Game Week 28 Predictions: United to beat Palace at Old Trafford

Premier League preview: Man Utd vs Crystal Palace at Old Trafford – United chase top-3 spot , Palace midweek fatigue; verdict United win.

Manchester United will go third if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday. This is a game United cannot allow to go sideways. (Photo credit: Opta)

 Manchester United vs Crystal Palace

Old Trafford Stadium

3:00pm

Manchester United will finish the weekend in third spot if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday. They have had many chances to break into the top three in the past. Will they let this one slip?

Aston Villa lost at Wolves on Friday night to open the door for Manchester United to usurp them. Chelsea is lurking as well, but the reigning champions surged above the Blues after tearing apart West Ham at Anfield on Saturday. This is a game the Red Devils must win.

Crystal Palace advanced to the Round of 16 of the Europa Conference League in midweek after winning the second leg of their play-off and have also learned their opponents in the next round. A trip to Cyprus awaits them again; they must prepare better this time.

The Eagles aren’t doing well in the league, and something must change. They played Manchester United at Selhurst after a trip in the Conference League. They bossed the first half before losing steam in the second half, which helped United to beat them 2-1.

The Eagles played on Thursday; now they have to play United again on Sunday. Does Oliver Glasner’s side have what it takes to keep things together against a resurgent Manchester United side? This game will test Crystal Palace. How will they fare?

The Red Devils have undoubtedly undergone significant changes. They now play with a different kind of intensity which allows them to pin opponents back for as long as they desire. You can’t really see any result here outside a home win for United.

Under Michael Carrick, Manchester United has only dropped points once. They will hope to add another win to their recent run when Palace visits Old Trafford. It’s a game. United needs to gatecrash the top three. Will they finally know what it feels like to be in the top three this season?

Lisandro Martinez has joined the trio of Mason Mount, Patrick Dorgu and Matthijs De Ligt in the treatment room; this means Leny Yoro will be expected to be the partner to Harry Maguire in defence while things stay the same everywhere else on the pitch.

Palace continues to find ways to play without Jean Phillippe Mateta. His move away didn’t materialise, but they have Jorgen Strand-Larsen upfront. Evan Guessand joined from Villa, and he will also feature. Is there any opportunity for the Eagles to fly at Old Trafford?

Verdict: United to win.