Manchester United host Crystal Palace on Saturday in what will be the 19th meeting between the two sides in the Premier League. United have won 15 of those contests, with three draws, meaning Palace have never emerged victorious in the league portion of this series.
Wilfried Zaha would especially love to change that this weekend, but he may not get the opportunity to face his former team. He is a doubt for this match after missing the Eagles’ 1-0 loss at home to Tottenham Hotspur two weeks ago due to a thigh injury.
He suffered the injury the previous week in a lopsided defeat to Chelsea. Looking at other injury and fitness concerns for Palace, Christian Benteke, Connor Wickham and Scott Dann are all almost certainly out of commission for this one. Additionally, James Tomkins (knee issue) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka (shoulder problem) are doubts.
Flipping over to the home side, Diogo Dalot, Marouane Fellaini and Anthony Martial all posed injury concerns of some level at some point over the course of this international break, but the trio returned to training in mid-week. They should all be fine. Paul Pogba should be as well, despite his having to withdraw from the France squad.
He took to Instagram a couple of times this past week to convey that he’s fine. As for Romelu Lukaku, he missed Belgium duty due to a nagging hamstring problem and faces a late fitness test.
Left back Luke Shaw is out due to suspension, after his having picked up his fifth booking of the season. Meanwhile team Captain Antonio Valencia should be back to provide the Red Devils a boost in the back line.
Manchester United vs Crystal Palace FYIs
Kickoff: 3pm local, Old Trafford, Saturday Nov 24
Odds via Oddschecker: Man United 2/5, Draw 4/1, Crystal Palace 8/1
MUFC Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Jose Mourinho Press Conference Video and Quotes: go to this link
Score Prediction: United 3, Palace 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.