Manchester United's Next Assignment Is A Trip To South London To Face Crystal Palace On Wednesday Night.
Manchester United will be looking to make it two wins in a row when they travel to south London to face Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. This will be a tough assignment for the Red Devils, as Palace has been one of the Premier League's toughest sides this season. The match kicks off at 20:00 GMT, and Manchester United will be hoping to bring back the three points and continue their impressive run of form.
The last time these two teams met
Manchester United and Crystal Palace last faced each other in the Premier League at Old Trafford in December 2020. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, with a standout performance from Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea denying Palace from claiming all three points.
Palace had the better of the game, registering 12 shots to United's four and dominating possession, but De Gea produced several key saves to keep the game scoreless.
It was a particularly frustrating evening for United, who were unable to take advantage of their superior quality and were held to a goalless draw.
The two sides have already met once this season, with United coming out on top in a 3-1 victory at Selhurst Park in September.
What Manchester United need to do to win
Manchester United will need to be at the top of their game if they want to come away with a win against Crystal Palace. They must stay focused and remain organized in defense, limiting the amount of space Palace has to work with. United should also strive to maintain possession of the ball, as this will prevent Palace from having opportunities to counterattack.
In attack, Manchester United must take advantage of their pace and creativity on the wings, utilizing the likes of Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood. They should also look to exploit the spaces between Palace's lines of defense with smart passing and quick combinations between their midfielders and forwards. Finally, United must be clinical in front of the goal, ensuring that all their chances are taken with precision and confidence. This could prove to be the difference-maker in what looks set to be an evenly-matched encounter.
Key players for Manchester United
Manchester United will be looking to get the three points when they travel to south London on Wednesday night, and the players who will be most important for them to do this are the following.
Paul Pogba is the talisman for United and will be vital in dictating the tempo of their play. His creativity and passing ability have been key in recent weeks and he will be looking to make a difference against Palace.
Bruno Fernandes has also been in excellent form since his arrival in January, and he will be expected to add some flair to United's attack against Palace. His eye for goal and ability to score spectacular goals will be a threat to the home side.
Marcus Rashford is United's top scorer this season, and he will be looking to add to his tally against Palace. His pace and directness have been a nightmare for defenses this season, and he will be looking to cause Palace problems with his movement and finishing.
Finally, goalkeeper David De Gea has been in excellent form for United and will be looking to keep a clean sheet against Palace. He has made some vital saves for United this season, and he will be looking to help United secure all three points on Wednesday.
Prediction
The last time these two teams met, Manchester United won 2-0. This was a much-needed win for the Red Devils after a string of bad results in the Premier League.
This time around, it is expected that Manchester United will be determined to get another victory and continue their push up the table. Crystal Palace is likely to put up a fight, however, and has shown that they can cause trouble against the bigger sides in the league.
Manchester United should have enough quality in their ranks to get the job done though. With players like Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford in their lineup, they can unlock Palace’s defense and create plenty of scoring opportunities.
With this in mind, we predict that Manchester United will come away with a narrow win against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. If they do, it could potentially take them back into the top four and cement their place as one of the top challengers for the title this season. Additionally, if they manage to keep a clean sheet then it will be only the second time this season that they’ve done so away from home in the Premier League. The atmosphere at Selhurst Park is sure to be electric as fans eagerly await kick-off. All eyes will be on Man Utd captain Harry Maguire who is set to return from suspension following his red card against Wolves last week. This match could go a long way in deciding how the rest of the season pans out for both clubs so it promises to be an exciting affair between two sides battling at opposite ends of the table.