Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Predictions

• Manchester United have won their last three home games
• Crystal Palace have scored in 13 of their last 14 away games
• All five of Casemiro’s Premier League goals this season have come from set pieces – a weakness of Crystal Palace

Carrick faces clamour for super-sub to start

Manchester United will look to maintain their challenge for the top five when Crystal Palace visit Old Trafford on Sunday. Michael Carrick’s men have not been able to maintain the high level of performance that they produced in the immediate aftermath of his appointment, drawing 1-1 with West Ham and scraping a 1-0 win at Everton on Monday.

Neither performance was particularly good, but the Red Devils showed impressive character when faced by resolute tactics and a physical approach, also finding a new saviour off the bench in Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenian striker has blossomed since Ruben Amorim’s sacking with five goals in his last six league games at a rate of one every 37 minutes. There is a clamour among the fans for Carrick to start him in this game, but the manager seems to like what he brings as a substitute.

Casemiro could unlock Palace resistance

The Red Devils have struggled against the Eagles in recent times, losing their last two home games against the Londoners and famously being thrashed 4-0 at Selhurst Park a couple of seasons ago.

But they found a way to secure a 2-1 win over Oliver Glasner’s side earlier this season with two set-piece goals contributing to a hard-earned three points that day. Palace have conceded 13 goals from set-pieces this term – the third-most in the division and as many goals as they have shipped from open play.

Five of their opposition’s last 13 goals have come from corners and free-kicks and while they didn’t concede in wins against Wolves and Zrjnski Mostar this week, both visitors caused problems from set plays. Casemiro is United’s biggest set-piece threat, having scored more than a third of their goals that have come that way, and he can be backed at generous odds to make the scoresheet again on Sunday.

Eagles are worth a goal on their travels

Palace have only two wins from their last 26 away matches against teams that started the day in the top six, with 16 losses sustained by the Eagles in those fixtures. Meanwhile, United have won their last three at home and should be sharper for the Merseyside run-out, which came after their rhythm had been interrupted by the early cup exit.

Back the home side to win with at least three goals in the game to boost the odds beyond the 1/2 price to around 5/4. The Eagles have scored in 13 of their last 14 away games in all competitions and can pose a threat to a side without many clean sheets this term.