Afternoon all. So, who would have thought that with 10 matches played, just four points would separate Manchester United and Crystal Palace?! Well, ahead of their meeting at Old Trafford this afternoon, that is indeed the state of play.

Before we take a closer look at this contest, though, let's begin with the team news from Old Trafford, which has just started to filter through...

MAN UNITED XI: De Gea; Valencia, McNair, Blind, Shaw; Fellaini, Carrick; Januzaj, Rooney, Di Maria; Van Persie

MAN UNITED SUBS: Lindegaard, Vermijl, Blackett, Fletcher, Herrera, Mata, Wilson

If reports are to be believed, Daley Blind will fill in at centre-back for injury-hit United today. The Dutch international, who has played in midfield since his summer arrival from Ajax, will partner teenager Paddy McNair. Following his return to fitness, Michael Carrick will make his first start of the season, while further forward Louis van Gaal has kept faith with Robin van Persie, which has again restricted young striker James Wilson to the bench.

And now for visiting Palace...

PALACE XI: Speroni; Mariappa, Delaney, Dann, Ward; Puncheon, Ledley, McArthur, Bolasie; Chamakh, Campbell

PALACE SUBS: Hennessey, Kelly, Fryers, McCarthy, Bannan, Doyle, Gayle

Fair play to Neil Warnock, it doesn't look like Palace are going to sit back today. Former United youngster Fraizer Campbell will be partnered by Marouane Chamakh up front, while Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie will feature on the flanks. Elsewhere, Damian Delaney has replaced Brede Hangeland in the heart of the defence, with James McArthur replacing suspended skipper Mile Jedinak in midfield.

Going back to that United team for a moment before we crack on, here is a mad statistic. Have you known injuries like it for one club defensively?!

It will be an eighth different centre-back pairing for Van Gaal today in just his 11th Premier League game. That's a lot. Injuries to blame. — Rob Dawson (@RobDawsonMEN) November 8, 2014

Let's stick with United and their manager Van Gaal, who has seen his side amass just 13 points from a possible 30 since he took charge in the summer. Asked during yesterday's press conference about that return, the Dutchman admitted that it wasn't good enough:

"It's not good enough. I feel myself very lousy for the fans and my staff, but also for the board, because they have a great belief in me, my staff and the players. When you have 13 points after 10 games, you are not doing well, but on the other hand we are in a process as I have said from the beginning."

And what of Van Gaal's opposite number Warnock? He was asked by reporters about United's start to new campaign and he has backed their skipper Wayne Rooney to help reverse the current fortunes:

"I think he's been a mainstay in Man United and he will be instrumental in them getting right back to the top in the next two or three years. I know he's on a lot of money and so he's open to criticism but, just the way he is, the fans love him and he comes back in and plays in midfield and he'll pop out wide and up front and he just wants to play."

That is what the two managers have had to say, but what about Sports Mole's experts? Here is how our On the Sofa pairing Matt Law and Barney Corkhill see this contest panning out:

As highlighted in that video, the defence is a real worry for United. They have conceded 14 goals this season in the Premier League, but injuries certainly haven't helped. In Blind, they have a player that has played at centre-back for Ajax in the past, but he has never done it for United. The reason for him playing there alongside McNair and not Carrick, Van Gaal has just confirmed to MUTV, is that he wants one left footer and one right footer to make up his pairing.

Another player that Palace may well look to exploit is Antonio Valencia at right-back. The Ecuadorian is a winger by trade and when he has been asked to play in defence in the past, he has had a tendency to either switch off or go ball chasing. Whether it is Puncheon or Bolasie down his side, they could well have a big say if Palace are to collect a positive result.

© Getty Images

Of course, history is against Palace winning today. Everyone will remember their famous League Cup win at Old Trafford in 2011, but you have go all the way back to 1989 (25 years) to find their last league win away at United. On that day the South Londoners returned to the capital with a 2-1 victory to show for their efforts.

It's certainly a big afternoon for this United player, who has been sidelined since the summer with an ankle injury that required surgery. There has been a growing belief that as the season has progressed, United have really missed the England international.

PIC: Michael Carrick, who starts his first senior game of the season today, arrives at Old Trafford. #mufclive pic.twitter.com/9On0Ufc7bt — Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 8, 2014

PREDICTION: So, what is going to happen today then? When United are involved at the moment, it's so hard to predict! You can see why United are the favourites given the home advantage, but with that defence, you'd expect Palace to fancy their chances. Let's go for a 2-1 victory to United, with Di Maria and Rooney finding the net.

FULL TIME: Thirty or so miles down the road from Old Trafford, the final whistle has been blown at Anfield, where league leaders Chelsea have recorded a 2-1 win over hosts Liverpool. That loss means that a United win would send them above their arch rivals heading into the international break. You can read Sports Mole's match report of the events on Merseyside by clicking here.

