Crystal Palace vs Manchester United

Selhurst Park plays host to a high-stakes Premier League showdown between mid-table Crystal Palace and Europa League hopefuls Manchester United.

Crystal Palace might have turned a 2-0 HT lead into an abysmal 3-2 defeat at Everton in midweek Premier League action, yet they could still achieve their best top-flight finish since 2014/15. However, snatching away a 10th-placed placement would require the ‘Eagles’ to beat Man United and several other results go their way. It could be easier said than done, as Palace are winless in each of their 12 previous Premier League home meetings with Man United (D4, L8). That said, Patrick Vieira’s men are unbeaten in their last seven competitive home outings (W4, D3), while they’ve not conceded a single goal across their four previous Premier League fixtures at Selhurst Park. Curiously, though, Palace could win back-to-back home league games for the first time since March 2020.

In the meantime, Manchester United will finish the season with their lowest points tally in Premier League history regardless of the outcome of this encounter. But with just two points separating them from seventh-placed West Ham United, the ‘Red Devils’ need all three points to qualify for next season’s Champions League and avoid depending on the ‘Hammers’ result at Brighton & Hove Albion. The upcoming trip to London will mark the final game in charge for interim boss Ralf Rangnick, who will hand over the managerial reins to Erik ten Hag in the summer. Therefore, the German tactician will be keen to arrest Man United’s humiliating run of five consecutive league defeats on the road. Worryingly, though, three of United’s five reverses in that spread of games saw them concede 3+ goals.