Manchester United play host to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s troop try to get back to winning ways.
The Red Devils were thwarted in their efforts to keep their perfect start to the season going against Wolves on Monday as they were pegged back and forced to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson’s side have only one point to their credit and have yet to find the net. As such, they have a major challenge on their hands.
| Game | Manchester United vs Crystal Palace |
| Date | Saturday , August 24 |
| Time | 3:00pm BST / 10:00am ET |
| Stream (US) | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch
For UK readers, get your fix on the latest football on TV here! US readers can find out what soccer is on TV here!
In the United States (US), the game can be watched live and on-demand with fuboTV (7-day free trial) .
New users can sign up for a free seven-day trial of the live sports streaming service, which can be accessed via iOS, Android, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and Apple TV as well as on a web browser.
| US TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| NBCSN | fubo TV (7-day free trial) |
In the UK, the match will not be available to watch on television or via a stream.
| UK TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| N/A | N/A |
Squads & Team News
| Position | Man United squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | De Gea, Grant, Romero, J.Pereira |
| Defenders | Wan-Bissaka, Bailly, Jones, Lindelof, Rojo, Smalling, Tuanzebe, Shaw, Young, Maguire |
| Midfielders | Pogba, Mata, Lingard, A. Pereira, Fred, Matic, McTominay, James, Gomes, Garner, Chong |
| Forwards | Rashford, Martial, Greenwood |
Manchester United starting XI: De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Pogba, McTominay; James, Lingard, Rashford; Martial
| Position | Crystal Palace squad |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Hennessey, Guaita, Henderson |
| Defenders | Ward, Van Aanholt, Tomkins, Dann, Sakho, Schlupp, Kelly, Riedewald, Cahill, Inniss |
| Midfielders | Milivojevic, Meyer, Kouyate, Townsend, McArthur, Camarasa, McCarthy |
| Forwards | Zaha, Benteke, Wickham, Ayew |
Crystal Palace starting XI: Guaita; Ward, Kelly, Cahill, Van Aanholt; Kouyate, McArthur, Milivojevic; Schlupp, Zaha, Ayew.
Betting & Match Odds
Manchester United are hot 1/3 favourites at bet365 . Crystal Palace are offered at 8/1 while a draw is on offer at 17/4.
Match Preview
Getty
Manchester United will hope to reprise the exciting attacking football they produced against Chelsea on the opening weekend of the season when they host Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side dismantled the Blues 4-0 at home before struggling to a 1-1 draw against Wolves on Monday, rather running out of steam in the second half of that encounter.
While the signs are that the rot that had set in towards the end of last term has been stopped, it is in matches such as Saturday’s that United are demanded to prove this, despite fielding the youngest team of the 2019-20 Premier League season to date at Molineux.
Reflecting upon the positive start to the season, the Norwegian said: “Pre-season was very encouraging for us. The team spirit is great, we've got loads of energy and passion. Everyone's fit and when you're physically fit it's easier to be mentally strong as well.”
Nevertheless, he expects a difficult challenge at the weekend.
“Every single Premier League game gives you a different challenge and, of course, Crystal Palace are a very well organised team,” he warned. “They've got pace up front for counter-attacks and they're strong on set-pieces, so we know we have to do all parts of the game well.
“We have to attack well, we have to win the ball back quickly and we've got to be strong on set-plays.”
Roy Hodgson, the Palace boss, is naturally wary of the trip but wants his team to see it as a challenge.
“Old Trafford has always been a very daunting place to go if you need a result. They are a top team and a very top club,” he said. “I think like all clubs, when you go to Old Trafford it's an opportunity. It's a great occasion because that's a place every footballer wants to play.
“We played them last season in Ole's second or third game. They were really very good. He'd just taken over and the team was in fine form. They were really flying, playing like they are at the moment. There was a tail-off towards the end of the season where they dropped a few points but I wasn't involved against them then. When I faced them, they were as quick to the ball, aggressive and sharp in their play as I've seen them in the last two games.”
Hodgson’s men were well beaten 3-1 at Selhurst Park on that occasion, so are well versed for what might be in store.
Although Palace earned a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford last season, United are undefeated in 22 against their weekend rivals, with 18 wins during that sequence. It would, therefore, represent a major upset if the Red Devils were to stumble in this clash.
