Manchester United and Crystal Palace are set to face off in a Premier League fixture at Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Match News
This highly anticipated match comes just days after their EFL Cup third-round encounter, where Manchester United emerged victorious with a convincing 3-0 win over Crystal Palace.
Now, the Red Devils aim to continue their winning streak and end the month on a high note by claiming their third successive victory in all competitions.
After a rocky start to September, suffering three consecutive defeats and conceding 10 goals in the process, Manchester United have managed to steady the ship with two important wins.
They secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Burnley in the Premier League last weekend, followed by a breezy triumph over Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro, and Anthony Martial.
Their impressive form has earned them a spot in the fourth round of the EFL Cup, where they will face last season’s beaten finalists, Newcastle United, at the end of October.
Manchester United coach, Erik ten Hag, believes that his team is making progress and expects more from his players.
The upcoming match against Crystal Palace is the second of four consecutive home games for Manchester United, with a Champions League contest against Galatasaray and a top-flight meeting with Brentford to follow.
Currently sitting ninth in the Premier League table, Manchester United aims to regain momentum at Old Trafford after their 31-game unbeaten home run was halted by Brighton & Hove Albion two weeks ago.
The Red Devils have a strong track record at home, winning 13 of their last 16 top-flight encounters against Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace started the season on a positive note, accumulating seven points from their first four Premier League games and progressing to the EFL Cup third round after defeating Plymouth Argyle.
However, Roy Hodgson’s side has endured a dip in form, failing to secure a win in their last three games across all competitions.
Their recent struggles include a 3-1 loss to Aston Villa, a goalless draw against Fulham, and their EFL Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United.
While Crystal Palace may have hoped for a longer EFL Cup run, they can now focus solely on their Premier League campaign.
With five of their next eight top-flight fixtures taking place away from Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace aims to improve their away record.
Having won only three of their last 14 away games since the start of the year, they face a challenging task against Manchester United.
Despite this, Crystal Palace has demonstrated their ability to perform at Old Trafford in recent years under the guidance of Hodgson.
They secured a hard-fought goalless draw in November 2018, followed by a 2-1 victory in August 2019 and a 3-1 triumph in November 2020.
However, in their previous two visits, they suffered narrow one-goal defeats, including a 2-1 loss to Manchester United in February.
Team News:
Manchester United will be without Antony and Jadon Sancho due to leave of absence and disciplinary reasons, respectively.
Additionally, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, Amad Diallo, and Kobbie Mainoo are sidelined with injuries.
Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen, and Sergio Reguilon are expected to return to the matchday squad after recovering from illness, while Lisandro Martinez should be available following a minor foot problem.
Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and Rasmus Hojlund are likely to be included in the starting lineup.
Sofyan Amrabat, who made his debut as a makeshift left-back, may move into midfield for his first Premier League start alongside Casemiro.
Crystal Palace will be without several injured players, including Michael Olise, Matheus Franca, Jefferson Lerma, James Tomkins, Odsonne Edouard, and Naouirou Ahamada.
Edouard and Ahamada are doubtful and will be assessed before the match.
Jairo Riedewald, who picked up a knock against Manchester United in the EFL Cup, is also a concern.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is expected to lead the line, while key playmaker Eberechi Eze is set to be recalled to the starting XI.
Predicted Starting Lineups:
Manchester United:
Onana;
Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Reguilon;
Casemiro, Amrabat;
Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford;
Hojlund
Crystal Palace:
Johnstone;
Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell;
Hughes, Doucoure;
Ayew, Eze, Schlupp;
Mateta
Prediction:
We predict a 2-0 victory for Manchester United. While Crystal Palace has enjoyed success at Old Trafford in recent years, their recent struggles in front of goal could hamper their chances.
Manchester United will be motivated to build on their dominant performance in the midweek clash and maintain their winning momentum.
With a stronger lineup expected, they are likely to secure all three points against Crystal Palace.
