On a day when Manchester United were linked with one of the goalkeepers who has taken David de Gea's place in the Spanish national team, their current No. 1 issued the perfect reminder that it is what you do with your hands that really counts.
United are one of three of the big six who have reportedly cast a glance at David Raya, a reliable goalkeeper for Brentford whose biggest attribute is his ability with his feet. As Jurgen Klopp said of him last season, "the goalkeeper could wear the number 10 shirt."
But he has to wear the number one shirt and few do it better than De Gea. It feels like the 32-year-old's relationship with United supporters has been rekindled recently. He is over his rocky patch and looks back to his best.
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Life under his ninth United manager, caretaker or permanent, got off to an uncertain start at Brentford, but De Gea fronted up after that game and took responsibility for his own mistakes. He blundered bizarrely against Everton recently but has generally been excellent this season.
He has also started to improve with his feet. United don't attempt to play out from the back with quite the same risk as they did that day at Brentford, but they now mix it up and De Gea can look to go over the top or keep it short. At Selhurst Park he clipped one lovely pass over the head of an attacker and straight to Aaron Wan-Bissaka to help beat the press.
It was what he did four minutes from the end of the first half that took the breath away, however. Social media debated whether De Gea's stunning save from Odsonne Edouard was his best ever in a United shirt, but there is plenty of competition for that particular accolade. Had United held on for all three points, perhaps it would have been.
For most of the match it looked like being a game-changing moment. Two minutes after the save United put together their best move of the match, ending with Bruno Fernandes giving them the lead. With the majority of Premier League goalkeepers they would have gone in at half-time behind, instead, they went in ahead. That is the value of a world-class stopper.
Unfortunately, there was little De Gea could do to stop Michael Olise's pin-point free-kick in the 90th minute. The fact is the save from Edouard would have been more valuable in a winning cause. The Spaniard had more reason than most to rue his teammate's inability to go and kill games off away from home.
De Gea is up to 10th on the list of all-time appearances for United now and another 46 games would take him to sixth. It looks entirely achievable, especially if discussions over a new deal reach a positive ending. The reality is he was always going to have to take a pay cut from that £375,000-a-week deal to remain at United.
He could also face more competition next season. There is a possibility Dean Henderson returns to lay down a challenge, although the academy graduate will surely be ready to force the issue and make a permanent exit. If that happens then United will be in the market for a No. 2 who can put pressure on De Gea.
If that is someone who is at the elite level with their feet, such as Raya, then the contrast will be fascinating to watch as United develop their game under Ten Hag. De Gea certainly bristles at the constant analysis of what we he can or can't do with his feet and having lost his place in the Spain squad because of that, you can understand why.
But as a goalkeeper who keeps the ball out of the net, he remains one of the best in the world, as he proved once again at Selhurst Park.
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