Man United vs Crystal Palace: Live Stream, Prediction & Lineups

0 3 minutes read

Match Overview

Manchester United will be eager to keep their recent unbeaten run alive as they welcome Crystal Palace on Sunday. While many eyes will be on the Manchester City versus Arsenal fixture, United’s game against Palace kicks off the action. This season, the Red Devils have experienced a rollercoaster under new manager Ruben Amorim. Their form has been inconsistent, with a mix of good results and defensive struggles. Despite these issues, there have been positive signs lately, even though problems in creativity and attack still remain.

Crystal Palace, on the other hand, have overcome a slow start to climb away from the relegation zone. After a narrow 2-1 defeat to Brentford last week, they have risen to 13th in the table. With relegation becoming less of a worry, manager Oliver Glasner is focusing on pushing the club into the top half of the league.

The two sides last met in a goalless draw that saw a flurry of 10 shots on target between them. With both teams determined to improve on that result, the stage is set for an intense encounter at Old Trafford.

Team News & Tactics

Manchester United

Manager Ruben Amorim faces a busy schedule without any major new injury concerns, although United will be without two first-team players. Luke Shaw is making progress in training but isn’t expected to feature this Sunday, while Jonny Evans (muscle) and Mason Mount (hamstring) remain sidelined.

United are likely to set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation with Andre Onana starting in goal, replacing Altay Bayindir. The central defense should consist of Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martinez, with Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui operating as wing-backs. In midfield, Bruno Fernandes is expected to drop deeper alongside Manuel Ugarte, while Kobbie Mainoo takes a more advanced role. Up front, Rasmus Hojlund is set to lead the attack, supported by Amad Diallo.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1):
Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Dalot, Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes, Mazraoui; Amad Diallo, Mainoo; Hojlund

Crystal Palace

Manager Oliver Glasner has a mixed bag of team news ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. Palace will miss four key players due to injury or recovery issues. Star playmaker Eberechi Eze is out with a foot problem, while Chadi Riad (knee), Joel Ward (calf), and Cheick Doucoure (knee) are also unavailable. On a positive note, Adam Wharton and Matheus Franca should return to the squad.

Palace will likely stick with a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Dean Henderson in goal. The back three should feature Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, and Marc Guehi, while Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell will play as wing-backs to provide width and support. In midfield, Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma will anchor the side until Wharton is fully fit. Up front, Jean-Philippe Mateta is expected to lead the attack, with Romain Esse and Ismaila Sarr supporting him as the main creative forces.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1):
Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Hughes, Lerma, Mitchell; Esse, Sarr; Mateta

Key Stats

Head-to-Head: Crystal Palace have won five of their last 11 top-flight encounters with Manchester United, with three of those wins coming at Old Trafford.
Scoring Issues: United are in danger of recording four consecutive league games without scoring against an opponent—something they haven’t experienced since the early 1980s.
Recent Form: United are aiming to win back-to-back Premier League matches for the first time under Amorim and have a chance to notch consecutive clean sheets in the league for the first time since September.
Away Resilience: Palace have collected 13 Premier League away points since December, and they are looking to secure three straight wins on the road for the first time since May 2019.
Goal Timing: Manchester United have failed to score a first-half goal in 17 league games this season, scoring almost 70% of their goals after the break. However, they remain unbeaten in all 19 games when they score first.

Player to Watch

Rasmus Hojlund

Embed from Getty Images

The Danish striker has been under pressure to perform after 12 consecutive appearances without a goal since his double against Viktoria Plzen in December. With interest from Manchester United in other attacking options, Hojlund will need to step up and deliver against a determined Palace side. His role as the spearhead for United’s attack is crucial as they look to break down Palace’s defense and secure a vital win.

Man United vs Crystal Palace Prediction

Manchester United will be eager to break their scoring drought and secure a win at home. Given the tactical setups and the recent form of both sides, the game is expected to be closely contested. However, United’s home advantage and determination to bounce back suggest a narrow win.