Manchester United vs Crystal Palace: Team News, Form Guide, Prediction & Odds

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Manchester United fell 1-3 to Manchester City in the Manchester Derby before the international break, but the Premier League action returns this Saturday for The Red Devils. And with their sights set on a bounce-back performance, Jose Mourinho’s men will return to Old Trafford to host Crystal Palace. Lee Mason will be the referee for this match.

Read on to find out everything you need to know prior to Sunday’s thrilling contest:

Team News

Fitness has been an issue for Manchester United over the first half of the season, so the international break couldn’t have come at a better time for The Red Devils. Several players were either injured or nursing knocks, but Mourinho revealed there are no players ruled out for tomorrow. This means players such as Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Marouane Fellaini and Romelu Lukaku are all ready to play. The list includes Marcus Rashford, who suffered an injury only a few days ago but has been deemed ready as well. The only absentee will be Luke Shaw due to a suspension.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace got positive news with the recoveries of Wilfried Zaha, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and James Tomkins. Mamadou Sakho is fit too despite suffering a back problem while on international duty with France. They won’t be at full strength, however, as Christian Benteke and Scott Dann will be sidelined. Connor Wickham is also out due to a thigh problem.

Form guide

Manchester United might be inconsistent, but there is no question that the club is showing positive signs in recent weeks. Despite their defeat against Manchester City, The Red Devils were coming off only one loss in their previous seven matches (across all competitions). In the Premier League alone, Manchester United saw a four-game undefeated streak (W3, D1) come to an end in the defeat against City. They currently sit in eighth place in the standings with 20 points (W6, D2, L4).

On the other hand, Palace have been struggling and they are yet to register a Premier League win since mid-September. Right now, Palace sit in 16th place on the standings but they can’t get complacent; they are above Southampton and Cardiff City, who sit 17th and 18th respectively, on goal difference alone. To make things even more complicated, they have only scored eight goals in 12 league matches. They definitively need to improve on the attacking third if they want to get a positive result from Old Trafford.

What is our all-time record against Crystal Palace?

United have never lost a Premier League game to the visitors, registering 15 wins and three draws. Overall, since the first game between these two sides in 1922, United have won 36, drawn 10 and lost seven in all competitions. United won both games against The Eagles last season.

Prediction

Manchester United need to win in order to leave the loss at Manchester City behind, but they also need to gain some confidence before a pivotal Champions League match against BSC Young Boys next Tuesday. Palace has not won a Premier League match in more than two months, and that streak will continue. Expect Manchester United to secure the three points.

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