Manchester United vs. Crystal Palace Prediction, Match Preview and Betting Tips, 2 February 2025 - bettingexpert

Manchester United will face Crystal Palace in an eagerly awaited Premier League fixture on Sunday, 2 February 2025 at 14:00 at Old Trafford. The Red Devils, currently 12th in the league standings, are looking to build on their recent form, having secured a third consecutive victory with a 2-0 win against FC FCSB in Romania.

Crystal Palace, sitting 13th, recently saw their six-game unbeaten run end. However, they have only lost two of their last 12 matches and have historically performed well at Old Trafford, which should make this an interesting contest.

Both teams have significant injuries to key players but are determined to improve their standings. Manchester United’s manager, Rúben Amorim, who has been experimenting successfully with player positions, will be keen to secure another home win.

With both teams showing vulnerabilities, particularly in defense, our prediction suggests that Manchester United to win brings good value at odds of 2.12. Expect goals from both sides, but United’s superior firepower is likely to make the difference.

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Prediction & Betting Tip

Our recommended betting tip is for Manchester United to win
United are the bookmakers’ favourites and boast a solid home performance record. Crystal Palace have shown some vulnerabilities, especially against stronger teams, which tilts the scales in United’s favour.

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Prediction
Betting tip	Odds
Manchester United to Win	2.12

• Home Advantage: United have a good record in front of their home crowd, which could be a decisive factor.
• Strong Attack: With players like Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Højlund, United have potent attacking options.
• Crystal Palace Struggles: Palace have had trouble against stronger teams, particularly in away fixtures, making them less likely to secure a result.

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Odds

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
Manchester United to Win	2.05
Draw	3.42
Crystal Palace to Win	3.59

Manchester United are the favourites according to the bookmakers, with odds of 2.05 for a home victory. A draw is priced at 3.42, while a Crystal Palace win stands at 3.59.

Given Manchester United’s recent form and home advantage, alongside Crystal Palace’s tendency to struggle against stronger teams, placing a bet on United might be a smart move. However, considering Palace’s unbeaten streak in their last three encounters against United, a draw could also be a decent shout.

United’s attacking options, including Rasmus Højlund and Bruno Fernandes, contribute to their strong odds, while Crystal Palace’s defensive issues can make them vulnerable.

Manchester United Team Analysis

Manchester United Recent Performance

Last 5 Matches:

Home team	Away team	Result
FC FCSB	Manchester United	0-2 (Win)
Fulham	Manchester United	0-1 (Win)
Manchester United	Rangers	2-1 (Win)
Manchester United	Brighton	1-3 (Loss)
Manchester United	Southampton	3-1 (Win)

Manchester United have shown some improvement recently, notching up three consecutive wins. Their recent form is highlighted by victories against FC FCSB and Fulham, both secured with clean sheets. This has brought their defensive record to two clean sheets in their last five games. The team averages 1.80 goals per game, illustrating their potential to score. However, their defense remains shaky, having conceded an average of 1.4 goals per match this season.
With players like Bruno Fernandes stepping up and young talent Kobbie Mainoo contributing significantly, United are looking to build on their recent performance and secure another win under the guidance of Rúben Amorim.

Manchester United Key Players

Manchester United will look to their key players to shine in this crucial fixture against Crystal Palace. Amad Diallo, their top scorer with six goals, will be a focal point in attack, accompanied by the ever-reliable Bruno Fernandes, who pulls the strings in midfield. Fernandes’ vision and creativity are pivotal, particularly when paired with the burgeoning talent of Kobbie Mainoo, who continues to make a name for himself.

Rasmus Højlund, expected to lead the line, will be keen on converting chances and adding to his goal tally, while Alejandro Garnacho’s flair could provide the edge United need.

Expected lineup for Manchester United:

• Goalkeeper: Andre Onana
• Defenders: Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez
• Midfielders: Noussair Mazraoui, Manuel Ugarte, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot
• Attackers: Amad Diallo, Alejandro Garnacho, Rasmus Højlund

Key individual battles to watch:

• Rasmus Højlund vs Maxence Lacroix
• Bruno Fernandes vs Jefferson Lerma

Manchester United Suspensions & Injuries

Manchester United have several key players out with injuries, which could impact their performance against Crystal Palace.

Player	Injury	Expected return
Luke Shaw	Hamstring Injury	About a week
Mason Mount	Muscle injury	Early February 2025
Jonny Evans	Physical discomfort	Early February 2025

Luke Shaw’s absence could leave a gap in the defense, while the potential returns of Mason Mount and Jonny Evans might not be in time for this fixture. These injuries will test the depth of Erik ten Hag’s squad and may force tactical adjustments.

