Crystal Palace v Manchester United predictions: Visitors can extend hot streak

Racing Post

17 January 2023

Crystal Palace v Manchester United predictions: Visitors can extend hot streak

Defender Luke Shaw is part of an impressive United back four

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Crystal Palace v Manchester United in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 8pm Wednesday

Best bet

Manchester United to win & under 3.5 goals
3pts 6-4 Coral, Ladbrokes

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Team news

Crystal Palace
Centre-back Joachim Andersen is likely to join James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson on the sidelines.

Manchester United
Jadon Sancho, Donny van de Beek, Diogo Dalot and Axel Tuanzebe are injured. Forwards Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial will be assessed and on-loan striker Wout Weghorst is available.

Match preview

Manchester United's resurgence under Erik ten Hag continued with a 2-1 Premier League derby victory over Manchester City on Saturday and a win at Crystal Palace would take the Red Devils into second place in the table, above City and Newcastle.

Those lofty heights appeared to be a long way off after the first Manchester derby of the season in October, when the Citizens raced into a 4-0 first-half lead against United and went on to win 6-3.

However, plenty has happened at Old Trafford in the subsequent three months with Cristiano Ronaldo departing for the Saudi league, Harry Maguire dropping down the pecking order, Casemiro bringing class and steel to the midfield, and Marcus Rashford rediscovering his best form up front.

Rashford is on such a hot streak that he can set up a goal even when he's not interfering with play, much to the displeasure of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who felt United's equaliser on Saturday should have been ruled out for offside.

The England forward went on to score the winner in the derby and United will be hopeful that he and Anthony Martial overcome minor injury problems to start at Selhurst Park.

Palace manager Patrick Vieira enjoyed a series of engrossing heavyweight scraps with the Red Devils during his playing career at Arsenal but on recent form it is hard to see his side landing a blow on their visitors.

The Eagles have lost their last three home matches in all competitions. They had two men sent off in a 3-0 defeat to Fulham, blew a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 against struggling Southampton in the FA Cup third round, and conceded four second-half goals against an inconsistent Tottenham side on January 4.

Vieira suggested that Palace were unfortunate to lose 1-0 at Chelsea last weekend but, even with home advantage, taking on a rampant United looks a tougher assignment than playing against Graham Potter's stuttering Blues.

Palace have scored only six goals in their last ten matches in all competitions either side of the World Cup and all of them came against three teams involved in the relegation scrap: Southampton, West Ham and Bournemouth.

They have failed to score in defeats to fellow strugglers Everton and Nottingham Forest during that run and the floodgates are unlikely to open against United, who have won five of their last seven matches to nil.

Casemiro's presence in midfield offers far better protection for the back four, enabling Ten Hag's men to keep grinding out wins. Only four of their 21 victories in all competitions this season have featured over 3.5 goals and that trend may well continue in south London.