Manchester United is aiming for their third straight victory in all competitions as they head to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in a Premier League match this Saturday evening. This game is particularly important for United, as they want to make up for their heavy 4-0 loss at this venue at the end of last season.
Crystal Palace, in contrast, is struggling early in the Premier League season. Under Oliver Glasner, the Eagles have yet to win, earning just two points from their first four matches, both from draws against Chelsea and Leicester City. They find themselves among six teams still seeking their first victory.
After losing their first two matches against Brentford and West Ham United, Palace managed to secure a point with a 1-1 draw against Chelsea just before the international break. They continued this trend in their next game, coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Leicester City, thanks to two second-half goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta, including a last-minute penalty.
Recently, Palace’s morale has improved due to their EFL Cup progress. They achieved a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday, with goals from new signing Eddie Nketiah and former QPR player Eberechi Eze. This followed a convincing 4-0 victory against Norwich City in the second round of the EFL Cup. Now, they hope to translate this cup success into league performance against a Manchester United team that outperformed them last season, winning 5-0 on aggregate.
Manchester United’s start to the 2024-25 season has been rocky, with consecutive Premier League losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool putting manager Erik ten Hag under pressure. However, they seem to have turned things around, now riding a wave of confidence after two impressive victories with an aggregate score of 10-0. Last weekend, they triumphed 3-0 over Southampton, followed by a dominant 7-0 win against Barnsley in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
Key players in United’s resurgence include Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, who both scored three goals across the two matches, with Garnacho netting twice against Barnsley. Christian Eriksen contributed two goals as well, while Antony also found the net, helping the team advance to the fourth round of the EFL Cup.
Despite these commanding wins, Manchester United fans are remaining cautious. While victories over a League One side and a newly-promoted Premier League team are encouraging, they mainly provide a much-needed morale boost for Ten Hag’s squad. With a packed schedule ahead—five matches in 16 days across both the Premier League and Europa League—these wins come at a crucial juncture.
Heading into the weekend, United is positioned 10th in the Premier League, needing to improve their away form, particularly in London. They have only won two of their last 16 Premier League matches in the capital, which is stark compared to the 10 losses they have suffered in London since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, equal to the losses in 118 matches during his 26-year tenure.
As both teams prepare for this eagerly awaited match, Manchester United will seek to maintain their momentum, while Crystal Palace aims to convert their cup success into valuable league points.
