Manchester United will be desperate for three points against Crystal Palace to close the gap on third placed Chelsea in the race for top four finish.

The Red Devils blew their chance of moving into third against Southampton on Monday when they conceded a late minute goal to end the encounter 2-2, where a victory was needed.

The Eagles have secured Premier League football for next season but have been on a very poor run of form of late, losing their last five matches ahead of this tie at Selhurst Park.

Team News

Jeffrey Schlupp will return to the matchday squad for Palace while James Tomkins is back in training.

But the Eagles are without the suspended Christian Benteke.

Solskjaer revealed Mason Greenwood and Luke Shaw are doubts due to ankle injuries, but Brandon Williams (cut head) should be available.

Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones remain sidelined.

Head-to-Head

Both sides have played 21 times in the Premier League with Manchester United winning 16 and Crystal Palace winning just one and four draws between then.

Crystal Palace have lost their last five matches but can complete their first ever league double over Manchester United, having won 2-1 at Old Trafford in August.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are targeting a third straight away win, having triumphed 3-0 in the last two, as they chase a top-four finish.

Key stats

Palace have won seven of their nine Premier League matches in which Jordan Ayew has scored this season, drawing the other two. Their record when he doesn’t score is W4 D7 L15.

Roy Hodgson is seeking to avoid losing six consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since his last three with Blackburn Rovers in November 1998 and his first three with Fulham in January 2008.

Man Utd are unbeaten in their last 11 away league meetings with Palace (W8 D3), since a 3-0 defeat in May 1991.

Bruno Fernandes could become the first Man Utd player to score in five consecutive PL away matches since Zlatan Ibrahimovic in January 2017, and the fourth to do so overall, after Ruud van Nistelrooy (twice) and Robin van Persie.

Probabe XI
Crystal Palace: Guaita,
Joel Ward, Scott Dann, Sakho, van Aanholt, Townsend, Zaha, Kouyaté, Milivojević, McArthur, Ayew.

Man United: De Gea; Maguire, Lindelof, Wan-Bissaka, Williams; Tominay, Pogba, Matic; Rashford, James, Martial

Officials for the game

Referee: Graham Scott. Assistants: Harry Lennard, Derek Eaton. Fourth official: Keith Stroud. Replacement official: Garry Maskell. VAR: Simon Hooper. Assistant VAR: Andy Garratt.

Prediction:

Crystal Palace 0-2 Man United

source:- fcnaija