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Manchester United logo
Premier League | Gameweek 2
Sep 19, 2020 at 5.30pm UK
Old Trafford
Crystal Palace logo

Man Utd
1 - 3
Crystal Palace

van de Beek (80')
Fosu-Mensah (58'), Maguire (64')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Townsend (7'), Zaha (74' pen., 85')
Ward (55')

How Manchester United could line up against Crystal Palace

Sports Mole looks at how Manchester United could line up for their Premier League opener against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Manchester United get their 2020-21 Premier League season underway on Saturday when they welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.

The Red Devils begin their campaign a week later than most teams due to their involvement in the latter stages of the Europa League last term, but have still had little more than a month off in a quick turnaround between seasons.

United ended 2019-20 with a 14-game unbeaten run in the Premier League and will look to build on their third-placed finish last term, but they face a Palace side that won on the opening day and picked up their first ever Premier League win over United in the corresponding fixture last season.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could set his side up for Saturday's showdown.



Possible MNU XI vs. CRY

Out: Axel Tuanzebe (foot), Phil Jones (knee)
Doubtful: Paul Pogba (fitness)

> Click here for Manchester United's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Solskjaer has only had his full squad together for a week or so in the build-up to this match so, while their injury list does not look too extensive, many players may be short of full match fitness for this game.

Paul Pogba is one of those after his preparations were disrupted by a positive coronavirus test, something which he has now fully recovered from but which did delay his return to training.

Whether Pogba is fit or not, new signing Donny van de Beek will be pushing for his debut, having featured in the club's solitary pre-season friendly against Aston Villa.

As many as seven first-team players did not take part in that 1-0 defeat, though, including goalkeeper David de Gea, whose status as the club's number one has come under threat from the returning Dean Henderson.

Solskjaer is expected to keep faith with De Gea at the start of this season, but Henderson has insisted that he is not at the club to be a back-up and the recent five-year contract he signed suggests that he will play a part in United's immediate future.

Other players to have missed the friendly at Villa Park include Victor Lindelof, Bruno Fernandes, Anthony Martial and former Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but all of them should be in contention this weekend.

Mason Greenwood's off-field actions during his maiden international call-up could cost him a starting spot in this season opener, but Harry Maguire, who also hit the headlines for the wrong reasons this summer, will start after retaining the captain's armband.

Axel Tuanzebe is United's only confirmed absentee, while Phil Jones is still struggling with a knee problem.

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Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer pictured on August 16, 2020
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal35255585285780
2Manchester CityMan City34247382325079
3Liverpool35229477364175
4Aston Villa35207873522167
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs341861067541360
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd34166125251154
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle341651374551953
8Chelsea34149116559651
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham351310125665-949
10Bournemouth35139135260-848
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves35137154855-746
12Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton341111125257-544
13Fulham35127165155-443
14Crystal Palace351010154557-1240
15Everton35128153748-1136
16Brentford3598185260-835
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3579194262-2026
18Luton TownLuton3567224877-2925
19Burnley3559213870-3224
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd3537253497-6316


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