Both Crystal Palace and Manchester United head into Sunday afternoon’s intriguing Premier League clash at Selhurst Park with recent frustrations to put right.
Palace saw their unbeaten run halted on Thursday with a 2-1 Conference League defeat to Strasbourg, while United arrived still licking their wounds from an embarrassing 1-0 home loss to Everton just three days earlier.
Not even the bizarre confrontation between Idrissa Gueye and Michael Keane — reminiscent of the infamous Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer incident — could overshadow Everton’s remarkable triumph at Old Trafford. Ruben Amorim’s side were sent crashing back down to reality as the Toffees, reduced to 10 men after Gueye’s needless red card, snatched victory through a brilliant Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall strike.
It was a historic defeat for United: never before had they lost a Premier League match in which the opposing team had a player sent off, avoiding defeat in all 46 previous scenarios. The result also highlighted the ill timing of the international break, which interrupted a run of 11 points from five league matches and may have masked deeper issues.
Now slipping dangerously close to the bottom half of the table, United travel to Selhurst Park without a clean sheet in five games, burdened by one of the division’s worst away records and a worrying trend against London opposition. Only one of their last 11 Premier League away fixtures has ended in victory, and they have been beaten in 16 of their last 26 league matches played in the capital — more than any other team since April 2023.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, also watched a five-match unbeaten streak vanish during the week, and they will feel they only have themselves to blame. Tyrick Mitchell’s opener proved meaningless as Strasbourg turned the game around, and the Eagles were left ruing huge missed chances that saw both Ismaila Sarr and Adam Wharton strike the woodwork with the goalkeeper stranded.
However, Palace’s Premier League form paints a very different picture. Last weekend’s composed 2-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers secured their third successive clean sheet, lifting Oliver Glasner’s side to fifth in the table. Brentford and Brighton have also failed to crack their defence this month, and Palace are one of just two teams — along with league leaders Arsenal — yet to concede 10 goals this season.
Their home record provides further encouragement. Palace are unbeaten in 12 straight Premier League matches at Selhurst Park and have beaten Manchester United in three of their last four meetings, remarkably keeping a clean sheet each time. The last United player to score against them was Anthony Martial back in September 2023.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Manchester United’s struggles against Everton were compounded by Matheus Cunha’s training mishap and resulting head injury. The Brazilian is still following concussion protocols and will not feature on Sunday.
Joshua Zirkzee led the line in Cunha’s absence last time out, but Amorim is likely to consider introducing Mason Mount into the attack, which could see Bryan Mbeumo shift into a supporting centre-forward role. Diogo Dalot may come in for Patrick Dorgu as another change for the visitors, while Benjamin Sesko with a knee issue and Harry Maguire with a thigh problem remain unavailable.
Crystal Palace also suffered injuries in their loss to Strasbourg, with Will Hughes taken off in the first half due to a knee problem. He is expected to be replaced by Wharton, a player targeted by Manchester United. Hughes might still make the matchday squad, but it is unlikely he will start, while Caleb Kporha with a back issue, Borna Sosa with a knock, Cheick Doucoure with a knee problem, Chadi Riad with a knee issue, and Rio Cardines with an adductor injury are also sidelined.
Wharton is likely to be one of two midfield changes for Palace, with Daichi Kamada coming in for Jefferson Lerma. In defence, Chris Richards should start, pushing Jaydee Canvot onto the bench.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Lacroix, Guehi, Richards; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Pino
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Lammens; Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dalot; Mount, Diallo; Mbeumo
EXPERT PREDICTION
Crystal Palace 1-1 Manchester United
