Manchester United has an opportunity to reach the top of the Premier League table with its local rival, Manchester City playing later in the day in a tricky match at Chelsea. The Red Devils (who haven’t tasted defeat this season) are up against a side that’s languishing at the bottom of the table without a point -- or even a goal. Things have run from bad to worse for #Crystal Palace who has lost their last consecutive six games in Premier League leading to the firing of Frank de Boer in the poor run. The Eagles have now hired former England national team manager, Roy Hodgson who will be trying to help his side win its first point or even the first goal of the season.
Talking Point
The hosts will fancy scoring more goals against the hapless Eagles so that they can catch up or even go ahead of their rampant noisy neighbors, Manchester City. The Citizens are tied on the same points with the Red Devils, but Sky Blues lead their cross-road neighbors on goal difference.
Jose Mourinho’s side hasn’t lost in its last twenty Premier League matches. The hosts who will be fresh after their 4-1 victory over CSKA Moscow in Champions League on Wednesday will try to win their eighth in nine league games.
Traditionally, the hosts have always had the edge over their Saturday’s rivals with the Red Devils going unbeaten in their last thirteen meetings in all competition. Despite Manchester United dominating the fixtures, goals haven’t come by as nine of their last eleven encounters have yielded less than three goals each.
However, Mourinho’s side will be hoping to replicate its home form that has seen the team win its last four home matches with at least a 2-goal cushion.
The event will see two former Manchester United players fail to face the club where they developed. Timothy Fosu-Mensah who’s serving his loan deal at Crystal Palace is illegible to face his parent club while Wilfried Zaha who signed for the Eagles from Old Trafford will be out with an injury.
Also, Jose Mourinho who previously managed Chelsea will come face to face with two youngsters he coached at Chelsea. The two players are Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Patrick van Aanholt.
Team News
Key players are sidelined with injuries, but the hosts will be lucky that they aren’t facing a club that challenges for the title with their injury-ravaged team.
The fixture comes to early for Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick who will automatically stay out of the match with injuries. Antony Martial who scored a penalty in the Champions League midweek in Russia together Phil Jones remains doubtful for the game.
The fact that Mourinho withdrew both Ashley Young and Henrik Mkhitaryan early in the midweek win in Moscow signifies that they’re likely to be part of the squad facing the Eagles. With Phil Jones facing a late fitness test, Chris Smalling is likely to start in his player while Antonio Valencia who didn’t play on Wednesday will come into contention and captain his side. Spaniard, Juan Mata who was an unused substitute in Russia will start while Marcus Rashford could come in place of Martial.
The visitors’ woes continue with several key players out with injuries. Christian Benteke, Connor Wickham, and Wilfried Zaha are the top strikers of the league strugglers, and all are out with injuries so Bakary Sako will start up front. Timothy Mensah will stay among Machester United fans in the shed as He can’t face his parent club while the doubtful Loftus-Cheek is likely to start the game.
Probable Teams:
Manchester United: 4-2-3-1 de Gea, Smalling, Bailly, Young, Valencia, Matic, Herrera, Mata, Mkhitaryan, [VIDEO] Rashford and Lukaku.
Crystal Palace: 4-2-3-1Hennessey, Ward, Dann, Sakho, Aanholt, Milivojevic, Cabaye, Townsend, Schlupp, Loftus-Cheek, and Sako.
Predictions
The match comes at a wrong time for the striker-less Eagles who are hunting for the first goal and their first point.
The hosts are the massive favorite to win the game with Lukaku who is seeking for the golden boots he lost to Harry Kane late last season scoring goals at will.
The only thing that can work for the visitors is the fatigue that can play a part on the hosts who are playing the third fixture in just seven days. Lukaku and Mata are expected to score in a game that Manchester United will win by a huge margin, but I also expect the Eagles to score their first goal with their losing streak not stopping.
Predictions: Manchester United 4-1 Crystal Palace
