Assessing the strength of the MU vs Crystal Palace lineups: The Red Devils have the edge.
The match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace is a fascinating clash in the English Premier League.
Although MU has always been considered superior in terms of history and squad quality, Crystal Palace has often caused difficulties for the Red Devils.
In their last five meetings, the two teams have had fairly balanced records, with each side winning two matches and drawing one. Notably, Crystal Palace thrashed MU 4-0 in the second leg of last season, showing they are no longer an easy opponent. However, MU has also had convincing victories against Palace, such as the 3-0 win in September 2023, highlighting the unpredictability of this matchup.
In terms of squad strength, MU still has the edge with many stars in their lineup, especially names like Bruno Fernandes and Hojlund, who are in high form and have played important roles in recent matches. Under coach Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils are gradually improving their playing style and achieving more stability after a not-so-impressive start to the season. However, MU's defense remains a problem, as they once conceded 3 goals to Brighton, which could be a weakness that Crystal Palace can exploit.
On Crystal Palace's side, under the guidance of manager Oliver Glasner, they play a much more disciplined and pragmatic style. Although they don't possess many star players, Palace's counter-attacking style is incredibly effective, especially with speedy and creative players like Eberechi Eze and Mateta. In their last five matches, they have won three, including two away wins against West Ham and Leicester, showing they are not afraid of difficult away games. However, Palace's attack is still not truly explosive; they need a top-class striker to break through Manchester United's defense.
In terms of form, MU has an 80% win rate in their last 5 matches, with 3 consecutive wins against FCSB, Fulham, and Rangers, showing they are gradually regaining stability. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace is also not far behind with a 60% win rate, especially performing quite well away from home. This makes the upcoming match more unpredictable. Although MU has the home advantage, if their defense continues to make mistakes, Crystal Palace could easily punish them with sharp counter-attacks. Experts predict a very balanced match, with a high probability of a draw or a narrow victory for MU.
