Manchester United Face Crystal Palace at Old Trafford Seeking to Bolster Top-Four Position
Manchester United are set to host Crystal Palace in a Premier League Matchday 28 fixture on March 1. The two teams will clash at Old Trafford in Manchester, with Chris Kavanagh appointed as the referee. The home side will be looking to leverage their home advantage and fan support in this crucial encounter as the football season enters a decisive phase.
United currently sit in fourth place with 48 points, aiming to reduce the three-point gap separating them from third-placed Aston Villa, while also maintaining their distance from Chelsea in fifth. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are in 13th position with 35 points from 27 matches played in the competition, hoping to improve their standing in the mid-table.
Recent form shows Manchester United delivering impressive performances, securing four wins and one draw in their last five league outings. Crystal Palace have also had a solid run, achieving three wins and one draw against a single defeat in the same period. Historically, the head-to-head record favors the hosts, with 17 victories compared to 7 for the visitors and 5 draws. Their last meeting on November 30 ended in a 2-1 win for the Red Devils.
Manchester United are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Sini Lammens in goal and Diogo Dalot and Leny Yoro in the starting defense. Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo are set to feature prominently in midfield. The team will be without Lisandro Martinez and Mason Mount until mid-March due to injury, while Matthijs de Ligt and Patrick Dorgu remain sidelined until mid-April.
For the visiting side, a 3-4-2-1 formation is anticipated, with Moroccan international Chadi Riad joining Dean Henderson and Chris Richards in the defensive lines, and Ismaila Sarr leading the attack. The visitors will miss Cheikhou Doucouré, who is injured until early March, in addition to Jefferson Lerma, Jean-Philippe Mateta, and Edward Nketiah, who are all continuing their recovery programs.
The match will be broadcast live on beIN Sports CONNECT Platform, beIN Sports 1, beIN Sports English 1, and TOD Platform.
