Manchester United will attempt to win their third consecutive game in all competitions when they travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
The Red Devils will be seeking revenge against the Eagles after they suffered a heavy 4-0 loss at Selhurst Park in May of last season.
Match preview
© Imago
Crystal Palace are one of six Premier League teams who remain winless after four fixtures so far this season, with Oliver Glasner's men collecting just two points in draws against Chelsea and Leicester City.
After losing their opening two top-flight matches to Brentford and West Ham United, Palace picked up a respectable point in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea prior to the international break, before coming from behind again to rescue a 2-2 home draw with Leicester last weekend.
Goals from Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi had initially put the Foxes in control, but Jean-Philippe Mateta rediscovered his shooting boots with a second-half brace, including a 92nd-minute equaliser from the penalty spot, to salvage a point for the Eagles.
Glasner's men have since punched their ticket to the fourth round of the EFL Cup after beating Queens Park Rangers 2-1 at Loftus Road on Tuesday night, courtesy of goals either side of half time from summer signing Eddie Nketiah and former Hoops star Eberechi Eze.
Palace have impressed in the EFL Cup this term - also beating Norwich City 4-0 at home in the second round - and will hope to transfer that form over to the Premier League, starting with Saturday's clash against a Man United side whom they beat both home and away last season by an aggregate score of 5-0.
© Imago
Man United's start to the 2024-25 campaign was far from ideal, with back-to-back Premier League losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool putting manager Erik ten Hag under pressure once again heading into the international break.
However, the Red Devils have since turned a corner and are in buoyant mood after winning their last two matches by an aggregate score of 10-0, following up a 3-0 Premier League win at Southampton last weekend with a thumping 7-0 demolition of Barnsley in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho both scored three goals across those two victories, including two goals each against League One outfit Barnsley, while Christian Eriksen (also two) and Antony were also on the scoresheet to help Man United cruise into the EFL Cup fourth round.
Man United fans should not get too carried away with beating a third-tier side and a newly-promoted Premier League team, but successive wins have given Ten Hag's squad a much-needed morale boost ahead of a busy fixture schedule, with five games to prepare for in a 16-day period in the top flight and Europa League.
Sitting 10th in the Premier League table, Man United head into Saturday's clash with Crystal Palace with a dismal away record against London clubs, winning just two of their last 16 in the Premier League, losing as many games (10) in the capital since Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement as they had in 118 such matches during the legendary manager's 26-year tenure.
- L
- L
- D
- D
- W
- L
- L
- W
Team News
© Imago
Crystal Palace are still having to cope without summer signing Chadi Riad (knee), while Glasner has confirmed that Cheick Doucoure is ruled out for "several weeks" with an injury to the "tendon on the toe".
Matheus Franca (broken rib) and Trevoh Chalobah (abdominal) have both made progress in their recovery from injury, but Glasner has revealed that Saturday's game will come too soon for the pair, who may return at some stage next week.
Maxence Lacroix has started Palace's last two matches since joining from Wolfsburg in the summer, and he is set to retain his place in the back three next to captain Marc Guehi, while Nathaniel Clyne and Chris Richards battle for the third centre-back spot.
Adam Wharton is expected to be recalled in midfield at the expense of either Daichi Kamada and Jefferson Lerma, while Nketiah could once again link up with Eze and Mateta in attack.
As for Man United, Victor Lindelof (toe), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (calf) and Leny Yoro (foot) all remain sidelined as they continue to recover from injury.
However, the Red Devils have been boosted by the return to training of Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount, with Ten Hag confirming that a late call will be made on whether they will be fit to start this weekend.
After making eight changes in midweek, Ten Hag is expected to revert to a similar side that beat Southampton, with Andre Onana, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee all pushing for a recall.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Clyne, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Lerma, Mitchell; Eze; Nketiah, Mateta
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
We say: Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United
Crystal Palace are desperate to get off the mark in the Premier League and have the credentials to cause Man United problems in the final third, as they have done on numerous occasions in recent years.
Indeed, Man United have failed to win their last four visits to Selhurst Park, but we are backing the rejuvenated Red Devils to end this run on Saturday and come away from the capital with maximum points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
