Manchester United broke a winless streak of three Premier League (PL) home games (D1, L2) by thumping Chelsea 4-0 in their opening match of 2019/20. In doing so, they drastically boosted their average return from home league matches since the start of 2018/19, from 1.74 goals per game to 1.85.
Despite enjoying an excellent start to this season’s home campaign, recent history is still against Manchester United in the context of the second half. Back in 2018/19, the ‘Red Devils’ finished as the only team in the top half with a negative goal difference from the second half of their home league matches (GF 17, GA 18).
Losers ‘to-nil’ in their first PL road trip of 2019/20, Crystal Palace arrive at Old Trafford with a dismal away record against the ‘Red Devils’ in this top-flight stay. The Croydon outfit has failed to score in their last six league visits to Old Trafford, yielding a record of D1, L5 in this sequence.
Though Palace is also winless in 22 league H2Hs, their record from PL away matches against top-six sides in 2018/19 was a good one. This is especially true of their first-half performances on ‘elite’ grounds last season, with their half-time record when traveling to these teams a healthy: W3, D2, L1.
Players to watch: Ten (76.92%) out of United midfielder Paul Pogba’s 13 league goals of 2018/19 came at home.
Palace talisman Wilfried Zaha scored in each of his side’s first three away league matches last season.
Stat attack: Manchester United trailed at half-time in just 15.79% of their home league matches last season.
In 2018/19, the Eagles’ points haul away from home in the league accounted for 59.18% of their overall total.
Over three-quarters (76.67%) of the PL away, goals conceded by Crystal Palace last season came in the second half.
Will not play
Bailly E.
(Knee Injury)
Sakho M.
(Knee Injury)
Dalot D.
(Injury)
Tomkins J.
(Groin Injury)
Fosu-Mensah T.
(Knee Injury)
Questionable
Sanchez A.
(Lacking Match Fitness)
Match Information
Referee: Tierney P. (Eng),
Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester)