Manchester United will return to London again on Wednesday evening as they head to Selhurst Park as we take on Crystal Palace. We will be seeking revenge on the Eagles after they had beat us in the reverse fixture 3-1 at Old Trafford at the beginning of the season. 17 points separate the sides as we look to cement our position within the top four of the league.
The Red Devils arrive into this game having played out their fifth goalless draw of the season on Sunday against Chelsea. We had half-decent chances but ultimately could not convert the opportunities. The main talking point of the game was the controversial penalty that was not given after Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi clearly handled the ball inside his own box. Other than that, there was little else from either side as both were content not to lose the game.
Woeful Record Against The Top Six This Season
The five draws we have had this season have all come against the top six clubs and we have failed to score in the last six matches against these clubs. United are 12 points behind league leaders Manchester City. It could be argued that our record against the top six this season is the one reason why our hopes of challenging for the title are all but over.
Whilst the draw against Chelsea enabled Manchester City to move further away, it did not impact us in terms of those teams who sit behind us. Leicester City and West Ham both lost and Chelsea had dropped points as well.
The result on Sunday sees United remain second in the Premier League. We hold a six-point cushion over fifth place and head into the Palace game unbeaten in the last nine games across all competitions. The Red Devils have only lost once in the last 20 Premier League games.
A Defining Run Of Games
We have drawn the last three of four games and it is key to return back to winning ways at Palace ahead of the Manchester Derby at the weekend. United are heading into defining run of games as we take on Man City along with AC Milan across two legs in round 16 of the Europa League. We also take on top four contenders West Ham and have the FA Cup Quarter Final against Leicester City to contend with.
United will be favourities heading into the game against Palace as we are unbeaten in the last seven visits to London and have not lost in 20 away games so far this season. This fine run of form stretches over a year now. Our recent record against the Eagles is quite good as we have not lost in the 11 games to them.
Opposition Preview
Crystal Palace had only 33 shots at goal in the Premier League for February. This is lowest amount by a team in single month of the Premier League that had at least five games. They could only manage six shots and faced 41 shots in the previous two games.
Roy Hodgson’s side come into this game after picking four points from their previous two league outings. They beat rivals Brighton 2-1 before they had a goalless draw against Fulham at the weekend. With these results, they are now 10 points ahead of the relegation zone. It could be said that if they were to pick two more wins, they are pretty much safe for another season.
Palace will have to fight hard to get those wins considering that 9 of their last 12 games are against sides in the top half of the table. They will be confident in securing their top flight status.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United Match Details
Teams: Crystal Palace vs Manchester United
Date: March 3rd, 2020 (Wednesday)
KO Time: 20:15 GMT
Competition: Premier League
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Referee: Andre Marriner
Managers: Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Roy Hodgson
Manchester United Team News
Paul Pogba is set to miss this game, though he is getting closer to returning from his injury. Both Juan Mata and Phil Jones remained out injured. It is hoped that Edinson Cavani will make the trip to Selhurst Park.
Ole said in his pre-match press conference about his possible return, “it looks good. Edi has got the desire and hunger and, of course, he wants to join in, even if it’s from the bench. Hopefully he’ll say tomorrow that there’s been no reaction.“
Solskjær will not take any risks with the players’ fitness with the derby against Manchester City coming at the weekend. He will not be short of options up front as Anthony Martial will be pushing to get back in the starting eleven after being left out in favour of Mason Greenwood.
Eric Bailly, Alex Telles, Dean Henderson and Nemanja Matic will also be looking to get into the side as well. Whilst Donny Van De Beek, who just returned from his injury lay off will be hoping to get some game time.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United Pre-Match Press Conference
During the pre-match press conference, Ole was asked about talk we were possible title contenders and had been top of the league back in January. Now we have only two wins in the last seven games and whether the pressure has got to the players. He said, “Not at all. That’s the Premier League. The pressure has not been there at all. Of course, we enjoyed being as close to the top as possible. That’s the Premier League for you. That’s the quality in the opposition, the quality of the tactics, the standards, the demands of the season. We’ve played I don’t know how many games, we’re in the Europa League, we’re in the FA Cup, the Premier League and it’s the strangest year of all for everyone. So, pressure? No. That’s the Premier League.“
Ole was also whether he had been surprised by any of the players this season. He said, “No. I don’t think anyone has surprised me, because we know what they’re capable of. I think surprised or not surprised? Impressed. The way they handled the whole situation, the whole season, the whole pandemic and not being able to have your social life and have the time to switch off from football… normally, you go and meet your friends, you go to the cinema, you go out for a meal, you go to a concert.
Now it’s relentless. It’s Thursday, Sunday, Wednesday, Saturday. I’ve been impressed. That’s the biggest message I’ve got out there, that this year has been the strangest of all our lives. We didn’t live in the Second World War, thankfully, but these times and the restrictions have been almost as harsh. The way they’ve dealt with it? Absolutely brilliant.“
Crystal Palace Team News
For our opponents, they will be without key player Wilfried Zaha. When Roy Hodgson was asked if they was a possibility he could play. He responded with “I doubt it, unfortunately. I think we have to wait. The Manchester United game, that has been thrust upon us, is obviously something we’re pretty unhappy about, especially in this current state of affairs where we do have so many of our good players, our first-team players, unavailable.”
Crystal Palace have many other players out injured with Nathaniel Clyne, Mamadou Sakho, James Tomkins, Nathan Ferguson, James McArthur, Jeffrey Schlupp and Connor Wickham remaining sidelined.
Form Guide
Manchester United Premier League form: DWDDWD
Manchester United form (all competitions): WDWWDD
Crystal Palace Premier League form: WWLLWD
Interesting Facts
- Manchester United have never lost in 11 Premier League away games against Crystal Palace, the most one side has played at another without ever losing in the competition (W8 D3). (source: Opta)
- Only four clubs in English top-flight history have had a longer unbeaten away run than Manchester United’s current run of 20 (W13 D7). (source: Opta)
- Manchester United have never lost in 11 Premier League away games against Crystal Palace, the most one side has played at another without ever losing in the competition (W8 D3). (source: Opta)
- Manchester United are on a five game winning streak at Selhurst Park. The last time they dropped points there was a 0-0 draw in 2015.
- Of the current United side, no one has more goals against Crystal Palace than Juan Mata (4).
- Manchester United need just 17 points from a possible 36 to improve on last season’s tally. They are currently 12 points and five places higher than this point last season.
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United Predicted Lineup
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Maguire, Telles; Matic, Fred; James, Fernandes, Rashford, and Martial.
Prediction
United’s away record this season has been incredible as we have not lost in 13 league games. Palace is no easy team and can cause a few problems, so United must be vigilant at all times. The last four of five United’s away league games have ended in draws. We will want to return to winning ways ahead of the derby clash against Manchester City on Sunday. A win is important as we look to build momentum and secure our place inside the top four.
Predicted Score
Crystal Palace 0-1 Manchester United
