Game Week 13 Predictions: Crystal Palace to beat Manchester United

Crystal Palace vs Man Utd: Eagles flying high, can top-4 chasing Palace stun fragile Red Devils at Selhurst? Verdict: Palace win.

Manchester United needs a strong result to return to winning ways, can they find joy at Palace? (Photo credit: Opta)

 Crystal Palace vs Manchester United

Selhurst Park

1:00pm

Manchester United were celebrated for stringing three wins together, the first such under Ruben Amorim, and then they played out two back-to-back draws before losing to Everton on Monday.

Crystal Palace could end the day in the top four if they beat Manchester United at Selhurst Park on Sunday, a feat that should serve as enough motivation for the Eagles who have effectively recovered from their poor start to the season.

You look at Manchester United and Palace, and you see two clubs on different trajectories. One is a big club who has failed to look like one for over a decade, and the second is a small club with big ambitions and a brighter future.

You must also ask yourself, how did Manchester United lose at home against an Everton side that got a man sent off as early as the 13th minute? It wasn’t only about how they played; it was in the quality of chances they passed on and the mentality one can now associate with them.

Palace lost in Europe on Thursday, from a winning position, too, but you reckon they would be fine in the group phase, as their main focus must be this one against United. The Eagles are primed to trouble Manchester United on Sunday.

How will the hosts line up? They will keep their shape; Oliver Glasner doesn’t enjoy chopping and shoving. The regular front three of Ismaila Sarr, Yeremy Pino and Jean Phillippe Mateta would be the same, which would test the United defense.

The battle in midfield would be key. Manchester United will be without Casemiro as the Brazilian serves a match ban for accumulating five yellow cards. This is where Manuel Ugarte comes in; however, how solid has he been whenever he was called on?

We might see Lisandro Martinez on Sunday for United; while he warms up to fitness, you wonder if Amorim will hand him a start to arguably the most rotated backline this season. It will be interesting to see how Amorim lines up his defense on Sunday.

Bruno Fernandes will be key for Manchester United. He leads the way in the league when it comes to chance creation, but Matheus Cunha was injured last time out, so Joshua Zirkzee had to step in but with little to show for his troubles. Will United come to the party today, or will they sink to another defeat?

Verdict: Straight win for Palace