MY ACCOUNT
– Manchester United have won 12 straight home games, conceding once in three of their last five
– Crystal Palace have scored in two of their last four Premier League away games
– Recommended bet: Man Utd to win and both teams to score
Manchester United’s busy campaign continues with a Premier League home date against a Crystal Palace side who denied them in South London midway through last month.
Erik ten Hag’s men have played 10 more competitive matches than the Eagles, who have enjoyed a fortnight off from any action coming into this 24th game of their season.
United will still be haunted by the memory of Michael Olise’s stunning free-kick enabling Palace to pinch a point right at the end of January’s tight tussle at Selhurst Park.
This will be a tougher test for the Eagles, who will arrive at Old Trafford – where United have won their past 12 games in all competitions – without injured star Wilfried Zaha.
Team news
New signing Marcel Sabitzer, who has joined United on loan from Bayern Munich, is ready to feature in midfield.
The Austrian international was brought in when Christian Eriksen’s ankle injury was revealed to be serious enough to keep the Dane out of action until late April.
Diogo Dalot is fit again after hamstring problems and could replace ex-Palace star Aaron Wan-Bissaka in defence.
David de Gea and Marcus Rashford should return to the starting XI while Anthony Martial is also pushing for a recall after firing home as a second-half substitute in the Reds’ 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final win over Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.
Palace boss Patrick Vieira admitted Zaha (hamstring) remains on the treatment table after he limped out of the 0-0 draw with Newcastle just after the hour mark.
Eberechi Eze could be moved from a central position to cover on the left of a 5-4-1 formation, a tactic Vieira deployed away to Manchester City in August.
That would probably see Nathaniel Clyne come in at right-back with Joel Ward slotting in alongside centre-backs Marc Guehi and Chris Richards.
Joachim Andersen, James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson are still out, but new midfield signings Albert Sambi Lokonga and Naouirou Ahamada could both be handed debuts at some stage.
The stats
Marcus Rashford has scored 10 goals in 12 appearances for United in all competitions since returning from the World Cup and this is the most goals by a Premier League player since the tournament finished, two more than Erling Haaland’s eight.
However, of the 26 different opponents Rashford has netted a top-flight goal against, he has the worst minutes per goal record against Palace (763) and has only scored one in 12 league appearances against the Eagles.
Olise can follow in the footsteps of Bobby Tambling (1970-71) and become only the second Palace player to score home and away in the same season against United if he finds the back of the net at Old Trafford.
Only Eintracht Frankfurt’s Mario Gotze (six) has recorded more pre-assists than Ahamada’s five in the Bundesliga this term.
Prediction
With a massive month ahead of them, United cannot afford to lose any momentum by dropping points, especially at Old Trafford.
This Palace team have proved to be awkward opponents on the road for some of the best sides in the country as they opened the season with a 1-1 draw at Anfield, went 2-0 up at the Etihad Stadium before being swept aside and held out for a 0-0 draw at Newcastle.
But being without Zaha hurts their prospects of stopping United’s 12-game winning streak at home as the unlucky 13th opponent.
The Red Devils have enough attacking rhythm in their game to break the Eagles down, although they seem to lack the mentality to ensure a clean sheet this weekend.
Ten Hag’s side have blanked only three of their last eight opponents, allowing a silly equaliser to Everton, a costly leveller to Palace and a late winner to Arsenal before Reading grabbed a consolation effort in last Saturday’s FA Cup tie.
A Nottingham Forest side that were dead and buried form the first leg even created multiple chances at Old Trafford on Wednesday, which will give Vieira’s team further encouragement to attack.
However, United have regained enough momentum following the Arsenal setback to win again.
Back a home win with both teams on the scoresheet at 2/1 with LiveScore Bet.