Expect to see younger talents like Kobbie Mainoo and the versatile Diogo Dalot play more significant roles as United cope with these absences.

Manchester United Tactics and Formation

Manchester United Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-4-3
• Formation Note: Ruben Amorim has been experimenting with this setup to utilize the wing-backs effectively.
  Key Forward:
• Rasmus Højlund
  Midfield:
• Central Playmaker: Bruno Fernandes, pivotal in creating chances.
• Wide Play: Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui hold the wings.
  Defence:
• Central Trio: Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martínez provide defensive stability.
• Defensive Strength: Two clean sheets in the last five games.
  Notable Strategy:
• Moving Kobbie Mainoo to a more advanced role has paid dividends in recent matches.

Expect a balanced approach with quick transitions, leveraging the wide players to stretch Palace’s defence.

Crystal Palace Team Analysis

Crystal Palace Recent Performance

Home team	Away team	Result
Crystal Palace	Brentford	1-2 (Loss)
West Ham	Crystal Palace	0-2 (Win)
Leicester	Crystal Palace	0-2 (Win)
Crystal Palace	Stockport County	1-0 (Win)
Crystal Palace	Chelsea	1-1 (Draw)

Crystal Palace have shown solid form recently, with three wins and a draw in their last five matches. They’ve been particularly impressive defensively, keeping three clean sheets.
Their average goals scored in the last five games is 1.4, indicating a balanced approach on both ends of the pitch.
Key players like Jean-Philippe Mateta and Eberechi Eze have been instrumental in their recent run. However, injuries in the squad might pose a challenge against Manchester United.

Crystal Palace Key Players

Expected lineup for Crystal Palace:

• Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson
• Defenders: Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi, Daniel Muñoz, Tyrick Mitchell
• Midfielders: Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma, Ismaïla Sarr, Eberechi Eze
• Forward: Jean-Philippe Mateta

Crystal Palace’s key players include top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has notched up 8 goals this season, and the playmaker Eberechi Eze, known for his creative flair in midfield. Dean Henderson’s goalkeeping skills could be crucial, especially against United’s attacking prowess.

Keep an eye on potential individual battles:

• Mateta vs de Ligt and Martínez
• Eze vs Ugarte and Fernandes

These matchups could be decisive in shaping the outcome of the game at Old Trafford.

Crystal Palace Suspensions & Injuries

Here are the current suspensions and injuries for Crystal Palace ahead of their clash with Manchester United:

Injuries

Player	Injury	Expected Return
Matheus França	Broken rib	Early February 2025
Adam Wharton	Groin injury	Early February 2025
Chadi Riad	Knee injury	Early February 2025
Cheick Doucouré	Knee injury	Early February 2025
Joel Ward	Calf injury	Early February 2025

With five players currently sidelined due to injuries, Crystal Palace may have limited options for squad rotation. Key defensive and midfield areas are affected, potentially impacting their stability and cohesiveness on the pitch.

Suspensions

• None

Crystal Palace come into the match without any suspensions, allowing Oliver Glasner to field his strongest available lineup. The absence of suspensions combined with the nature of the injuries means the remaining squad members will need to step up to maintain form against a strong Manchester United side.

Crystal Palace Tactics and Formation

Crystal Palace’s Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-4-2-1
• Key Forward: Jean-Philippe Mateta
• Midfield Duo: Will Hughes, Jefferson Lerma
• Defensive Line: Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Marc Guehi
• Wide Play: Daniel Muñoz, Tyrick Mitchell
• Attacking Threats: Ismaïla Sarr, Eberechi Eze

Oliver Glasner has been consistent with his choice of a 3-4-2-1 formation, which focuses on defensive stability and quick transitions. Mateta is central to the attack, supported by the creative energies of Sarr and Eze.

The midfield pairing of Hughes and Lerma provides both defensive cover and ball distribution, while the wing-backs, Muñoz and Mitchell, offer additional width and support in both defence and attack.

With a solid back three, Palace look to stifle opponents and hit on the counter, exploiting their pace and technical ability up front.

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Head-to-Head Statistics

Home	Away	Result
Crystal Palace	Manchester United	0-0
Crystal Palace	Manchester United	4-0
Manchester United	Crystal Palace	0-1
Manchester United	Crystal Palace	3-0
Manchester United	Crystal Palace	2-1

In their last five encounters, Crystal Palace seems to have had a slight upper hand, especially with a resounding 4-0 victory in the previous season.
However, Manchester United has shown resilience at home, with their most recent home fixture ending in a convincing 3-0 win.
These head-to-heads suggest a competitive matchup, with each side having its moments of dominance.

Odds accurate as of 31.01.2025 14:01, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.