Top-four chasing Manchester United host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Victory or at least one point would see Man Utd go third for a few hours with Newcastle not in action until Saturday teatime.
Palace meanwhile can stay 12th with a win.
Team News
Marcel Sabitzer is set to make his debut for Man Utd after signing on loan from Bayern Munich on Deadline Day.
Scott McTominay (knock) is a doubt but goalkeeper, Jack Butland is ineligible to face Palace due to the terms of his loan from the Eagles to Utd.
Diogo Dalot (hamstring), Christian Eriksen (ankle), Donny van de Beek (knee) and Mason Greenwood (personal) remain absent.
Palace could be without Wilfried Zaha after the forward suffered a hamstring injury in their goalless draw against Newcastle a fortnight ago.
New signings, Naouirou Ahamada and Albert Sambi Lokonga could make their debuts after joining on respective permanent transfer and loan from Stuttgart and Arsenal.
Joachim Andersen(calf), James McArthur (groin) and Nathan Ferguson (foot) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday 4 February in a 3pm GMT kick-off, untelevised for Uk-based audiences.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd have won just one of their last five meetings against Crystal Palace (W1, D2, L2).
- Palace are unbeaten in three of their last four visits to Old Trafford (W2, D1, L1).
- Each of Man Utd’s last three goals at home against Palace have been scored by a midfielder – Daniel James, Donny van de Beek and Fred.
- Seven of Marcus Rashford’s nine league goals for Utd this season has been scored on his right foot.
- Palace’s Wilfried Zaha has converted six of his 17 shots on target into goals this season.
Prediction
Despite enduring a non-stop schedule of weekend and midweek fixtures since the festive fixtures began, Utd have done incredibly well over the past month-and-a-half which was evident by how they dominated Nottingham Forest in midweek with little trouble.
If there is one concern however, it is that Utd now have failed to score in the first half of their last two matches yet they have done the business after half-time, which perhaps suggests that their game management tactics are paying off to minimise impact of fatigue.
Palace meanwhile dug deep defensively to frustrate Newcastle a fortnight ago which I expect will be the same here against Utd, although Patrick Vieira’s Eagles will need to be more clinical when get on the attack than they were last time out if want a result.
Utd though are in blistering form and I just can’t see them dropping points here despite Palace’s recent strong away form in this fixture, but it should be fairly tight if Vieira’s Eagles can display more defensive robustiness and excellent goalkeeping.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-0 Crystal Palace
Result: Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace
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