Following their recent clash in the EFL Cup third round, Manchester United and Crystal Palace will face each other again at Old Trafford in a Premier League match on Saturday afternoon.
The Red Devils convincingly defeated Palace 3-0 in their last encounter, and they are eager to maintain their winning streak by securing a third consecutive victory in various competitions before the end of the month.
After a rough start to September, marked by three consecutive losses and conceding 10 goals, United have managed to stabilize their performance with two important wins.
They secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Burnley and had a comfortable win against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup, with goals from Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro, and Anthony Martial.
This victory earned them a spot in the fourth round, where they will face Newcastle United, last season’s EFL Cup finalists who knocked out Manchester City. Erik ten Hag believes that his team is progressing and has more potential to unlock.
Saturday can't come soon enough! ✊🔴#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 28, 2023
United are currently preparing for a series of four consecutive home games in various competitions, starting with the clash against Palace, followed by a Champions League match against Galatasaray and a Premier League encounter with Brentford.
The team, currently sitting in ninth place in the Premier League and five points behind the top four, is eager to regain their strong home form at Old Trafford, especially after their 31-game unbeaten home run was ended by Brighton & Hove Albion two weeks ago.
On the other hand, Roy Hodgson’s team has encountered a recent drop in form, failing to secure victories in their last three matches across different competitions.
They suffered a 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa, followed by a goalless draw at home against Fulham, and were subsequently eliminated from the EFL Cup third round by United on Tuesday.
Palace currently occupies a position just one spot below their weekend rivals in the Premier League standings and is separated by a mere one-point difference.
However, they have faced difficulties in achieving positive results when playing away from home in the top flight, winning only three of their last 14 away games since the beginning of the year.
Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace: Form Guide
Manchester United (in all competitions): W, L, L, L, W, W
Crystal Palace (in all competitions): D, W, W, L, D, L
Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace: Team News
Manchester United:
Manchester United will be missing Antony, who is on leave, and Jadon Sancho, who is absent for disciplinary reasons.
Additionally, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia (all dealing with muscle issues), Amad Diallo (knee injury), and Kobbie Mainoo (ankle injury) are unavailable due to injury.
Scott McTominay, Christian Eriksen, and Sergio Reguilon were sidelined in the previous match due to illness but are expected to be fit for Saturday’s game. Lisandro Martinez, who had a minor foot problem and was not at risk, is also likely to return to the squad.
Also Read: United star Casemiro delivers outstanding performance against Crystal Palace
An early look at our options for #MUNCRY ℹ️#MUFC || #PL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 28, 2023
Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, and Rasmus Hojlund are set to be back in the starting lineup.
Sofyan Amrabat, who made his debut as a makeshift left-back, might move into midfield for his first Premier League start alongside Casemiro.
Crystal Palace:
For Crystal Palace, Dean Henderson suffered a groin injury on his debut and will be unavailable, joining Michael Olise (thigh), Matheus Franca (back), Jefferson Lerma (hamstring), and James Tomkins (calf) on the injury list.
Odsonne Edouard and Naouirou Ahamada are doubtful due to hamstring and ankle injuries, respectively, and their availability will be assessed before the match. Jairo Riedewald, who picked up a knock against United, is also being monitored.
If Edouard is unable to play, Jean-Philippe Mateta is likely to lead the attack, and key playmaker Eberechi Eze is expected to return to the starting lineup after starting as a substitute in the previous match.
Our Final Scoreline: Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace
Our prediction is that United will win 3-1 against Palace. Although Hodgson has previously led his side to positive outcomes at Old Trafford, their recent goal-scoring troubles make it a challenging task to secure a victory on Saturday.
The pressure is on the Red Devils to replicate their strong performance from Tuesday in this weekend’s match. Anything less than a win would be seen as a setback for the Red Devils.
With Ten Hag likely to field a stronger lineup, we expect that the home team will emerge victorious with all three points.
