Manchester United's Amad Diallo, right, is challenged by Crystal Palace's Tyrick Mitchell during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, England. (AP )

LONDON, Feb 2, (AP): On the day Marcus Rashford edged closer to a departure from Old Trafford, Manchester United lacked a cutting edge up front in a 2-0 home loss to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

There was more bad news Sunday for United with a tearful Lisandro Martinez carried off on a stretcher with a left knee injury - the latest injury to afflict the Argentina defender.

Jean-Philippe Mateta scored both goals in the second half for Palace to end United’s three-match winning run in all competitions - a streak coming after Ruben Amorim had called his team "the worst team, maybe, in the history of Manchester United.”

The Amorim era looks set to be without Rashford, at least until the end of the season, with the forward reportedly undergoing a medical examination at Aston Villa ahead of sealing a loan move with a view to a permanent transfer.

Even with striker Rashford absent, Amorim fielded a team with no out-and-out striker and failed to create many good chances against Palace, which picked off United on the counterattack. Mateta’s goals came in the 64th and 89th minutes.

United was overtaken by Palace and dropped to 13th in the standings - one place and two points ahead of Tottenham, which won 2-0 at Brentford to end a four-match losing run in the league and ease some pressure on manager Ange Postecoglou.

Vitaly Janelt scored an own-goal at a corner to put Tottenham ahead and Pape Sarr added the second goal in the 87th.