Crystal Palace vs Manchester United Preview

• Draw
• Rashford to score or assist

Crystal Palace Seeking Premier League Revival

Crystal Palace will hope that their midweek 2-1 EFL Cup victory over QPR provides the spark needed to reignite their Premier League campaign.

The Eagles have endured a sluggish start to the season, failing to win any of their first four league matches (D2, L2) – their worst start since the 2017/18 season under Frank de Boer.

This underwhelming beginning has surprised many, particularly as Palace ended last season in fine form, going unbeaten in their final seven Premier League games (W6, D1).

One of the standout results during that run was a resounding 4-0 win over Manchester United at Selhurst Park.

This victory continued an impressive reversal in fortunes for Palace in this fixture, as they are now unbeaten in their last four home matches against United (W2, D2), conceding just once during that period.

Prior to this, Palace had struggled significantly at home against United, going winless in 12 consecutive meetings across all competitions between 1991 and 2020 (D3, L9).

Manchester United’s Resurgence

Manchester United may have turned a corner after a challenging start to the season. Following the international break, Erik ten Hag’s side found their form, scoring ten goals without reply in two matches.

A 3-0 league win against Southampton was followed by an emphatic 7-0 EFL Cup triumph over Barnsley, their biggest win under Ten Hag.

The Dutch manager hailed the performance as a “perfect night,” but cautious United fans may be wary of reading too much into these results, given the quality of opposition.

United’s away form remains a concern, with just two wins in their last eight Premier League away matches (D2, L4).

Additionally, they have struggled in recent trips to London, securing only two victories in their last 16 Premier League visits to the capital (D4, L10). Both of those wins came against Fulham, highlighting their difficulties in London over the past few seasons.

Key Players to Watch

Eddie Nketiah (Crystal Palace)

Palace’s new striker got off the mark in midweek, scoring the opening goal against QPR. This continues a trend for Nketiah, as four of his last five goals have been the first of the match.

Palace will hope he can replicate that form against United and help break their Premier League winless streak.

Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)  

Rashford and Garnacho have been instrumental in United’s recent resurgence, directly contributing to a combined nine goals in their last two matches (G6, A3).

Rashford’s pace and finishing, paired with Garnacho’s creativity, will be key to United’s chances of extending their unbeaten run.

Crystal Palace’s Home Strength and United’s London Struggles

• Crystal Palace’s recent H2H record at Selhurst Park: Palace are unbeaten in their last four home matches against Manchester United (W2, D2).
• Manchester United’s recent away form: United have won just two of their last eight Premier League away matches (D2, L4).
• Manchester United’s record in London: The Red Devils have won only two of their last 16 Premier League trips to London (D4, L10).

Conclusion

Crystal Palace will be hoping to use their recent home success against Manchester United as a foundation for their first Premier League win of the season. United, while in fine scoring form, will need to prove their away capabilities, especially given their recent struggles in London.

This encounter promises to be a closely contested fixture, with Palace’s home advantage and United’s attacking firepower on full display.

Prediction: A hard-fought draw, with both teams likely to get on the scoresheet.

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Crystal Palace v Man Utd, 2024/25 | Premier League