Match Preview: Manchester United Vs Crystal Palace

 

Date, time and coverage: Saturday 14 September (Kick off: 12:45 BST). The match is live in the UK on BT Sport and you can follow it via ManUtd.com’s live blog and MUTV Online's radio commentary.

Form guide: Following an impressive 4-1 win in a potentially tricky season opener at Swansea, United were held 0-0 at home by Chelsea before slipping to a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. Palace lost their first match back in the Barclays Premier League for eight years when Spurs edged to a narrow 1-0 win at Selhurst Park, and they let a one-goal lead slip at Stoke in the following match, eventually losing 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium. However the Eagles finally got off the mark when they beat Sunderland  3-1 at home in their last outing before the international break.

Ins and outs: Wayne Rooney’s head injury, picked up in training before the Liverpool game, keeps him out of contention.

Betting: United’s official partner bwin have the Reds priced as favourites at 1.19 and Palace at 13.00 with the draw at 6.50. As always, more tempting odds can be found in match predictions – you can get 8.75 on the Reds winning 1-0 or a very generous 26.00 on 3-2.

Last meeting: United’s last meeting with Palace ended in a 2-1 win for the south London club at Old Trafford in a Carling Cup tie in November 2011. A penalty from Federico Macheda cancelled out Darren Ambrose’s opener, but Glenn Murray struck in extra time to seal a shock win for Palace. The most recent league fixture was a goalless draw at Selhurst Park in March 2005.

Manager: One of the most quotable and eccentric managers in the country, Ian Holloway has already run foul of authority this season. He will be confined to the stands at Old Trafford on Saturday as he serves the first of a two-match touchline ban for his comments following Palace’s defeat to Spurs last month.

Star man: Striker Marouane Chamakh joined Palace on a one-year deal in the summer after a largely disappointing three years with Arsenal, and he was on target in the Eagles' defeat at Stoke. Jason Puncheon, on loan from Southampton, can be a tricky customer and Dwight Gayle, signed from Peterborough after a prolific rise through the divisions, could also provide a goal threat.

Sub-plot: New signing Marouane Fellaini will be available for United for the first time since his move from Everton transfer deadline day. Wilfried Zaha, yet to feature for United in the Premier League this season, left Palace in January but was immediately loaned back and helped the Eagles secure promotion via the play-offs. The England Under-21 winger was part of the Palace side that knocked United out of the Carling Cup in 2011.

Did you know? Russell Beardsmore was United’s goal scorer the last time the Reds lost to Palace in the league at Old Trafford, a 2-1 defeat in December 1989, the same season United won the FA Cup by beating Palace in a replay at Wembley.

Whistle blower: Chris Foy

Quote/unquote: “I do not judge matches on goals. I think both games against Liverpool and Chelsea were both really solid, we didn’t give our opponents anything. Not scoring is not like us but it is still the beginning of the season and we have so many games to play, some tough games. I would not say we are worried but we have to improve some areas.”- Nemanja Vidic

Rivals watch: Arsenal are away to Sunderland, while Manchester City travel to Stoke, with both games kicking off at 15:00 BST. Chelsea play Everton at Goodison Park in the Saturday evening fixture, but Liverpool must wait until Monday night to play Swansea.