MANCHESTER UNITED take on Crystal Palace today in the Premier League as they look to keep up their unbeaten run at home.
And new boy Marcel Sabitzer is on the bench for Erik Ten Hag’s side, with Fred taking up a place in midfield.
- Start time: 3pm BST
- TV/Live stream: Not televised in the UK
- Man Utd XI: De Gea, Martinez, Varane, Shaw, Wan-Bissaka, Fred, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Antony, Rashford, Weghorst
- Crystal Palace XI: Guaita, Clyne, Richards, Guehi, Mitchell, Doucoure, Hughes, Schlupp, Olise, Ayew, ERdouard
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Kick-off – Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
46. The second half at Old Trafford is underway courtesy of the game’s only goalscorer, Bruno Fernandes.
The Manchester United captain kicks us off as United go about looking to cement a 13th straight home win.
First half facts and figures
It’s been a first period dominated by the home side, but Crystal Palace’s two attempts both came in the final six minutes of the half.
Half-time – Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
Andre Marriner calls time on an intriguing first 45 minutes.
Manchester United lead but, for all their dominance, only by one.
Bruno Fernandes’ early penalty, awarded by VAR after a handball from Will Hughes is the difference.
The Red Devils were electric for the opening half hour, but Palace grew into the game in the final ten minutes.
There’s still plenty of life in this contest.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace – Mitchell yellow card
45+2. On the stroke of half-time, Tyrick Mitchell finally finds himself in the book for a late lunge on Antony.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
45. The fourth official signals two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the first half.
And remarkably, Manchester United will be happy to see it arrive.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
43. The Eagles are growing in confidence here as half-time approaches.
Schlupp finally finds some room in the United half and turn towards goal, letting fly from 25 yards effort.
The Ghanaian’s attempt skids off the turf and bounces awkwardly in front of De Gea, who does very well in the end to turn the ball away to safety.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
41. While the Wan-Bissaka and Antony partnership is blossoming going forward, it is raising questions from a defensive perspective.
Olise and Mitchell are enjoying themselves on the rare occasions that they get to break, and that’s mainly because the United right-back is often left isolated by his teammate.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
40. Out of nowhere, a chance for Crystal Palace!
Olise swings out a corner from the left, and Richards arrives unmarked to connect with a header.
It’s a slightly mistimed leap from the defender, who ends up getting under the ball to send his effort high and wide of goal from five yards out.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
38. New United signing Marcel Sabitzer is also warming-up along the touchline, and is given a warm welcome by the home fans.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
36. When you think of Manchester United midfielders bursting forward into the penalty area, you think of Paul Scholes, Bryan Robson, Bobby Charlton… and Fred.
Somehow, the Brazilian is the furthest player forward as Weghorst cuts a clever cross back from the byline, instinctively firing wide of the near post.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
34. Olise manages to find himself in possession and in the penalty area.
The former Reading man finds himself without options though, and is eventually forced into going back to Mitchell.
The left-back loops a cross in, but it’s easily claimed by De Gea.
At the moment, Palace are short of a threat in attack with Edouard not seeing much of the ball.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
32. Casemiro gives it some Antony in the penalty area with a back-heeled flick through the legs of Clyne.
Credit to the Palace right-back, however, who quickly recovers to nudge the ball behind for a corner.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
30. Half hour gone at Old Trafford, and it’s fair to say that this has been one-way traffic.
The hosts have registered eight attempts at goal, Palace have yet to have one.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
28. One of the biggest cheers of the afternoon so far is reserved for substitute Jadon Sancho, who is out warming up for the first time.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
27. A Rashford effort from a tight angle is comfortably pushed away by Guaita.
The opportunity comes after United win the ball back high up the pitch with Fernandes setting the forward off into the area with a smart pass.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
25. The Palace players are working hard to get themselves back into this one, but their mild attacking threat is only coming about via set-pieces.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
23. Patient build-up from United on this occasion eventually sees the ball chipped up for Weghorst.
The United striker is snuffed out by relentless pressure from Richards and Guehi.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
21. Shaw and Rashford execute a smart one-two that leaves the left-back bursting through the middle.
Doucoure eventually gets a foot in to turn it behind for a corner, but the United onslaught shows no sign of letting up.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
20. Mitchell catches Casemiro with a heavy challenge on the near touchline, and is fortunate to escape a booking.
The Palace left-back, normally such a cool customer, is beginning to make a habit of some rashly-timed tackles.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
19. Rashford bursts through to reach Shaw’s pass, only to find he had set off too soon. Offside.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
18. A cleverly-worked free-kick from Olise threatens to play Schlupp in behind the United defence, but Varane quickly gets back to cover and cut out.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
16. Good stuff from Mitchell, who breaks forward and skips back inside Antony.
Bad stuff from Mitchell, who immediately falls flat on his face after impressively doing the aforementioned hard work.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
15. The game has been played firmly in Palace’s half ever since those opening two minutes.
Just as they did on Wednesday, full-backs Wan-Bissaka and Shaw are getting themselves very high up the field.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
13. Weghost! Fine save by Guaita!
The towering striker almost doubles United’s lead with a looping header from the corner, only to find Palace’s goalkeeper in fine form with a fingertip save.
Man Utd 1-0 Crystal Palace
12. United continue to press forward.
Antony and Wan-Bissaka’s relationship on the right is beginning to blossom too, and the pair combine to win a corner.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