I mentioned earlier that Palace may fancy their chances running at Valencia at right-back, but perhaps winning corners and set-piece situations will also prove to be profitable:

7 - Only Crystal Palace (8) have scored more set piece goals than Chelsea (7) in the Premier League this season. Routine.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 8, 2014

Do you want Danny Mills's view on Palace with not long to go until we get underway? Of course you do! Here is what he has had to say to BBC Sport:

"I think Crystal Palace under Tony Pulis were very organised. Under Neil Warnock they are a bit more open and that does cause them problems. I think Palace could end up struggling this season. They are leaking goals, which did not happen last season."

Here come the players with members of the 1st Queen's Dragoon Guards forming a line either side of them. There will be a 60-second silence before the start of this contest to remember those that have died in conflict.

KICKOFF! Visiting Palace, attacking from right to left in this first half, get proceedings underway at Old Trafford.

CHANCE! Very bright start from United as Van Persie wins possession 30 yards from goal and feeds Januzaj. The young Belgian shows great confidence in hitting a swerving shot which has Speroni beaten, but unfortunately for the hosts his effort flies just over the crossbar.

McArthur is very lucky to escape a booking as he bundles Van Persie to the ground 30 yards from goal. The resulting set piece is then disappointingly fired into the wall by Di Maria, but it's all United at present.

Rooney is dropping deep to get the ball from the United defence at the moment, which is allowing Di Maria to come in from the left flank as he looks to link with Van Persie and Januzaj. Palace are struggling to pick the Argentine up right now because he doesn't have a set position.

SAVE! First piece of work for Speroni and it's routine for the Palace stopper as he holds a drive from Di Maria. Still United dominate, but Palace are weathering the storm.

All of a sudden, Palace have loosened the shackles a little bit. Chamakh should have done much better from close range but failed to make a connection with the ball, while Puncheon is starting to get involved down the left. Brighter signs for the visitors, who had sat back until this point.

Good stuff from Van Persie out wide on the left as he jinks beyond Delaney and then drills a low cross into the danger area. Speroni dives but misses, yet he is saved by an alert Chamakh, who hacks the ball clear. Had a United player been lurking, it would have been a certain goal.

A bit of match action courtesy of United's official Twitter page:

PIC: Marouane Fellaini, who made his United debut against Crystal Palace last year, passes the ball. #mufclive pic.twitter.com/ZiPSVc7Rea

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 8, 2014

CHANCES! More attacking from United and it's Di Maria that drives at the Palace defence. He cuts in from the left and finds Rooney 20 yards from goal. The captain's first touch sets him up for a shot, but he curls the ball well over. Then, moments later, left-back Shaw almost scores his first goal for the club, but he can only find the side netting.

The returning Carrick is having a good game for United. He's constantly demanding possession from the defenders and then is looking to pick out the likes of Van Persie and Di Maria. As good as Blind has played in that holding role, United have missed Carrick.

BOOKING! The first caution of the contest goes the way of Palace full-back Ward for a blatant pull back of Januzaj's shirt. The left-back doesn't bother to argue the decision.

A dangerous moment from Palace on a rare venture forward as Bolasie bursts down the left and crosses for Campbell. He hits the deck, but the ball is almost diverted into the net by United left-back Shaw. For all their domination, the hosts could quite easily have fallen behind there.

BOOKING! Second yellow card of the match for Palace and again it's deserved. Delaney may only have eyes for the ball, but he misses it completely and catches Van Persie.

CHANCE! That is the biggest opening of the match and it's been wasted by Palace frontman Campbell. Slack defending sees him go through one on one with De Gea, but as the Spaniard approaches, Campbell's lobbed effort is too high and lands on the roof of the net. He really should have scored that. Will Palace end up ruing that?

One criticism of United today is that there has not been much movement further up the pitch. Di Maria is struggling to get on the ball, Rooney has been ineffective and Van Persie looks isolated. Perhaps the presence of Fellaini isn't helping, with the more mobile Herrera or Mata a better alternative.

There will be one minute of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

There goes the whistle for the break and despite controlling most of the half, United haven't been able to find the breakthrough. In fact, it is Palace that have wasted the best chance to take the lead at Old Trafford. Plenty for Van Gaal to ponder, that's for sure.

United's main problem has been a lack of dynamism in the final third. With Di Maria stuck out wide, the central attacking players are Van Persie, Rooney and Fellaini, all of whom are relatively slow and easy to mark for the Palace defence. It seems strange that Van Gaal has abandoned the diamond formation that got the best out of Di Maria and also allowed him to play two up front. If he reverts back to that, Herrera would be the most likely candidate to come on. Something needs to change because for all the possession, chances have been few and far between.

As far as Palace are concerned, proceedings have gone very much to plan. They soaked up the early pressure and towards the end of the half started to get their pacey wingers involved. Campbell's chance was a big one and he should have scored, but there was still plenty of encouraging signs. No doubt Warnock will be demanding a similar 45 minutes from his team.

