Manchester United v Crystal Palace: Line-ups, stats and preview as hosts continue top-four push

Match Preview for Manchester United v Crystal Palace

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has hailed Benjamin Sesko’s recent impact but refused to confirm whether he has done enough to earn a recall to the starting XI.

Sesko has yet to start under Carrick but has proved a match-changing substitute with goals in games against Fulham, West Ham and, on Monday night, Everton.

The Slovenia international slotted home Bryan Mbeumo’s pass with 19 minutes to go at the Hill Dickinson Stadium to give Carrick his fifth win in six games since taking over from Ruben Amorim on an interim basis.

United host Crystal Palace on Sunday looking to maintain their challenge for a Champions League qualifying spot and the former Middlesbrough boss insists he does not see Sesko’s form as a headache he has to solve.

He said: ”The whole thing is a real positive. It’s certainly not a decision that is one I look at in a negative way. We’re playing well as a team, we’re not getting carried away and thinking that carries on.

“The forwards have scored a good number of goals, Ben has been so good in so many ways. It’s really not a drama. It just shows the quality Ben has got. If he starts the next game or the one after, it is what it is, but he’s doing so many good things.”

Sesko is a more orthodox centre forward but Carrick dismissed suggestions Mbeumo had been operating in a false nine role.

“I don’t think we’ve played a false nine, I think Bryan Mbeumo has played high on the last line a lot of the time,” he added.

“We’ve played in different ways. Four points in two games away from home isn’t so bad, being able to change it from the bench is a real strength.”

Palace appear to have overcome their prolonged wobble either side of Christmas and head north having lost just one of their last six games in all competitions.

The immediate future of Oliver Glasner remains uncertain, although he has confirmed he will definitely leave at the end of the season, but last weekend’s hard-fought home win over Wolves means they pulled 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Team News for Manchester United v Crystal Palace

Carrick is unlikely to cave into pressure to start Sesko and it will likely be the same side that beat Everton. Mason Mount and Matthijs De Ligt are edging closer to full fitness but neither will be considered for this one.

Jefferson Lerma, Cheick Doucoure, Eddie Nketiah and Jean-Philippe Mateta are not available for Palace.

Forward Evann Guessand is pushing for a league start after goals against Wolves and Zrinjski Mostar.

Predicted line-ups for Manchester United v Crystal Palace

Manchester United: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Lacroix, Richards, Riad; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Guessand, Larsen

Where to watch Manchester United v Crystal Palace

Manchester United versus Crystal Palace kicks off at 2pm on Sunday afternoon UK time. The game will be screened live on Sky Sports as part of Super Sunday.

It can be streamed on Sky Go.

If you don’t live in the UK, click HERE, to discover which station may be showing the game in your region.

Stats for Manchester United v Crystal Palace

• Following their 2-1 win at Selhurst Park in November, Manchester United are looking to complete their first league double over Crystal Palace since 2017-18
• Crystal Palace have won four of their last six away league games against Manchester United
• Manchester United have picked up 27 points in their last 12 home Premier League matches