The Football Faithful
·21. September 2024
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Yahoo sportsThe Football Faithful
·21. September 2024
Manchester United look to continue the momentum of back-to-back wins when Erik ten Hag’s team travel to face Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.
After the disappointment of a heavy defeat to Liverpool before the international break, the Red Devils have regrouped impressively with comprehensive wins over Southampton and Barnsley.
In midweek, United eased into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 7-0 thrashing of third-tier Barnsley at Old Trafford, with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Christian Eriksen all on target twice.
Inconsistencies remain for Ten Hag and his team, who will be aiming to avenge last season’s defeats to Crystal Palace. United lost both Premier League games against the Eagles in 2023/24, including a harrowing 4-0 loss on their last visit to Selhurst Park.
Palace are without a win in four league games this season but also secured cup progress in midweek, with Eberechi Eze the star of a 2-1 win over former side Queens Park Rangers.
Erik ten Hag is edging closer to a full complement of options at Manchester United. Rasmus Hojlund, Mason Mount and Tyrell Malacia all returning to training in some capacity this week.
Hojlund has been absent since picking up a hamstring issue in pre-season and the return of last season’s leading scorer will be a further boost to the Red Devils, who have found their goalscoring groove of late with 10 goals in two games.
The Denmark international scored 16 goals in all competitions last season and can ease the burden on summer signing Joshua Zirkzee, as he settles into life in the Premier League.
Malacia’s return is also welcome after a long absence. The Dutch international missed the entirety of the 2023/24 campaign through injury but has returned to training this week. United have been without a recognised left-back during the season’s opening weeks with Luke Shaw also sidelined. Diogo Dalot has deputised in their absence.
Marcus Rashford has scored three times in his last two appearances and could resume the centre-forward role he occupied against Barnsley. Ten Hag has been delighted with his start after a disappointing campaign last term.
“Every player in the Premier League, in this club, knows you need resilience,” Ten Hag said at his pre-match press conference.
“Not any football career has only ups, it also has downs. You have to deal with that. Rashford is experienced, he knows this.
“He knows when there are setbacks, how to fight back and set his career and performance. He took control of that, he’s on the way back. He started the season very well, now he has to continue and progress.
“It’s very good when your strikers start to score early in the season, they need that belief. Now we have a couple of players who have been scoring and it’s good for the team.”
Predicted Manchester United XI (4-3-3): Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo, Fernandes; Amad, Garnacho, Rashford.
Manchester United travel to face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday 21st September 2024. Kick-off in the capital is 17:30 BST.
In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on TV on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Ultra HDR. Other rights holders can be found here.