MATCH ACTION: United's Januzaj and Palace defender Ward battle for possession.

© Getty Images

The Premier League's 3pm matches have hardly been inspiring it would seem. So, it's not just at Old Trafford!

0 - The first-halves of the four Premier League games at 3pm today saw no goals and just nine shots on target. Impotent. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 8, 2014

RESTART! Here we go then. Hosting United, who will attack the Stretford End in this second half, get us back underway at Old Trafford.

It seems that Rooney has been pushed further forward for the second half and it's been a bright start by United. A dangerous Di Maria cross causes havoc, but as Van Persie fails to make contact with the ball, Ledley clears the danger emphatically.

CHANCE! Great work from young McNair as he wins possession in the Palace half and has the confidence to move forward. He eventually passes to Rooney, who from 20 yards out, curls a low effort which has Speroni scampering as the ball rolls just a couple of inches wide. It's been an open start to this half and don't rule Palace out! They've already launched a couple of counter-attacks.

SAVE! What did I say about Palace?! Campbell is waiting at the back post to simply head the ball in, but from nowhere De Gea leaps up to hold Mariappa's cross.

OFF THE LINE! Meanwhile, up the other end, Fellaini thinks that he has scored with a powerful downward header which catches out Speroni. However, Ward is alert on the post and is able to boot the ball clear. This is end to end stuff now!

Juan Mata has finished his warm-up and is receiving some final instructions. The Spaniard will enter the action soon.

MAN UNITED SUB: And here is Mata, who has replaced the largely ineffective Januzaj. The winger has started United's last four games, but he has found it difficult to make an impact in any of those.

BOOKING! Third caution for Palace as Bolasie gets his name taken down for a shove on Valencia. He's not happy with the decision and although it was a foul, a yellow card does seem a little harsh.

A sight of goal for Palace as Campbell picks out Puncheon wide on the right and his cross fizzes across the face of goal. Bolasie is waiting at the back post, but instead of trying to head the ball goalwards, he attempts a volley, which he gets horribly wrong. That's a good opening wasted for the away side.

Moments after Bolasie fluffs his lines up one end, Mata breaks the deadlock at the other. It's a neat interchange 20 yards from goal between Di Maria and Mata, who then tries his luck with a speculative effort. There is plenty of power on the shot, but Speroni will be disappointed because he got both hands on the ball before it squirmed inside his near post. United don't care one jot, though, as Old Trafford erupts.

MAN UNITED SUB: Setting up Mata was Di Maria's last involvement as the Argentine has been replaced by 18-year-old James Wilson. That is likely to mean that Rooney will move wide, with Wilson partnering Van Persie up front.

And there has been another tactical change from Van Gaal. Strangely, Blind has moved into midfield and Carrick is now at centre-back alongside McNair. You don't normally see centre-backs switched unless injury forces it.

As predicted, it is a more traditional 4-4-2 formation for United now, with Rooney playing wide left and Mata out on the right. It will be interesting to see if Mata in particular is able to track the adventurous runs of Bolasie down his flank because Valencia is going to need some help in the closing stages.

Here is Mata celebrating his goal, courtesy of United's official Twitter page:

PIC: Juan Mata is delighted after firing United ahead. How should the Reds go about closing this game out? #mufclive pic.twitter.com/LYrBGQ5oUr

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 8, 2014

CHANCE! A big warning for United as Puncheon threads a pass through for Campbell, who sees his rising effort deflected over the bar by a retreating Carrick. Then, the resultant corner is nodded wide by Dann. Signs from Palace that they are not accepting their fate.

PALACE SUBS: A double switch from Warnock as he looks to nab something from this game. On comes the lively Gayle and Bannan, with Chamakh and Bolasie making way.

POST! Palace live to fight another day! Rooney rolls in Van Persie, who sees his shot blocked by Delaney. The rebound breaks for Mata on the edge of the area, who fires goalwards instantly. Speroni is well beaten, but luckily for him the ball cannons off the upright. Moments later, Valencia is booked for upending Gayle.

While United are still having more of the ball, they are struggling to keep hold of it for too long. Wilson, Rooney and Mata have all been guilty of surrendering possession easily in recent minutes, which is encouraging the Palace players. It's going to be a nervy conclusion for those of a United persuasion.

SUBS: A change apiece as Campbell comes off and Kevin Doyle comes on for Palace. Meanwhile, McNair has left the field for United and Fletcher has entered the action. That will mean Blind moves back to centre-back alongside Carrick for the three minutes of stoppage time.

A huge sigh of relief around Old Trafford as the final whistle is blown. It was by no means pretty, but United have claimed their fourth Premier League win of the season. Palace certainly played their part in the game, but they will return to London with nothing to show for their hard work.

That is all we have time for from Old Trafford. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and be sure to stick with Sports Mole throughout the evening for analysis, player ratings and match reaction. Until next time, goodbye.