It has been a rare good week in the Manchester United hotseat for manager Erik ten Hag, who watched his side build on last Saturday’s 3-0 success at Southampton with a 7-0 rout of League One outfit Barnsley in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
However, the Red Devils have lost two of their opening four league games and their victory at Southampton may have been a touch flattering given the Saints missed a first-half penalty with the game goalless before picking up a late red card.
Crystal Palace remain winless after four matches but they have earned a point in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea and they will have fond memories of their emphatic 4-0 victory at home to Manchester United in the closing weeks of last season.
Team news
Manchester United have received a boost with both Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount returning to group training this week.
They are unlikely to be fit enough to start, however, while the Red Devils remain without defenders Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia, Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro.
Crystal Palace will be without long-term injury absentees Chadi Riad and Matheus Franca while Rob Holding is lacking match fitness and Trevoh Chalobah is a doubt after missing last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Leicester.
Ten of Manchester United’s last 12 away league matches featured over 2.5 goals.
Manchester United have won only five of their last 15 away games in the Premier League.
All four of Crystal Palace’s Premier League goals this season have been scored in the second half.
Crystal Palace have been trailing at half-time in three of this season’s four league matches.
Five of Crystal Palace’s last seven Premier League home games have had four or more goals.
Prediction
It is difficult to have maximum faith in any team from a winning perspective.
Palace have been serial slow starters this season, trailing at half-time in three of their four matches, while they remain winless after last weekend’s 2-2 draw at home to Leicester.
Manchester United, meanwhile, arrive at Selhurst Park fresh on the back of two convincing wins, but they’ve also lost at Brighton and been readily brushed aside 3-0 at home to Liverpool this season.
Even in last weekend’s 3-0 win at Southampton, the Red Devils were second best for half an hour and should have been behind with Cameron Archer squandering a first-half penalty with the game locked level.
Having won only five of their last 14 away league games, United still have plenty to prove and they were blown away 4-0 in this fixture at the beginning of May.
