Manchester United will be bidding to return to sixth position in the Premier League table when they head to Selhurst Park on Monday evening to tackle an in-form Crystal Palace outfit.
The Red Devils are currently seventh in the division, two points behind sixth-placed Newcastle United, while Palace occupy 14th, four points behind 13th-placed Brighton & Hove Albion.
Match preview
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Oliver Glasner has certainly made a positive impression since arriving as Palace head coach in the middle of February, with the 49-year-old, who replaced Roy Hodgson at the helm, boasting a record of four wins, three draws and three losses from his 10 games in charge.
The Eagles will bring a four-game unbeaten run into this match, picking up 10 points from the last 12 available, having overcome Liverpool, West Ham United and Newcastle United before drawing 1-1 with Fulham last time out.
Palace boast a record of 10 wins, 10 draws and 15 defeats from their 35 Premier League matches this season to collect 40 points, which has left them eight points behind 10th-placed Bournemouth, but they are only four from both Fulham and Brighton in 12th and 13th respectively.
The Eagles have not finished higher than 10th since being promoted from the Championship back in 2013, but they were 11th last term, so there has been a drop-off this season.
That said, victory in each of their final three fixtures of the season would see them equal their record points tally in the Premier League era (49), originally set in 1992-93 and then equalled in 2018-19.
Palace will be looking to complete a league double over Man United for the first time in their history on Monday evening, having recorded a 1-0 victory when the pair met at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture.
The capital side will also be aiming to make it three straight Premier League wins at Selhurst Park for the first time since October 2022.
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Man United can no longer claim a Champions League spot for next season, with the Red Devils instead battling to qualify for either the Europa League or Conference League in 2024-25.
Erik ten Hag's side, as mentioned, dropped to seventh on Saturday after Newcastle beat Burnley, but a win on Monday evening would see them return to sixth spot, potentially only three points behind fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur depending on the capital side's result against Liverpool on Sunday.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a hugely difficult campaign for Man United, who have already suffered 12 league defeats, but the club can secure more domestic silverware this term, preparing to take on Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup at the end of the month.
The Red Devils are unbeaten since their late 4-3 loss at Chelsea on April 4, but they have only won one of their four league games since then and were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Burnley at Old Trafford last weekend.
Man United have won seven, drawn three and lost seven of their 17 away league games this season, and they will be facing a Palace outfit that have also lost seven times at home in the Premier League in 2023-24.
The 20-time English champions won eight of their opening 11 away Premier League fixtures with Palace but are now winless in their last three, including a 1-1 draw during the 2022-23 campaign.
Team News
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Palace will again be without the services of Sam Johnstone, Cheick Doucoure, Jefferson Lerma, Rob Holding and Matheus Franca for the clash with Man United through injury.
Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi are both set to return to the squad, though, with the latter recovering from the knee operation that he underwent in February, while the former has overcome a knee problem of his own.
While Guehi is unlikely to start, Eze is set to feature in the front three alongside Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has scored 11 Premier League goals during a strong campaign.
A 3-4-3 formation should also include Adam Wharton, who has made a strong impression since his arrival from Blackburn Rovers during the January transfer window.
As for Man United, Bruno Fernandes, who was pictured wearing protection on his wrist on Friday, is a minor doubt, but Ten Hag hinted during his press conference that he is expecting his captain to be available.
Scott McTominay is also set to overcome a knee injury to return to the side, with Christian Eriksen likely to be the player to make way if the Scot does prove his fitness.
Jonny Evans returned to training on Thursday and could be thrown straight back into the XI alongside Casemiro in the middle of the back four, as Harry Maguire has been ruled out for the next three weeks due to a muscular problem.
Anthony Martial is not yet in full training alongside his teammates, so he will again miss out; Marcus Rashford is also still absent for the 20-time English champions alongside Willy Kambwala, Raphael Varane, Lisandro Martinez, Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
Antony scored in the 1-1 draw with Burnley last time out and should keep his spot down the right on Monday evening despite pressure from Amad Diallo.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Clyne, Andersen, Richards; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Olise, Mateta, Eze
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Casemiro, Evans, Dalot; McTominay, Mainoo; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
We say: Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester United
Man United will once again have a patched-up back four for this match, and it is so difficult to back them to keep a clean sheet at the moment, especially against an in-form Palace. The Red Devils still have a lot of talent down the other end, though, and we fancy the points to be shared in the capital on Monday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Matt Law
