Wilfried Zaha and Victor Lindelof compete for the ball during United's Premier League game with Crystal Palace in November 2018.

United v Crystal Palace: Your essential guide

Wednesday 21 August 2019 20:30

After picking up a point on the road, Manchester United return to Old Trafford to face Crystal Palace in our second home match of the Premier League season.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Reds are one of nine teams to be unbeaten after the first two games and will be aiming to continue this run against a Crystal Palace side still searching for their first win of the campaign.

Here's everything you need to know ahead of Saturday's match...

United v Crystal Palace: Key match details
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Saturday 24 August | Premier League | Old Trafford | 15:00 BST | Live build-up on MUTV from 13:30 BST | Referee: Paul Tierney

HOW CAN I FOLLOW THE GAME?

MUTV subscribers will be able to watch live dedicated build-up to the game in the Match Day show, followed by live radio commentary. You can also follow our coverage on ManUtd.com and the Official App, where you can track live data and player statistics in the Match Centre

WHICH TV CHANNEL IS IT ON IN THE UK?

This game has not been selected for live broadcast by UK television but, as always, you can watch it in full on MUTV from the following day.

WHAT’S THE LATEST TEAM NEWS?

Eric Bailly continues to be sidelined for United, as the Ivorian recovers from a long-term knee injury sustained during pre-season. The only other doubt for the Reds is Alexis Sanchez, who is building up his fitness after a busy summer of international commitments with Chile. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will provide an update on the squad in his pre-match press conference, which will be screened on MUTV on Friday.

As for the visitors, James Tomkins and Mamadou Sakho remain on the treatment table with injuries picked up in the previous campaign. Tomkins hasn't featured for the Eagles since undergoing surgery on his groin in April, while Sakho continues his recuperation after suffering a knee injury in February.

FORM GUIDE

The Reds are unbeaten following our opening two fixtures and sit in fourth place in the Premier League table. Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Daniel James scored in an emphatic 4-0 victory against Frank Lampard's Chelsea at Old Trafford, while Martial was on the scoresheet again in our 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Palace began the new term with a goalless draw against 10-man Everton at Selhurst Park, before losing 1-0 to newly-promoted Sheffield United at Bramall Lane last week. These two results mean that Hodgson's side lie 14th ahead of the third round of fixtures.

Manager watch
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Now in his 43rd season in management, Roy Hodgson guided Crystal Palace to their highest Premier League points tally since returning to the top flight in 2013 last season.

HOW DID THEY GET ON LAST SEASON?

Crystal Palace were better on the road last season than at Selhurst Park. The Eagles picked up just 20 points at home in 2018/19 - the third-worst record in the division - but recorded 29 points on their travels. The south London outfit's highlight of the 2018/19 campaign was undoubtedly the 3-2 victory away to Manchester City in December, but Hodgson’s men also enjoyed superb away wins against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and Newcastle United at St James’ Park. Palace finished 12th in the table after gaining 49 points.

ANY NEW FACES?

While Palace lost Aaron Wan-Bissaka to United, our visitors have recruited in several areas over the summer. Striker Jordan Ayew signed permanently from Swansea City, following a loan spell at Selhurst Park last season, while former England international Gary Cahill joined on a free transfer from Chelsea. The Eagles also acquired former Everton midfielder James McCarthy.

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United and Crystal Palace played out a goalless draw in our last Old Trafford meeting, in November 2018.

WHAT'S OUR RECORD LIKE AGAINST PALACE?

United have played the London side 55 times over the years, with the first meeting between the clubs coming in 1922. The Reds have won 37 of the previous clashes, drawn 11 and lost just seven. We have tended to enjoy our encounters with the Eagles in the Premier League and are unbeaten in the 20 previous meetings, also winning nine of 10 matches to date at Old Trafford. The only home draw in that period came last season, when we were held to a frustrating 0-0 stalemate by Roy Hodgson's side.

WHO'S THE REFEREE?

Paul Tierney will be the man in the middle for Saturday's game. The 38-year-old from Wigan will take charge of his first game at Old Trafford since our victory against Brighton & Hove Albion last season. Tierney's assistants will be Eddie Smart and Adrian Holmes, while Mike Dean will serve as the fourth official. At Stockley Park, Craig Pawson will be the Video Assistant Referee..

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Romelu Lukaku and Ashley Young were on target in our last match against Crystal Palace in February.

RIVALS WATCH

Our game is one of four Premier League fixtures kicking off at 15:00 BST this weekend, with games spread across Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's the full list:

FRIDAY 23 AUGUST

Aston Villa v Everton (20:00 BST)

SATURDAY 24 AUGUST

Norwich City v Chelsea (12:30 BST)
Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton
Manchester United v Crystal Palace
Sheffield United v Leicester City
Watford v West Ham United
Liverpool v Arsenal (17:30 BST)

SUNDAY 25 AUGUST

AFC Bournemouth v Manchester City (14:00 BST)
Tottenham Hotspur v Newcastle United (16:30 BST)
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Burnley (16:30 BST)

*Games kick off at 15:00 BST unless stated.

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