Crystal Palace vs Manchester United Prediction & Betting Tips - Premier League

Prediction published on 13/07/2020, 17:24  by James | Modified on 13/07/2020 at 18:24 in Premier League Predictions

Crystal Palace host a Manchester United side chasing Champions League qualification when they meet for Premier League action at Selhurst Park on Thursday night. The Eagles are 14th in the table and have successfully avoided relegation from the top flight of English football with three rounds to play. They were chasing a European spot before a dismal run of five defeats put paid to that. A top ten finish (eight points away) is not impossible but a bottom-half placing is much likelier. United are fifth in the table, which looked like an alright position to be in before Man City won the appeal against their European ban on Monday. That decision means that fifth is no longer good enough for a Champions League spot but United are level on points with fourth-placed Leicester and one point behind Chelsea in third. Given that they face Leicester on the final day of the season, their fate is in their own hands. 

A 96th-minute equaliser by Southampton forward Michael Obafemi denied United the chance to jump into third on Monday night. The Red Devils had been the division's form team with four wins in a row, all by a margin of at least three goals. That 2-2 draw was a blow but they remain unbeaten in their last 11 league games. It was the fifth game in a row that they scored at least two goals and Anthony Martial now has five goals and three assists in his last six appearances. Away from home, United are unbeaten in five matches and they have won their last three league visits to Selhurst Park. However, it must be mentioned that Palace won at Old Trafford earlier in the season and while Palace have lost four of their last six home matches, three of those defeats were by a margin of one goal. Palace can put teams under pressure at home and United may show nerves after a hit to their momentum. We suggest backing the home side with a plus-two handicap.