In the final game of their season, the Red Devils will welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford. After it was clear that Manchester United has next to no chance of finishing in the top 4 of the English Premier League table, Mourinho decided that his team will consider the Europa League Trophy as a way of entering the Champions League next season. Crystal palace has had impressive wins against teams from the top 6, and with Mourinho fielding a weakened team in all likelihood, the Eagles will again fancy their chances to grab points.
MANCHESTER UNITED vs. CRYSTAL PALACE
3 Way: 1: MANCHESTER UNITED +179; X: +250 Draw 2: CRYSTAL PALACE +188
Spread 0: MANCHESTER UNITED -109; CRYSTAL PALACE +104
Total +2.5: Over +106; Under -110
MANCHESTER UNITED
This has been a very difficult season for the United fans. On one hand, there have been visible improvements in the team’s style of play compared to last few season in the post Ferguson era, but the Theatre Of Dreams has been Mocked as ‘Theatre of Draws’, after an astonishing nine draws with score being 1:1. Even more surprising is the fact that they have stayed in 6th position in the English Premier League for almost the entire season, even after going on a 25-game unbeaten run.
The Red Devils have earned 66 points in the English Premier League this season, with 31 of those coming at Old Trafford stadium. They are winless in their last 5 league games, with 3 draws and 2 defeats. Their last match was an away draw at Southampton, as both the team’s attackers drew a blank and it ended 0:0. This match was preceded by a visit to White Hart Lane, where they lost 2:1 to Tottenham Hotspurs.
United hasn’t really been very good at scoring goals, with their most frequent problem is unable to convert chances into goals, as they keep dominating possession but without any end product. They have scored 52 goals, with 24 of those coming in home matches. One area in which united have been quite good is their defense. They have conceded 29 goals only, with just 12 of them being at home. The Red Devils have managed to keep an impressive 16 clean sheets in the league.
Free signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic was the leading Manchester United’s top Four charge, until his unfortunate knee injury, which ruled him out for rest of the season. He has managed to shut up his critics and score 17 goals in the English Premier League, and also provide 5 assists. Teenage Striker Marcus Rashford has used his limited chances and scored 5 goals and provided one assist. Goalkeeper David De Gea has kept 14 clean sheets in the league, second only to two other keepers in the league.
Manchester United has a truly long list of players missing out through injury. Paul Pogba is given leave due to the unfortunate passing off his father. Zlatan, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw and Ashley Young are all out for the season with various serious injuries in their legs. Fosu Mensah, Juan Mata, Marouane Fellaini and summer signing Eric Bailley are all doubts for the match as their fitness levels have to be checked, and they will be kept out because of the Europa league Final in all possibilities.
CRYSTAL PALACE FC
After a horrible start to the season under Alan Pardew, the Eagles were looking as if they will be relegated. However, in December, the board took notice that a change was required and hired Sam Allardyce, who lost his England job right after 67 days. After his appointment, the performances of the team started to go in an upward curve, and as he has done before with other teams, he managed to ensure the English Premier League safety for Crystal Palace, doing it with some style, as he defeated the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal on the way.
Sitting in 13th position in the English Premier League, the Eagles have garnered 41 points, with 21 of them won in away games. Their current run of form has been mixed, with the record over the last 5 games being 2-0-3. Their last match was a thumping win against Hull City at home where they won 4:0. Before that match, they were thrashed away at Manchester City by 5:0.
Crystal Palace has a decent attack, that has been performing better since the turn of the year. They have managed to score 50 goals, with 26 of those coming in away matches. It is the defense that has been weak and conceding away goals and points. They have conceded 61 goals in the English Premier League, with 25 of those coming at their home Selhurst Park. During this campaign, they have managed to keep 7 clean sheets in the league.
Former Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke is leading the scoring charts for the Eagles. The big Belgian has scored 15 goals, as well as provided 2 assists in the league. Following him is Winger Wifried Zaha, who was said to have destroyed his potential during his time at Manchester United. This season, he has shown everyone why Sir Alex decided to make him his last signing. He has scored 7 goals and provided 9 assists, and for a winger in a bottom half team, those make up for good numbers.
The Eagles have quite a few injury worries. January loan signing Mamaodou Sakho, striker Connor wickham and Pape Souare are all out for the season. Youngster Jonathon Benteke, defender Scott Dann, along with midfielders Yohan Cabaye and Andros Townsend, are all major doubts for the match, as it is not yet confirmed whether they have fully recovered from injuries or not.
MANCHESTER UNITED vs. CRYSTAL PALACE – Match Prediction:
This match has the potential to be an exciting affair. With Mourinho confirming that he will give 16 year old wonderkid Angel Gomes some minutes for his English premier league debut, it could mean that Mourinho will field a quite weakened squad. This could mean that Crystal Palace will have an increased chance of getting something out of this match.
However, the Red Devils will be having home support, and they have some very good youngsters in their ranks, who have it in them to give Sam Allardyce’s men a tough match. Keeping these in mind, my prediction will be a scoring draw at Old Trafford in the last league game of the season.
MY PICK: DRAW (+250)
