• Competition: England - Premier League
• Date: Sunday, 21st, September 2024
• Kickoff: 17:30 UK / 18.30 CEST
• Venue: Selhurst Park (London)

Crystal Palace will be searching for their first win of the season as they host Manchester United at Selhurst Park on matchday five of the English Premier League this Saturday.

After enjoing a remerkable end to last season with five wins from their final six games to secure a 10th-place finish, their best result in an 11-year Premier League stay, the Eagles have struggled to pick up where they left off in the previous campaign. Despite starting the season with defeats to Brentford and West Ham, Oliver Glasner's side regained a bit of rhythm by earning a 1-1 draw against Chelsea on the road and then staged a comeback from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw against Leicester in their last outing, with Mateta netting twice.

Their next opponent in search of that elusive first win will be Manchester United, a side still struggling to recapture the championship spirit from Ferguson’s golden era, despite being highly active in almost every transfer window, whether it’s winter or summer. This summer, the Red Devils spent an enormous 200+ million euros, yet the results are still falling short of expectations, as Erik ten Hag’s squad managed to grind out wins in only half of their opening four Premier League matches, with two losses along the way.

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United Betting Tips: 1X (DOUBLE CHANCE)

It can safely be said that Erik ten Hag saved his job after orchestrating back-to-back wins with an aggregate score of 10-0 against Southampton in the Premier League and 3rd-tier side Barnsley in the EFL Cup, but the clash with the South Londoners will be a much tougher test and could pile additional pressure on the Dutchman. Recent trips to Selhurst Park have been tough for Man Utd in every way, as they have failed to win in four straight encounters there and have drawn a blank in three of those matches, with their most recent visit being notably unfavorable, as the Eagles them delivered a four-goal humiliation earlier this May. 

Despite failing to win any of their first four Premier League assignments, Crystal Palace approach the Red Devils in good spirits, having gone unbeaten in four straight matches in any format, and they lifted morale midweek with a 2-1 victory over QPR that secured their progression in the EFL Cup. Despite being ruthless in front of goal in their last two matches, Man Utd still doesn’t exude the confidence needed to trust them, especially on the road, where they’ve delivered inconsistent performances with just two wins from their last eight EPL outings. Ultimately, we are convinced that Glasner’s team possesses the necessary tools to bring Erik ten Hag’s volatile squad back down to earth and make it a fifth straight match without a loss.