Crystal Palace is set to welcome Manchester United to Selhurst Park on Wednesday night, as they are looking to pull off a league double over the 20-time champions for the first time ever.
Red Devils (Manchester United) played out their fifth goalless league draw of the season last time out as neither Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side nor Chelsea could find the breakthrough at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. The reverse fixture also ended in a goalless draw.
Manchester United five goalless draw have come against members of the top six- Chelsea (2), Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
With 12 points now separating them from leaders Manchester City, it could be argued that Man United’s record in those games is the biggest reason why their title challenge now appears to be all but over.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side remain second as a result, with a six-point cushion over fifth place, and they head into Wednesday’s contest unbeaten in nine games across all competitions and with only one defeat in their last 20 Premier League outings.
Three of United’s last four matches have ended as draws and the importance of returning to winning ways in midweek is only heightened by the looming Manchester Derby awaiting them on Sunday.
Red Devils are heading into season defining fixtures, with their next five games after this seeing them take on Man City, AC Milan in both legs of their Europa League last 16, fellow top-four dwellers West Ham United in Premier League and high-flying Leicester City in FA Cup.
Meanwhile, the 20-time champions have never lost in 11 previous Premier League away games against Crystal Palace (The Eagles) – the longest run of its kind ever seen in the competition.
United lost the reverse fixture 3-1, Wilfred’s Zaha’s brace and Jordan Ayew buried the Red Devils at Old Trafford and a goal from Donny Van De Beek couldn’t even save them.
Meanwhile, Palace registered just 33 shots from five Premier League games in February – the lowest number by a team in a single Premier League month with at least five games since records began – including managing just six shots and facing 41 at the other end in their last two outings.
Nonetheless, Roy Hodgson’s side have taken four points from those two games, somehow beating rivals Brighton & Hove Albion2-1, while having just two touches in the opposition box, before holding out for a goalless draw with Fulham on Sunday.
Good results have seen The Eagles move 10 points above the relegation zone.
Team News
Manchester United’s Edison Cavani was once again absent with a muscle problem, but the veteran striker has now returned to training and is expected to be in contention for this game.
Wednesday clash will come too soon for Paul Pogba and Juan Mata.
Zaha‘s probable absence is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Palace’s injury troubles too, with the Eagles missing seven other first-team players for this match.
Tyrick Mitchell is the latest to join that list, which also includes Nathaniel Clyne, Mamadou Sakho, Wayne Hennessey and James Tomkins.
James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson have now entered the final stages of their recoveries, but this match will come too soon for either to feature.
