Predicted Manchester United lineup against Crystal Palace tomorrow: Hojlund returns to the starting eleven as Ten Hag pledges to amend prior records.
Manchester United will seek to secure their third successive victory across all competitions when they visit Selhurst Park to confront Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday evening.
The Red Devils will want retribution against the Eagles following their significant 4-0 defeat at Selhurst Park in May of the previous season.
Crystal Palace is one of six Premier League clubs who remain winless after four matches this season, having garnered only two points from draws against Chelsea and Leicester City.
Following defeats in their initial two Premier League matches against Brentford and West Ham United, Palace secured a commendable point with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea before the international break, subsequently recovering from a deficit to achieve a 2-2 home draw against Leicester last weekend.
Goals by Jamie Vardy and Stephy Mavididi initially established dominance for the Foxes; however, Jean-Philippe Mateta regained his scoring form with a second-half brace, culminating in a 92nd-minute equalizer from the penalty spot, so securing a draw for the Eagles.
Glasner’s team has secured advancement to the fourth round of the EFL Cup with a 2-1 victory against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road on Tuesday night, with goals from summer acquisition Eddie Nketiah and former Hoops player Eberechi Eze occurring on either side of halftime.
Palace has demonstrated commendable performance in the EFL Cup this season, notably defeating Norwich City 4-0 at home in the second round. They aspire to replicate this form in the Premier League, commencing with Saturday’s match against Manchester United, a team they triumphed over both at home and away last season with an aggregate score of 5-0.
Manchester United’s commencement of the 2024-25 season was suboptimal, as consecutive Premier League defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool intensified pressure on manager Erik ten Hag before to the international break.
Nevertheless, the Red Devils have recently experienced a resurgence, exhibiting optimism after securing victories in their previous two matches with a cumulative score of 10-0, following a 3-0 Premier League triumph against Southampton last weekend and a resounding 7-0 defeat of Barnsley in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho both netted three goals in the two games, contributing two goals apiece against League One team Barnsley. Additionally, Christian Eriksen and Antony also scored to facilitate Manchester United’s advancement to the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
Manchester United supporters should refrain from becoming overly exuberant about victories against a third-tier team and a newly-promoted Premier League club; however, consecutive wins have provided Ten Hag’s squad with a crucial morale enhancement in anticipation of a demanding schedule, featuring five matches within a 16-day span in both the Premier League and Europa League.
Positioned 10th in the Premier League standings, Manchester United approaches Saturday’s encounter with Crystal Palace burdened by a poor away record against London teams, having secured merely two victories in their last 16 Premier League matches, and suffering 10 defeats in the capital since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, equating to the number of losses incurred in 118 such matches during the esteemed manager’s 26-year reign.
Crystal Palace will be missing long-term injury absentees Chadi Riad (knee) and Matheus Franca (broken rib), while Trevoh Chalobah (abdominal) will undergo evaluation before to kickoff after being absent from last weekend’s draw with Leicester.
Acquisition made during the summer transfer window Maxence Lacroix has begun Palace’s last two matches and is poised to maintain his position in the back three with captain Marc Guehi, while Nathaniel Clyne and Chris Richards contend for the third centre-back position.
Adam Wharton and Cheick Doucoure are anticipated to be reinstated in midfield, replacing Daichi Kamada and Jefferson Lerma, while Nketiah may once more collaborate with Eze and Mateta on the offensive line.
Victor Lindelof (toe), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (calf), and Leny Yoro (foot) are all unavailable for Manchester United as they recuperate from injuries.
Nonetheless, the Red Devils have received a boost with the return to training of Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount, as Ten Hag has indicated that a final decision will be made over their fitness to start this weekend.
Following eight alterations midweek, Ten Hag is anticipated to restore a lineup comparable to the one that triumphed over Southampton, with Andre Onana, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui, Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes, and Joshua Zirkzee all vying for reinstatement.
Potential starting lineup for Crystal Palace: Henderson; Clyne, Guehi, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Doucoure, Mitchell; Eze; Nketiah, Mateta
Potential starting lineup for Manchester United: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo; Garnacho, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee
