Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
We’re only a couple of games into the Premier League but both Crystal Palace and Manchester United have both felt the sting of disappointment. It certainly didn’t start that way for the home team, as United’s Premier League aspirations got off to an absolutely blistering start with a 4-0 win over Chelsea. It was a game which included an astonishing performance by Marcus Rashford. Unfortunately, they couldn’t follow up on this momentum, being held to a 1-1 draw by Wolves following a missed penalty.
Similar frustrations were felt by Crystal Palace, who were only denied victory over Everton due to the superhuman efforts of Jordan Pickford. There could be no excuses in their follow up, however. They looked utterly toothless in their miserable 1-0 loss to Sheffield United: a team many have picked for likely relegation victims. Both will see this as an opportunity to set the course of their season straight.
Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Prediction: Man United 2-0 Palace
Differences in perception can cloud people’s judgement when it comes to predictions. For instance, were Palace to have had the performances and results of United so far, fans would be overjoyed. The bar of expectations is so different for these two sides that, although neither have had the results they want, their performances remain on a very different level. Because of that, United are still very likely to win this one, regardless of their last outing. Not only that but if Palace’s performance against Sheffield is anything to go by, it could be a very one-sided result. With that in mind, we’re predicting a dominant 2-0 win for United.
Our recommended tip: Man United win to nil
One of the things that makes Manchester United so dangerous is that they don’t seem to take any game lightly, which is a pitfall many great teams suffer from. Considering that – and the added desire to regain their momentum – we think that this game will be a very difficult one for Palace. When United get into that groove, they are nearly unstoppable, bombarding teams with such a flurry of offence that a counter seems unlikely. If you think similarly and are expecting Manchester United to win to nil, you can get low-risk 6/5 odds from BetVictor.
Previous matches
Mancheser United and Crystal Palace have had 55 matches in their history, with Palace having won just seven of them. Their fans are likely hoping that is more of a reflection of the past than of the present. Their first game was back in 1922, after all. Unfortunately for them though, United look even more dominant in this fixture as we move further towards the present day. They’ve got 13 games against Palace without losing and they won 11 of those encounters. Palace’s main source of hope is probably a goalless draw in late 2018, which actually sums up a lot of what you need to know.
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Players to watch: Marcus Rashford & Wilfried Zaha
Although he failed to make a difference in their drab 1-1 draw against Wolves, we still think Marcus Rashford’s astonishing performance against Chelsea makes him the top contender for player to watch here. Obviously, his abilities are well-known, but netting two against one of the Premier League’s top teams – and providing a beautiful assist leading to a third – was a vital early-season reminder of his skills. If he is capable of tearing through Chelsea’s defences, Crystal Palace have every reason to be worried.
The match against Sheffield United was an interesting one for Wilfried Zaha, because so many assumed that his skills would be enough to break through their opponent’s defences. Sadly though, nothing he did worked on the day. Nonetheless, he remained their most dangerous player and their best chance of victory. What will be interesting to see here is if he changes up his strategy after it failed last time around, and what impact that has on the game.
