The Red Devils will be looking to avenge last season’s 4-0 defeat at Selhurst Park. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are still searching for their first win of the Premier League season after four games. Under manager Oliver Glasner, Palace have only managed two points, drawing with Chelsea and Leicester City.
After opening the season with losses to Brentford and West Ham, Palace showed some fight with a 1-1 draw at Chelsea before clawing back to a 2-2 draw with Leicester last weekend. Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi gave Leicester a two-goal lead, but Jean-Philippe Mateta rescued Palace with a second-half brace, including a 92nd-minute penalty to secure a point.
Crystal Palace followed that up with a 2-1 EFL Cup win over Queens Park Rangers, thanks to goals from Eddie Nketiah and Eberechi Eze. They've been strong in the cup this season, having also beaten Norwich City 4-0 in the previous round, and will hope to carry that form into the Premier League against a United side they beat twice last season, with a 5-0 aggregate score.
Man United, on the other hand, had a shaky start to the 2024-25 season, with back-to-back losses to Brighton and Liverpool piling pressure on manager Erik ten Hag. However, they've bounced back with two big wins, beating Southampton 3-0 in the Premier League and crushing Barnsley 7-0 in the EFL Cup. Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho both shined, scoring three goals each across the two matches, while Christian Eriksen and Antony also got on the scoresheet.
While United’s recent wins have lifted spirits, fans won’t get too carried away given the opposition—a League One team and a newly-promoted Premier League side. Still, the results have given Erik ten Hag’s squad a confidence boost as they face a busy schedule, with five games in 16 days across the Premier League and Europa League.
Currently sitting 10th in the Premier League, Man United are also looking to improve their poor away record in London, having won just two of their last 16 league matches in the capital. Since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, they've lost as many games (10) in London as they did in 118 such matches during his 26-year reign.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Crystal Palace will be without long-term absentees Chadi Riad (knee) and Matheus Franca (broken rib), while Trevoh Chalobah (abdominal) faces a late fitness test after missing last weekend's draw against Leicester.Summer signing Maxence Lacroix has started the last two games and is likely to keep his spot in the back three alongside captain Marc Guehi, with Nathaniel Clyne and Chris Richards competing for the final center-back position. Adam Wharton and Cheick Doucoure are expected to return to the midfield, replacing Daichi Kamada and Jefferson Lerma, while Eddie Nketiah could continue up front with Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta in attack.
For Manchester United, Victor Lindelof (toe), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (calf), and Leny Yoro (foot) are still out with injuries.
However, United received a boost with Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount returning to training, and manager Erik ten Hag has said a decision will be made closer to kickoff on whether they will start. After making eight changes in midweek, Ten Hag is expected to revert to a similar lineup that beat Southampton, with Andre Onana, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, and Joshua Zirkzee all pushing to start.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:Henderson; Clyne, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Doucoure, Mitchell; Eze; Nketiah, Mateta
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
EXPERT PREDICTION
Crystal Palace 1-2 Manchester United
Crystal Palace are eager to secure their first Premier League win and certainly have the firepower to trouble Manchester United, as they've done several times in recent years.
In fact, United haven’t won at Selhurst Park in their last four visits. However, with their recent resurgence, we’re backing the Red Devils to break that streak on Saturday and leave London with all three points.
