Match preview: Crystal Palace vs Manchester United

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United

A revitalized Manchester United visit Selhurst Park, as their quest for a European spot continues after a 2 week break. While most of the Premiere League top guns fought in the cold and rain to survive in the prestigious FA Cup tournament, knocked out Champions visited Dubai to get some warm weather training, to cheer up a rather tense United dressing room these days.

United also announced a new 5-and-a-half-year deal for their 28 year old star performer Wayne Rooney yesterday, who will be earning a £300k-a-week deal until June 2019. As a part of the deal, Rooney will also become a club ambassador for United when he retires from the game. This news indeed comes as a great boost for United fans, who have been massively worried about United’s fading aura when it comes to attracting top talents across Europe.

Manchester United who were just 3 points off the Champions League spot by the start of the new year, now find themselves sitting 7th in the Premiere League table with 11 points off the season target, and it surely looks way gloomy for the Champions who now rely on their competitors to slip up big time. United have had an inconsistent and average start to the 2nd half of the season, although with their January signing Juan Mata, the team hopes for a revival from their horrendous season so far.

Tonight, United visit an resurged Crystal Palace side sitting 15th in the Premiere League table, who won five of their seven home matches and lost just once at the Selhurst Park, since new boss Tony Pulis took over The Eagles. Palace currently enjoy a better record than United in their last six Premier League outings than United, winning three and losing just twice, with all their victories coming at Selhurst Park. To be honest United have secured fewer points than Palace despite playing one more match in 2014.

Manchester United come into tonight’s game with a desperation to get back into the race for the European spot, while Palace play to survive in the Premiere League, who have just a two point cushion above the bottom three. Previous meeting was at Old Trafford in September, Manchester United won 2 – 0 over Crystal Palace after a controversial penalty and sending-off for Kagisho Dikgacoi after a foul on Ashley Young.

Crystal Palace:

Form: WLWWLD.

Available players: Speroni, Dann, Delaney, Ward, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Puncheon, Bolasie, Chamakh, Hennessey, Gabbidon, Moxey, Mariappa, McCarthy, Parr, Murray, Thomas, O’Keefe, Bannan, Williams, Gayle, Jerome, Wilbraham.

Doubtful: Crystal Palace’s only injury doubt for the visit of Manchester United is Jerome Thomas, who has a back problem. Striker Glenn Murray is again expected to be on the bench as he builds up his fitness after a long-term knee injury.

Discipline: Yellow cards 31, Red cards 2.

Leading scorer: Chamakh (5).

Manchester United:

Form: DDLWLW.

Available players: De Gea, Vidic, Smalling, Evra, Rafael, Carrick, Fletcher, Januzaj, Mata, Rooney, Van Persie, Lindegaard, Giggs, Hernandez, Buttner, Fellaini, Ferdinand, Welbeck, Valencia, Kagawa, Cleverley, Jones, Evans.

Doubtful: Fellaini (groin), Jones (calf), Evans (calf). Marouane Fellaini could start for the first time since early December, Phil Jones may return after a calf injury but Jonny Evans is a doubt.

Injured: Nani (hamstring).

Discipline: Yellow cards 48, Red cards 2.

Leading scorer: Van Persie (10).