Man Utd vs Crystal Palace: Preview and Prediction

Saturday 24th August 2019

England Premier League
Saturday 24th August 2019
Kick off at 3pm BST
Venue: Old Trafford

Match Preview:

After Manchester United’s poor finish in the Premier League last season there is quiet optimism amongst the fans that this one will be more successful. A 4-0 battering of Chelsea certainly helped that belief on the opening day of the season, but then a feeling of averageness returned to the club when they drew 1-1 with Wolves on Monday night.

Take nothing away from Wolves who are a good team, but it still seemed like a comedown of sorts from the victory over Chelsea, and to compound matters United could have won the game, but Paul Pogba missed a penalty. That uneasy feeling which has been present with United since Sir Alex Ferguson is still there within the club and it’s on the pitch as well as off it.

With the transfer window not closing until the end of the month in Europe, the futures of both Pogba and Alexis Sanchez are up in the air, though United would not mind, it seems, if they had to sell Sanchez who has been a shadow of the player he was at Arsenal.

For United then maybe even at this early stage of the season we can see them dropping points on the road, but at home Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be resolute in making Old Trafford a fortress once more.

Crystal Palace played out a dour 0-0 result at home against Everton which wasn’t a bad point for Roy Hodgson’s team who could struggle this season, but losing the following week to newly promoted Sheffield United was not part of the script. True, Palace played some good football and had their chances but they never looked like winning the game, and thus are yet to score this season. The question is simple, if they cannot beat Sheffield United away from home, what chance do they have in this game?

Team News:

Manchester United: Alexis Sanchez could return after fitness issues. Eric Bailly is a long term absence and won’t be back until the end of the year

Crystal Palace: The Eagles have no new injuries coming into this game

Man Utd vs Crystal Palace Head to Head:

Crystal Palace have not won at Old Trafford since 2011 and that was on penalties in the League Cup.

Last season this fixture ended 0-0.

Manchester United have scored 10 goals past Palace in the last four meetings.

Man Utd vs Crystal Palace Prediction:

United didn’t play brilliantly against Chelsea and yet still won 4-0 and it’s fair to think that they will be strong at home this season. There is still a vulnerability about Solskjaer’s team but Palace will surely lack the quality to find it. We know that Hodgson’s team like to spring surprises in Manchester, just ask Pep Guardiola! However at this point in the season we can see United easing to victory. Paul Pogba will be determined, one would hope, to get more into the game and make an impact after his penalty hi jinks where he ended up apologising to the team in the dressing room. We shouldn’t expect there to be any surprises as United look good for the win here.

Man Utd vs Crystal Palace Betting Tips:

Half time/full time (Man Utd/Man Utd) at 2.00

Manchester United to score 2+ goals at 1.44

Anytime goalscorer: Paul Pogba at 2.50