Crystal Palace host Manchester United at Selhurst Park on Saturday, with both sides looking to recover from three successive Premier League defeats.
Palace are all but safe and will fancy their chances against a United side who are under pressure and in need of the points as they chase a Champions League berth.
Crystal Palace
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Alan Pardew has done a fine job with Palace since taking charge in January. The former Newcastle United boss has taken the Eagles well away from the relegation zone and into the safety of mid-table with a few games remaining.
The Palace manager stated a few weeks ago that a top-10 finish was achievable, but defeats to West Bromwich Albion, Hull City and Chelsea have made that task much harder. Pardew's men would have been ninth had they won all of those.
After this match against Manchester United comes a meeting with Liverpool, who are also hoping for a top-four finish. However, these games could provide a good opportunity for Palace to halt their recent poor form, as they will be playing without pressure against two of the Premier League's big guns.
Since putting four past Sunderland last month, Palace have not scored in 270 minutes of football and if Pardew wants to make good that top-half claim, he will need to get his side firing once again before the season ends.
Recent form: WWWLLL
Manchester United
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Louis van Gaal has seen his hopes of taking Manchester United into next season's Champions League take a blow following three defeats on the spin.
United looked a good bet to finish in the top four following a run of six wins in a row, but defeats to Chelsea, Everton and, most recently, a surprise home loss to West Bromwich Albion, have seen the nerves return to Old Trafford.
As it stands, the Red Devils have a four-point cushion over arch rivals Liverpool in fifth, so there is some breathing space. However, more dropped points between now and the end of the season could mean that United have to settle for a place in the Europa League instead.
Arsenal and Manchester City are five points ahead of them, so it looks likely that the best United can finish this season is fourth, which would still represent a successful first campaign at the helm for Van Gaal.
The Dutchman will be hoping that his charges start finding the back of the net again soon, having failed to score in their last three outings.
Recent form: WWWLLL
Team News
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Pardew could welcome back attacking pair Fraizer Campbell and Marouane Chamakh following injury.
Yannick Bolasie played as the lone striker at Stamford Bridge last week and, with Palace needing goals, he could be moved back to the left of midfield to allow Glenn Murray to start up top.
Captain Mile Jedinak could come back into the side after he was rested for the defeat at Chelsea.
United left-back Luke Shaw missed the loss to West Brom with a groin injury, which saw Daley Blind fill in for him. Shaw is unlikely to be fit enough to return so Blind will once again continue at full-back, with Marcos Rojo yet to recover from his injury. Phil Jones could replace Paddy McNair at the back after shaking off an ankle injury.
Midfield also remains a problem for Van Gaal, with Michael Carrick unlikely to be fit in time for the trip to South London. Ander Herrera is expected to play in a holding role, with Wayne Rooney dropping deep to cover.
Meanwhile, Robin van Persie could retain his place as the lone striker with Marouane Fellaini playing just behind him.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Speroni; Mariappa, Dann, Delaney, Ward; Jedinak, McArthur; Bolasie, Puncheon, Zaha; Murray
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Jones, Blind; Mata, Herrera, Rooney, Fellaini, Young; Van Persie
Head To Head
United have the superior record over Palace from their 46 meetings, winning 29 times to Palace's seven, with 10 draws.
Van Gaal's side beat Palace 1-0 at Old Trafford when the sides last met in November, with Juan Mata grabbing the only goal of the game.
United are unbeaten in their last seven visits to Selhurst Park, a run stretching back to 1991. Goals from Van Persie and Rooney gave the Red Devils a 2-0 win there last season.
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We say: Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester United
While United will be looking for all three points to get their Champions League quest back on track, they will find it hard against Palace, who have a knack of upsetting the big sides on home soil.
Despite their improvement under Van Gaal, the defeat to West Brom last time out shows that United are still susceptible to dropping points against sides that they would usually feel confident of beating and they could do so again here.
Steven Toplis
