Crystal Palace v Manchester United – March 5 – Selhurst Park
A remarkable Crystal Palace recovery from the bottom of the table to as high as the 12th spot under manager Roy Hodgson looks to be coming apart again after 5 winless games since January 20. A big blow to the Eagles has the absence of their talismanic striker Wifried Zaha out with a knee injury sustained in a match against Newcastle on February 1. Other crucial absentees owing to injury are Ruben Loftus-Cheek & Jason Puncheon (midfield), Scott Dann & Mamadou Sakho (Center-Back) and Bakary Saho (Left-wing). How many of them will return for the forthcoming clash at Selhurst Park against Manchester United on March 5 is a matter of some conjecture. Without Zaha upfront, the Palace attack look toothless and the manner in which the Eagles conceded almost three-fourths of the possession to Tottenham last weekend looks to be repeated again in the United game early next week. The defense of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, James Tomkins and Patrick van Aanholt have been impotent at best, conceding as many as 10 goals from their last 5 outings.
For Jose Mourinho’s Red Devils, the Selhurst Park outing should be an opportunity to consolidate their position in the Top Four. While the Paul Pogba of old is yet to re-surface, the return to form of this season’s priciest acquisition, Romelu Lukaku, is a relief for United fans. Jesse Lingard has shown that he isn’t a spent force even after the arrival of Alexis Sanchez in the center-forward position, with a vital winner in the game against Chelsea on Sunday. Going into the Palace match, United will need Lingard, especially at a time when the Red Devils seem to be faltering in away games. With the attacking riches at Mourinho’s disposal in the form of Marcus Rashford, Lukaku, Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and Lingard, of course, he cannot expect to slip up at Selhurst Park.
Since Palace’s re-introduction to the Premier League in 2011, they have lost all but one of their 11 games with United. Furthermore, the Eagles have the danger of slipping again into relegation territory if they were to lose on Monday night.
The odds are very much in favor of Mourinho’s men at the Selhurst Park on March 5th.
Recommended Tip:
Man Utd to Win, Best Odds 1.57 @ Betway
