Preview: Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace - prediction, team news, lineups

Manchester United will be aiming to advance to the fourth round of the EFL Cup when they welcome fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace to Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

The Red Devils recorded a much-needed 1-0 win over Burnley in the league on Saturday, while Palace will enter the contest off the back of a goalless draw with Fulham earlier in the day.

Match preview

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Man United did not exactly put in a vintage performance against Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday, but they managed to secure a huge three points courtesy of a brilliant volley from Bruno Fernandes, with the result ending a three-game losing run, which had piled the pressure on head coach Erik ten Hag.

The Red Devils have now won three and lost three of their league matches this season, while they started their Champions League group-stage campaign with a 4-3 loss to Bayern Munich last week.

Man United's next four matches in all competitions are at home, twice against Palace, who will also head to Old Trafford in the league next weekend, before Galatasaray visit Manchester in the Champions League at the start of October.

Ten Hag's side will then host Brentford ahead of the international break, and there would be a very different feeling around the club if the team were able to post four wins from their next four matches.

Man United are, of course, the reigning EFL Cup champions, winning the trophy last season courtesy of a 2-0 success over Newcastle United in the final, and they will fancy their chances of advancing deep into the competition once again despite now being back in the Champions League.

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Palace have never won the EFL Cup, while they have also not managed to win the FA Cup, with their best performances in major cup competitions coming in 1989-90 and 2015-16, when they were in the finals of the FA Cup, losing to Man United on both occasions.

The Eagles have already had to play once in the EFL Cup this season, recording a 4-2 victory over Plymouth Argyle to advance into the third round of the competition.

Palace have made a solid start to their 2023-24 Premier League campaign, winning two, drawing two and losing two of their opening six matches to collect eight points, which has left them in ninth position in the table, one spot and one point behind their opponents here.

Roy Hodgson's side lost 3-1 at Aston Villa in their last away match on September 16 before playing out a goalless draw at home to Fulham in the league on Saturday.

Palace now face two visits to Old Trafford in quick succession, and the London club have a recent away success to their name over the Red Devils, winning 3-1 in September 2020, but Man United recorded a 2-1 victory in the corresponding match last term.

Team News

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Man United will need to assess the fitness of Sergio Reguilon ahead of this match, as the left-back was substituted late on against Burnley on Saturday due to illness.

Sofyan Amrabat made his Red Devils debut as a late substitute at Turf Moor, operating at left-back, but he could now come in for his full debut in central midfield.

Altay Bayindir is in line to debut between the sticks, while Christian Eriksen, Facundo Pellistri, Anthony Martial and Alejandro Garnacho are likely to be among the changes on Tuesday.

Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire and Mason Mount will all need to be assessed ahead of this match due to recent injuries, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Luke Shaw, Kobbie Mainoo, Tyrell Malacia and Amad Diallo are still definitely out, while Antony and Jadon Sancho remain absent due to personal issues.

Palace, meanwhile, will be missing Michael Olise, Matheus Franca, Jefferson Lerma, James Tomkins and Naouirou Ahamada on Tuesday night through injury.

Eagles boss Hodgson will definitely make changes to the side that started against Fulham on Saturday, with Jean-Philippe Mateta and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi among those expected to come into the XI.

Chris Richards, Rob Holding, Nathaniel Clyne and Jairo Riedewald are also likely to start, while Dean Henderson's debut for the Eagles is set to come against the club that he recently departed.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Bayindir; Dalot, Lindelof, Evans, Reguilon; McTominay, Amrabat, Eriksen; Pellistri, Martial, Garnacho

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:

Henderson; Clyne, Richards, Holding, Mitchell; Riedewald, Hughes; Rak-Sakyi, Eze, Schlupp; Mateta

We say: Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace

Man United's win over Burnley was hugely important, and there should be a different feel surrounding the club entering this match. Both managers will make changes, but we are backing the Red Devils to find a route into the next round of the cup competition.

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