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2/21/2014

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Match Preview, Stats, Probable Lineups and Predictions



Crystal Palace FC                   vs                    Manchester United FC                                                            
  
Crystal Palace will have to overturn 23 years of history to record victory over Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday.


The Selhurst Park outfit have not beaten United in the league since 1991, losing nine and drawing two of the 11 fixtures to take place during that period.

Eric Cantona's  kung-fu kick on a Palace supporter in 1995 came more recently than the last Palace triumph in this fixture, with United picking up a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford earlier in the season.

But Palace boss Tony Pulis, who himself has never picked up a win over United in the Premier League as a manager, may view this as the ideal opportunity to play the reigning champions.

Pulis' charges have won three of their last four games in the Premier League - a run that has seen them climb to 15th in the table - but with just two points separating Palace from the relegation zone, an unexpected three points would be more then welcome.



United drew 0-0 at Arsenal last time out and face a UEFA Champions League last-16 clash against Olympiacos three days after this Saturday's encounter, but Pulis fully expects David Moyes to have his side at full strength at the weekend.

"He's a winner," he said. "He wants to win football matches, so he'll pick a team to win at Crystal Palace."

Recent form

Crystal Palace: LWLWLW

Man Utd: LDWLDD

Match Facts

Crystal Palace have scored the highest proportion of goals from set-piece situations this season in the Barclays Premier League (44%).

Manchester Unted have won nine and lost none of their last 11 league meetings with Crystal Palace.
No Crystal Palace player has assisted more than one goal in the Premier League this season.

David Moyes has not named the same starting XI in any two competitive games this season, with this being his 40th match in charge of the Red Devils.

Manchester United are yet to lose a Premier League game that they have been leading in this season (W12 D3) – one of only three sides to manage this (alongside Swansea and Spurs).

However, no team has lost as many points from goals conceded in the final 10 minutes of Premier League games this season than Man Utd (7).

Palace have recouped just one point from a losing position in the Premier League this season; a joint league low.

Since Tony Pulis took charge of his first Palace game in the Premier League on November 30th 2013; the Eagles have won just two points fewer (19) than Manchester United (21), but have played one game less.

Only bottom side Fulham (18) have lost more Premier League games than Crystal Palace (15) this season.

Wayne Rooney has gone five successive Premier League appearances without scoring or assisting a goal for Man Utd – his longest-such run since December 2011(seven games).

Injury Update: Palace could be without Jerome Thomas, who has picked up a back problem, while Glenn Murray could be in line for a first start since returning from injury.Marouane Fellaini, meanwhile, could feature for United for the first time since December 4, while Jonny Evans (calf) remains doubtful.

Last meeting: Victory over Palace in September at Old Trafford gave David Moyes his first home win as Reds boss, with a penalty from Robin van Persie and a late free-kick from Wayne Rooney condemning the south London side, then managed by Ian Holloway, to a 2-0 defeat.

Sub-plot: The Reds have played in London four times this season, but after beating Fulham in November the last three visits have resulted in two draws and a defeat. However, Selhurst Park is a fairly happy hunting ground for United, leaving unbeaten in all but eight of 30 trips to the south London stadium, including when Wimbledon shared the ground in the 1990s.

Referee: This will be the fourth time Michael Oliver has officiated a United match this season. The Northumberland-based referee was in charge for the defeat to West Brom and the wins over Arsenal and Hull, but during the latter he sent off Antonio Valencia towards the end of the Boxing Day encounter at the KC Stadiu

Probable starting lineups

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Ledley, Puncheon, Dikgacoi, Jedinak, Bolasie, Ince, Chamakh

Man Utd: De Gea, Smalling, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra, Valencia, Jones, Carrick, Mata, Rooney, Van Persie

Manchester United Live predict 2-0 win for Man Utd

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