Manchester United will continue their quest for a top-five Premier League spot at home this weekend when they host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Since Michael Carrick’s return to Old Trafford, no English top-flight team has accumulated more points, a revival that has significantly boosted United’s chances of securing a Champions League berth for next season.
Carrick’s impressive tenure, featuring five wins and a draw, has propelled them to fourth place with 48 points from 27 matches. Rather than focusing on Chelsea and Liverpool trailing them, United should set their sights on a struggling Aston Villa, who are only three points ahead in third and could easily fall into the battle for a top-five spot.
The Red Devils maintained their strong form by clinching a hard-won victory against Everton on Monday night, sealed by Benjamin Šeško’s clinical finish from a swift counterattack.
Meanwhile, Palace holds a ten-point advantage over the relegation places and are likely to soon prioritize the Conference League, having advanced to the last 16 on Thursday evening. Oliver Glasner’s squad secured a 2–0 win against Zrinjski Mostar at Selhurst Park, completing a 3–1 aggregate victory. They are now set to face AEK Larnaca in the upcoming round.
Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace: Score Prediction
Man Utd’s Unstoppable Momentum
While Liverpool is widely anticipated to defeat West Ham United at Anfield on Saturday, Chelsea will face league leaders Arsenal after Sunday’s Manchester United fixture. This presents the Red Devils with an excellent opportunity to establish a six-point lead over the Blues this weekend.
United mounted a comeback to secure a 2–1 victory in the reverse fixture when Rúben Amorim was still in charge. However, Palace has recently found success at Old Trafford, having won on their last two visits.
Nevertheless, the positive atmosphere around Glasner’s Eagles has faded, and their Premier League campaign seems to lack significant stakes at this point.
- More Rested Red Devils: Manchester United has clearly gained an advantage from having several free weeks, enjoying another one before this weekend’s game. In contrast, Palace played again on Thursday evening, with their progression to the last 16 only confirmed by Evann Guessand’s late goal. Glasner’s squad lacks the depth for extensive changes on Sunday, meaning the same players will likely be deployed at Old Trafford.
- Benjamin Šeško in Top Form: Since Carrick took over, the ex-RB Leipzig forward has netted three goals as a substitute, strongly suggesting he’s due for a starting role this weekend. Šeško is an outstanding athlete who has recently demonstrated his sharp goal-scoring ability. Given that United might face a heavily entrenched defense, Šeško’s attributes will undoubtedly be valuable.
- Solid Defense: Carrick has not only revitalized United’s offense, which was previously struggling, but their defensive solidity has also been crucial to their achievements. They have recorded three clean sheets in their last six matches, and Lisandro Martínez’s absence against Everton did not hinder their performance.
Final Score Prediction: Manchester United 2–0 Crystal Palace
Anticipated Man Utd Starting XI vs. Crystal Palace
Lisandro Martínez’s absence from Monday’s game against Everton was a last-minute decision, and Carrick offered no new information regarding the Argentine’s condition during Friday’s press conference. Should he remain unavailable, Leny Yoro is expected to play alongside Harry Maguire in the defensive line.
Carrick will likely be considering giving Šeško a starting position, especially given his consistent impact as a substitute. The Slovenian international has earned this opportunity, with Amad Diallo being the most probable player to make way in the attack.
Aside from that, United’s starting lineup is expected to be unchanged. Matthijs de Ligt is still sidelined with a back injury, and although Mason Mount is nearing his return, he is not quite ready for action.
Manchester United’s projected starting XI vs. Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Šeško.
Crystal Palace’s Anticipated Starting XI vs. Manchester United
Glasner’s squad lacks the depth for significant rotation, and as his time at Palace nears its end, the Austrian manager might soon shift focus to securing Conference League success once they’ve accumulated enough Premier League points to virtually ensure their safety.
The visiting side will be missing forwards Eddie Nketiah and Jean-Philippe Mateta, but January acquisition Jørgen Strand Larsen has quickly made an impact. New arrival Evann Guessand has also found the net in consecutive matches.
Jefferson Lerma is currently out with a hamstring injury, and Cheick Doucouré, who has been hampered by injuries for the past year and a half, is unavailable due to a knee problem.
Crystal Palace’s projected starting XI vs. Manchester United (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Muñoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Strand Larsen, Guessand.
Kick-off Time for Man Utd vs. Crystal Palace?
- Venue: Manchester, England
- Ground: Old Trafford
- Match Date: Sunday, March 1st
- Scheduled Kick-off: 2 p.m. GMT / 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT
- Match Official: Tom Bramall
- Video Assistant Referee: Craig Pawson
Viewing Options for Man Utd vs. Crystal Palace: TV & Live Stream
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Nation |
Broadcast Channel/Streaming Platform |
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UK |
Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League |
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USA |
Telemundo, NBCSN, Peacock |
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Canada |
DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 4 Canada |
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Mexico |
TNT Sports, Max Mexico, TNT Go |