“To be honest, I don’t want to play against him because I know how aggressive he was against Southampton… He’s every attackers’ nightmare”: Crystal Palace best player reveals ONE Man United player he won’t like to play against.
Manchester United will be aiming for their third consecutive win across all competitions as they visit Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace in a Premier League clash this Saturday evening. This fixture holds added significance for United, as they look to redeem themselves after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat at the same venue towards the end of last season.
On the other hand, Crystal Palace has had a difficult start to the Premier League season under their new manager, Oliver Glasner. The Eagles are yet to secure a win, with only two points from their first four games, which came from draws against Chelsea and Leicester City. They are among six teams still searching for their first victory of the season.
After back-to-back losses to Brentford and West Ham United, Palace managed to salvage a point with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea before the international break. They followed this up with another draw, coming from behind to secure a 2-2 result against Leicester City, thanks to two second-half goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta, including a late penalty.
Palace’s spirits have been lifted by their recent progress in the EFL Cup. They defeated Queens Park Rangers 2-1 on Tuesday, with new signing Eddie Nketiah and former QPR player Eberechi Eze both finding the back of the net. This came after a commanding 4-0 win over Norwich City in the second round of the competition. Now, Palace hopes to carry this cup success into their league campaign, as they prepare to face a Manchester United side that beat them 5-0 on aggregate last season.
Manchester United, meanwhile, has had a mixed start to their 2024-25 season, with back-to-back Premier League defeats to Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool increasing the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag. However, they appear to have regained form, coming off two consecutive victories with an impressive 10-0 aggregate scoreline. They secured a 3-0 win over Southampton last weekend, followed by a 7-0 demolition of Barnsley in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Key figures in United’s resurgence include Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, both of whom scored three goals over the two matches, with Garnacho netting twice against Barnsley. Christian Eriksen added two goals, while Antony also got on the scoresheet, helping the team advance to the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
Despite these positive results, Manchester United supporters remain cautious. Wins against a League One side and a newly-promoted Premier League team have provided a welcome confidence boost, but there are tougher tests ahead. With five matches in 16 days across both the Premier League and Europa League, these victories come at a crucial time for Ten Hag’s side.
As United prepares for this weekend’s game, they sit in 10th place in the Premier League and need to improve their away form, particularly in London. They have managed just two wins in their last 16 Premier League matches in the capital, a stark contrast to the 10 defeats they’ve suffered in London since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement, which matches the number of losses they experienced in 118 matches during his 26-year reign.
Heading into this much-anticipated encounter, Manchester United will look to maintain their momentum, while Crystal Palace will aim to turn their recent cup success into crucial league points.
