How will Manchester United line up against Crystal Palace?

Marouane Fellaini could make his Manchester United debut this weekend

Two long weeks without club football is virtually a punishment for every football fan. Well, now you can set those worries aside. This weekend, Manchester United travel to Selhurst Park to face newly-promoted Crystal palace. Let’s take a look at the possible line-up David Moyes can field for Manchester United.

Some players are back after travelling halfway around the world to play internationals. So Moyes may look to rest certain players to keep them injury-free for next week’s Manchester Derby. However, he cannot take this game lightly. Having secured just 4 points in three games he must win the match resoundingly to send a strong message to his rivals.

This is the first match after the transfer window, where David Moyes has managed to sign just one player – Maraoune Fellaini. So this signing is not going to affect the starting line-up in a big way.

Starting from the back, David de Gea is sure to start the match in front of the goal and Anders Lindegaard will make the bench.

Patrice Evra will start at left-back. Rafael da Silva is back from injury and he could start at right back for the first time this season. The central defensive pairing is unlikely to be changed. However, keeping the derby in mind Moyes could rest Ferdinand and play Smalling, who is yet to play a match this season. Smalling alongside Vidic is a partnership that has not been tried many times by Sir Alex Ferguson. So Moyes could experiment with that. Both of them are physically tough defenders who are strong in the air and offer a chance at goal in attacking set-pieces.

The midfield is where Moyes must play his money. New signing Maraoune Fellaini is sure to start for United as the defensive midfielder. Michael Carrick has not played during the international break because of an injury. So Moyes can rest Carrick for this match, which would prevent the risk of Carrick going back to the bed ahead of an important Manchester derby.Cleverly is back from the international duty but it would be better if he was rested and replaced by Anderson. Anderson alongside Fellaini would provide stability to the defense as well as increase the flair in the attack.

Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1- formation

Coming to the wings, it’s hard to predict who will start. Danny Welbeck, Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young have just returned from the international break. Antonio Valencia should be rested after travelling long distances. Having played an important part for England, Danny Welbeck should make the bench. Ashley Young did little to impress last week against Liverpool and Moyes must consider dropping him for this match.

Nani too has returned from the internationals but having not played a big part in it, should start on the left wing. Moyes can experiment with Zaha on the right and hand him a Premier League debut against his old club. Adnan Janujaz should make the bench and possibly make a 10-minute cameo in the end.

With Wayne Rooney still not fully recovered from his head injury and Javier Hernandez having travelled halfway around the world to play international matches, both of them would make the bench. Robin van Persie is fresh after scoring two goals for Netherlands and he is assured of a starting spot. In the hole, David Moyes can hand Shinji Kagawa his first appearance this season. There was some speculation that Kagawa ratted out at David Moyes after his country’s match. But his comments have been misunderstood by many.

With van Persie on song, Kagawa back in the team and a new midfield enforcer in Fellaini, Manchester United should get a comfortable win against Crystal Palace.

Starting XI – 4-2-3-1 – David de Gea ; Rafael Da Silva, Chris Smalling, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra; Maraoune Fellaini, Anderson; Wilfried Zaha, Shinji Kagawa, Luis Nani; Robin Van Persie

Subs- Anders Lindegaard, Rio Ferdinand, Fabio da Silva, Danny Welbeck, Adnan Janujaz, Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez