Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Prediction, Preview, Lineups, Head-to-Head, and Team News | Premier League, February 2, 2025

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Preview

Competition: Premier League
Date: Sunday, February 2
Kick-off Time: 14:00 GMT
Venue: Old Trafford, England

Manchester United will host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford for their 24th match of the 2024/25 Premier League season. The Red Devils aim to build on their recent positive form and secure another victory this weekend.

Match Overview

Manchester United have endured a challenging Premier League campaign and currently sit 12th in the standings with 29 points from 23 matches. Their attacking output has been one of the weakest in the division, with 60 shots, 2,069 passes, and an average possession of 51.9% over their last five fixtures. Amad Diallo leads the club’s scoring charts with six goals, while Bruno Fernandes follows closely with five. Both players have also provided six assists each.

Crystal Palace, managed by Oliver Glasner, recently saw their six-game unbeaten streak come to an end with a loss to Brentford. They currently occupy 13th place in the table with 27 points after 23 games. In their previous five league outings, the Eagles registered 69 shots, 1,527 passes, and an average possession of 44.2%. Jean-Philippe Mateta has been their standout performer in front of goal, netting eight times, while Eberechi Eze leads the assist charts with five.

Team News

Manchester United:
The Red Devils will be without Mason Mount (leg injury), Jonny Evans (muscle issue), and Luke Shaw (hamstring problem). Victor Lindelof has returned from injury and could make an appearance off the bench. Meanwhile, Marcus Rashford is not expected to be part of Ruben Amorim’s squad.

Crystal Palace:
Palace will miss Jefferson Lerma due to illness, while Chadi Riad and Cheick Doucoure remain sidelined with knee injuries. Adam Wharton is also unavailable as he recovers from a groin issue.

Predicted Lineups

Manchester United (3-4-2-1):
Goalkeeper: Onana
Defenders: De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez
Midfielders: Mazraoui, Eriksen, Ugarte, Dalot
Forwards: Diallo, Fernandes; Zirkzee

Crystal Palace (5-4-1):
Goalkeeper: Henderson
Defenders: Mitchell, Guehi, Lacroix, Richards, Munoz
Midfielders: Kamada, Hughes, Sarr, Eze
Forward: Mateta

Head-to-Head Record

In 67 previous meetings, Manchester United have claimed victory 41 times, while Crystal Palace have won 12 matches. The remaining 14 encounters ended in draws.

Last 5 match results:

Key Players to Watch

Amad Diallo (Manchester United)
The young forward has excelled under Ruben Amorim, recently netting his first hat-trick for United. He has contributed 16 goals and assists this season, boasting an expected goals (xG) value of 2.14 over his last five matches.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace)
The French striker has been instrumental for Palace, scoring eight league goals despite a slow start to the season. He has netted 11 times in all competitions and recorded an xG of 3.40 across his last five appearances.

Prediction

Manchester United have struggled in the Premier League but have recently found momentum, securing a 2-0 victory over FCSB in the Europa League. While their domestic form has been inconsistent, they have won five of their last six matches in all competitions.

Crystal Palace, on the other hand, suffered a setback in their previous outing, losing 2-1 to Brentford. With just two points separating them from United, this fixture is expected to be closely contested. However, given United’s recent performances, they may have the upper hand at Old Trafford.

Predicted Score: Manchester United 3-1 Crystal Palace

Where to Watch Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Live?