MATCH PREVIEW: UNITED V CRYSTAL PALACE
Manchester United return to action this weekend following the last international break of 2018, entertaining Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in the Premier League.
The Reds can bounce back from the 3-1 loss to Manchester City in the derby last time out when facing a Palace side which is without a win in their last seven games, currently sitting one point above the relegation zone on goal difference.
United haven’t played at home since the 2-1 victory over Everton on 28 October, with our last three games being away to Bournemouth, Juventus and Manchester City respectively. Here’s everything you need to know...
ANY EARLY TEAM NEWS?
Luke Shaw is suspended after the defender received his fifth booking of the Premier League season against City last time out. Antonio Valencia, who scored for Ecuador during the international break, could be in contention to return after missing the last seven club matches, while Diogo Dalot was pictured in training on Tuesday after a recent injury absence.
Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba had to withdraw from the France squad through injury, while Romelu Lukaku also missed Belgium's matches because of a hamstring problem.
HOW ABOUT PALACE?
The visitors could be without former United forward Wilfried Zaha, who missed their 1-0 defeat at home to Tottenham Hotspur last time out with a thigh injury, which the Ivorian suffered in a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea three weeks ago. Manager Roy Hodgson will hope that the talismanic player can be fit in time for Saturday's game.
James Tomkins is also a doubt, as the central defender went off with an injury to his knee against Spurs before the break. There is also a question mark over Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but Christian Benteke, Connor Wickham and Scott Dann are expected to be out.
HOW ARE PALACE DOING?
It has been a tough start to the season for Crystal Palace, as Hodgson’s men haven’t recorded a victory in the Premier League since 15 September. Their recent form has seen them slip to 16th in the table, above Southampton and Cardiff City, who sit 17th and 18th respectively, on goal difference alone. Furthermore, the South London outfit have only netted eight goals in their first 12 league games. The Eagles will be hoping for Zaha’s return, as they haven’t won a Premier League game without their star man for over two years. Saturday’s match will be Palace’s third consecutive game against teams who finished in the top six last season, with two of the three being away from home.
WHAT'S OUR RECORD AGAINST CRYSTAL PALACE?
United have never lost a Premier League game to the visitors, registering 15 wins and three draws. The last time Palace defeated United was in 2011, when the Reds fell to a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in a League Cup fifth-round tie. Darren Ambrose smashed in a long-range free-kick, but Federico Macheda levelled the tie. However, current Brighton hit-man Glenn Murray nodded in an extra-time winner to condemn United to our first defeat against Palace since a 3-0 loss in 1991. Overall, since the first game between these two sides in 1922, United have won 36, drawn 10 and lost seven in all competitions. The Reds completed a league double over the Eagles last season, with the early-season match at the Theatre of Dreams ending in a 4-0 victory for United, with goals from Juan Mata and Romelu Lukaku as well as a brace from Marouane Fellaini. In March, United staged a stunning comeback at Selhurst Park to win 3-2, as Nemanja Matic’s sensational injury-time strike earned the Reds three points after being 2-0 down.
WHO'S THE REFEREE?
Lee Mason will take charge of his first United game of the season on Saturday. The Lancashire whistler has officiated five Premier League matches so far this term, including Palace's 1-0 victory at Huddersfield in September - the last occasion they won in the league. He handled two United games in 2017/18 - the 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield and 1-0 win over Watford on the final day of the league season. Mason will be assisted by Harry Lennard and Marc Perry, while the fourth official will be Anthony Taylor - who took charge of the Manchester derby before the international break.
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE RESULT WILL BE?
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