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Man United vs Crystal Palace match preview
Manchester United will target their fourth win inside 10 days against opponents they have not scored against in three meetings when they host Crystal Palace on Sunday (2pm GMT).
More than five hours of football have passed since United last found the net against the Eagles, who beat them 1-0 at Old Trafford and 4-0 at Selhurst Park last season.
Ruben Amorim’s side have lost four of their last five home league games but they have hit a patch of form since being beaten 3-1 by visitors Brighton & Hove Albion on January 19.
After a last-gasp home win over Rangers in the Europa League, they earned another late victory at Fulham in the top flight and beat Romanian club FCSB 2-0 away on Thursday.
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Should they win, United are guaranteed to rise to 11th if Brentford lose their simultaneous match at home to Tottenham.
Palace are unbeaten in seven league away games but their six-match unbeaten run came to an end with a 2-1 home defeat to the Bees last Sunday, ending a stretch of three wins and clean sheets.
Manager Oliver Glasner recalled encountering Amorim’s Sporting team during the Austrian’s time with former club Eintracht Frankfurt, winning 2-1 away and losing 3-0 at home.
“The most obvious thing Ruben has changed is [United’s] system,” said Glasner. “[It’s a] 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, [from predecessor] Erik ten Hag’s 3-4-3.
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“But he’s also flexible. Even [against FSCB], he switched. He started with two full-backs as wing-backs, and then he changed and put in Amad [Diallo] as a wing-back, but more an attacking winger, and having just one more defensive wing-back. But [Diogo] Dalot and Amad scored both.
“It’s a little bit different but, since Ruben came in, they are one of the highest-pressing teams in the league. It’s just what the data tell us.”
Man United vs Palace team news
Amorim may rotate his starting team following the trip to Bucharest, with Altay Bayindir almost certain to be replaced by first-choice league goalkeeper Andre Onana and midfielders Toby Collyer and Christian Eriksen among the outfield players who could make way.
The likes of centre-back Harry Maguire and central midfielder Manuel Ugarte were unused substitutes and could provide fresher legs.
Defenders Johnny Evans, Luke Shaw – out since the start of December – and midfielder Mason Mount are unlikely to feature because of injuries.
“He needs to train more, to spend more time with his team-mates, even playing normal, small-sided games, not just working alone,” Amorim said of Shaw.
“He’s going to get together with the team… and start from there. When I feel it is the right moment, we will start with some minutes in the games.”
Playmaker Eberechi Eze is out for Palace. “He’s struggled [during recent] weeks and months,” rued Glasner, adding that the England international has “always had pain” since collecting a knock in the EFL Cup defeat at Arsenal on December 18.
Old Trafford 😍🔥#CPFC pic.twitter.com/L6y9nRuYHM
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 29, 2025
“Last week he almost didn’t train the whole week, and this week it started again. We want to get him pain-free so he can perform at his best level.”
Midfielder Adam Wharton and attacker Matheus Franca are in contention to return following injuries, but Cheick Doucoure and Chadi Riad will miss the rest of the campaign.
“We’re thinking both will be in the squad because they were very impressive in training, and it will also lift their confidence and mood after being out for several weeks,” said Glasner.
“We know [Wharton’s] a great player in midfield with his progressive passing, and he can help us getting the ball into the final third and creating chances.”
A trip to Old Trafford 🔜
Some strike in our previous visit…#CPFC // #MUNCRY pic.twitter.com/tcOnlxc0DY
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 29, 2025
Man United vs Crystal Palace expected line-ups
Man United: Onana, Martinez, De Ligt, Maguire, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot, Amad, Fernandes, Zirkzee
Palace: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi, Munoz, Esse, Lerma, Mitchell, Sarr, Eze, Mateta
How to watch Man United vs Palace: Live stream, TV channel
This match is not being broadcast live in the UK.
Man United vs Crystal Palace stats
- In 8 of the last 9 Manchester United home matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 9 of the last 11 Manchester United home matches in the Premier League, the sum of goals was over 2.5
- In 5 of the last 6 Manchester United matches the sum of goals was over 2.5
- Manchester United have lost 3 of the last 4 home matches in the Premier League while scoring less than 1.5 goals
- In 3 of the last 4 Manchester United matches in the Premier League, the sum of goals was over 3.5
- In the last 7 Crystal Palace matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In the last 6 Crystal Palace matches in the Premier League, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In the last 3 Crystal Palace away matches the sum of goals was under 2.5
- In the last 3 Crystal Palace away matches in the Premier League, the sum of goals was under 2.5
- In 4 of the last 5 Crystal Palace matches the sum of goals was under 2.5
Prediction
PredictionPalace’s tally of 16 points on the road this season is as many as United have taken at home, while the visitors have accrued four more points than the Red Devils across each of these teams’ last six matches, with a superior goal difference of seven.
All of which bodes poorly for Amorim ending United’s bad run in this fixture, although they had the better of the game when the reverse fixture finished 0-0 in September.
One good omen for the Premier League newcomer is that his players have won all three of their matches immediately after playing in the Europa League under his guidance.
Given their highly unconvincing home form, though, and Palace’s run of 15 points from their last possible 21 away, this could be another testing afternoon.
Palace have not been behind in an away league game since November 2 and have taken a point against high-flyers Bournemouth and Aston Villa across those matches, as well as winning 3-1 at Brighton & Hove Albion.
With those results in mind, expect them to recover from their first league loss since December 21 with a 1-1 draw.
