facundo Pellistri hugging the right-hand touchline.

And all too often Amrabat was able to spray passes out to the young Uruguayan, who was United's main attacking threat in the first-half. The Moroccan's 96 per cent pass accuracy was joint-top among the starters and his five long balls were bettered only by Casemiro and Harry Maguire.

“[In the first half] I just felt we were a bit narrow," Palace forward Jordan Ayew admitted after the game. "We wanted to close the middle and they were just hitting diagonals, going wide to the wingers and full-backs and causing us a lot of danger. That was a problem.

“With three at the back