Crystal Palace v Manchester United predictions: Red Devils can finish strongly

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Crystal Palace v Manchester United in the Premier League on Wednesday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 8.15pm Wednesday

Best bet

Manchester United to win the second half
2pts 8-11 general

Team news

Crystal Palace
Wilfried Zaha is a major doubt. Nathaniel Clyne, Mamadou Sakho, James Tomkins, Nathan Ferguson and James McArthur are all out. Jeffrey Schlupp and Connor Wickham may be ready for a return.

Manchester United
Paul Pogba is set to miss out again but striker Edinson Cavani is nearing his return. Juan Mata and Phil Jones remain sidelined.

Match preview

This has been an unhappy fixture for the home team in recent Premier League seasons and road warriors Manchester United should secure another away win at Selhurst Park.

None of the last six Premier League meetings between the teams has been won by the home side, with United registering three away wins and Palace two, and it would take a great leap of faith to suggest the injury-hit Eagles are capable of bucking that trend.

United extended their unbeaten Premier League road record to 20 games with Sunday’s goalless draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

The Red Devils have collected 29 points from a possible 39 on their travels and other than the rare blip at the Hawthorns, where they were frustrated in a 1-1 draw by West Brom, they have been reliable and have found ways to master the league’s lesser lights.

However, their performances haven’t always merited maximum points and six of their eight away wins, including trips to relegation-threatened Fulham, Brighton, Burnley and Sheffield United, came by a single goal.

That has a lot to do with their slow starts, but their half-time chats with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have tended to spark them into life.

Thirty-one of Manchester United’s 53 league goals this season have been scored in the second half, with 16 of the 25 they have netted on the road coming in the final 45 minutes.

United are the most productive team in the league in the second half of matches this season, outscoring their opponents in the final period in seven of their 13 away fixtures.

That is how things panned out in their last league win at home to struggling Newcastle too, when second-half strikes from Daniel James and Bruno Fernandes spared the Red Devils’ blushes after a poor opening 45 minutes had left the sides level at 1-1.

It is easy to envisage another low-key start at Selhurst Park.

Palace’s attacking threat is severely lacking without injured talisman Wilfried Zaha, who is doubtful to return for this match, and they failed to register a shot on target in Sunday’s goalless draw at home to Fulham.

Roy Hodgson’s side have played nine times in all competitions without their influential Ivorian this term and have scored in only one of those fixtures, which was last Monday’s smash-and-grab win at Brighton when they netted with their only two efforts on goal.

Palace, who are also weakened in other areas, will stay compact and try to pick their chances on the counter-attack.

But the Eagles are likely to spend much of the game defending deep in their own half and although their excellent organisation may keep United at bay for some time, the Red Devils can stamp their authority after the break.

Key stat

United have conceded only three second-half goals in their 13 Premier League away games.

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