Manchester United will look to seal their place in the top six when they travel to East London on Sunday to face Crystal Palace.
Venue: Selhurst Park (London)
Key Statistics
Crystal Palace are unbeaten in their last seven home games (four wins and three draws).
Only three other sides have conceded fewer PL home goals than Palace’s 17.
The hosts have recorded more PL home draws (eight) than any other side this season.
Manchester United have lost their last five away games.
They have failed to score in three of their last five away games, scoring just two times in that period.
The visitors have not kept a clean sheet in their last 11 away games.
Only Newcastle (nine) have conceded more PL away goals this season than United’s eight between the 81st – 90th minute.
Head to head
Manchester United hold the superior advantage in this fixture, winning 18 times in 25 PL meetings and losing just two times.
Latest performances in all competitions
Crystal Palace: L-D-W-W-D
Manchester United: L-W-D-L-L
Crystal Palace
Despite a crushing 3-2 defeat to Everton last time out, Crystal Palace can still hold their heads high up for the remarkable season they have had.
The Eagles, by their recent standard, are enjoying a good season having taken 45 points from their opening 37 games (W10, D15, L12). They can still obtain their best PL finish since 2014/15 (10th) by winning on this final matchday.
However, despite their superior goal difference, they will still need results to fall in their favour from those directly above them if they are to complete their aim for a top-half finish.
There have cause to be optimistic and confident about getting a win, as they are unbeaten in their last seven home games (W4, D3). Meanwhile, only three other sides have conceded fewer PL home goals than Palace’s 17.
Possible Crystal Palace starting line-up
Jack Butland; Nathaniel Clyne, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell; Jeffrey Schlupp, Luka Milivojevic, Eberechi Eze; Jean-Philippe Matet, Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha.
Injured: James Tomkins, Michael Olise, Nathan Ferguson, James McArthur
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Manchester United
Manchester United’s miserable season will end this Sunday, but the Red Devils will at least hope to finish it inside the top six.
The visitors whose current 58-point PL tally guarantees that they will end the campaign on a record-low points haul, come into this tie sitting in sixth place after an embarrassing 4-0 loss to Brighton last time. They are two points ahead of seventh-placed West Ham in the race for the top six and will be unable to better their current sixth-place whatever happens.
But an inferior goal difference means that a failure to win here, coupled with a West Ham victory, would see them drop out of a UEFA Europa League position and into seventh.
Given that they have won just one of their last five games in the league, there will be little optimism among even the most passionate Old Trafford fans that their side can get maximum points in this tie.
However, with incoming manager Erik Ten Hag expected to be in attendance, this might be an opportunity for players to impress the incoming boss. But after losing five straight away games, the UEFA Europa Conference League may be beckoning for a defence that’s conceded more PL goals (56) than any other United side in a single campaign.
Possible Manchester United starting line-up
David de Gea; Diogo Dalot, Victor Lindelof, Rafael Varane, Alex Telles; Scott McTominay, Nemanja Matić, Bruno Fernandes; Jadon Sancho, Anthony Elanga, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Injured: Luke Shaw, Paul Pogba
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Prediction
Crystal Palace 2-2 Manchester United
