Sports Mole anticipates Thursday’s Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Manchester United, including team news and anticipated lineups.
Manchester United they will endeavor to bring their four best goals back on track when they travel to the capital to face off Crystal palace in Thursday’s Premier League clash.
In the meantime, Palace has suffered a dismal set of results recently, but the Eagles have little to play in the last three games of the season.
Match preview
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While the Palace was unlucky to move away from the London derby with Chelsea with nothing to show for their brave display, the weekend clash with Aston Villa was a completely different story for the South London outfit.
Villa’s hopes of survival received a huge boost from a couple Trezeguet to put Roy HodgsonSwordmen in the West Midlands, and Palace are now one of the only two Premier League teams to have lost their last five games – the other having already been relegated to Norwich City.
The eagles are mathematically safe, but they are ending the season on a harsh note, and Palace has dropped to 14th in the rankings after its sterile run in the past few weeks.
In addition, the odds are heavily piled against Hodgson’s men in the remaining three games – with the Eagles still facing Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur before the 2019-2020 campaign ends.
For a club that was in external contention for European places just a month ago, the alarming dip in the shape of the Palace must be quickly addressed by Hodgson before the next season, and the Eagles fans will certainly not see their last three games against the European chasing teams as winning Games.
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United also suffered a major disappointment last time, as its four main hopes suffered a major blow from Southampton to Old Trafford.
The Red Devils were shaken by Stuart Armstrongopen first Marcus Rashford is Anthony Martial overturned the game, but replaced it Michael Obafemi he climbed into a late draw for the Saints to end United’s winning run.
Ole Gunnar SolskjaerThe team lost the chance to capitalize on Leicester City and Chelsea by dropping points respectively against Bournemouth and Sheffield United, and the Red Devils remain in fifth courtesy thanks to Leicester’s higher goal difference.
After the news that Manchester City’s two-year ban on European football has been lifted, the fifth is no longer good enough for a place in the Champions League, and the run for the top four is set to go down to the wire in this which promises to be an electrifying end of the season.
Especially with a match on the last day against Leicester, fans can expect many twists and turns even in this very advanced phase of the campaign, and Solskjaer also has an FA Cup semi-final clash with Chelsea to take into account when it comes to the team selection .
A thrilling clash at Old Trafford at the start of the campaign saw Palace eventually move away with all three points in a 2-1 win, with Patrick van Aanholt clearing a winner of the injury time for eagles in August.
Crystal Palace Premier League form: WLLLLL
Manchester United Premier League form: DWWWWD
Manchester United (all competitions): WWWWWD
Team news
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Palace will have to do without Christian Benteke following the attacker’s red card in defeat at Villa, in the sense Jordan Ayew it risks being moved to a central role.
Ayew leading the attack would have opened a place for Andros Townsend to start on the right side for eagles, but Gary Cahill, Jeffrey Schlupp is James Tomkins all remain on the treatment table.
Martin Kelly returned from injury to make the bench at Villa Park, but Hodgson will likely remain with the same bottom line despite the painful defeat of the last time.
Solskjaer could be in a dilemma when it comes to left back options like Luke Shaw is Brandon Williams both reported injuries in the stalemate with Southampton.
Shaw’s injury was related to the ankle while Williams suffered an unpleasant cut above the eye, so the latter would probably be more likely to show up from the opening whistle during the week.
Solskjaer opted for the same XI once again on Monday, but the fatigue was evident among the players, so the Red Devils manager could make the changes here.
Daniel James is an option on the right should Mason Greenwood rest and there may be changes in midfield with Fred is Scott McTominay looking for points in the first XI.
Crystal Palace possible initial formation:
Guaita; Ward, Sakho, Dann, Van Aanholt; Milivojevic; Townsend, McCarthy, Kouyate, Zaha; Ayew
Manchester United starting line-up possible:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Williams; Fred, McTominay; James, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Let’s say: Crystal Palace 1-3 Manchester United
The frantic schedule of matches seems to have put a strain on the normal matches of United, given the modality of their draw with Southampton, but the Red Devils have the attacking players who are able to cause all kinds of problems to this loyal defense of the Palace, so we are supporting United to increase their charge for the top four with a routine win in Selhurst Park.
