Manchester United will be eager to continue the unbeaten start to life under Michael Carrick when they host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Gameweek 28 of the 2025/26 Premier League season continues on Sunday, and we will have four matches to pick from to round off the weekend. The action on the day will start with three simultaneous games, including Manchester United vs Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
Manchester United could not have asked for a better start to life under Michael Carrick. The only blemish under the tutelage of the English tactician has been the come-from-behind 1-1 draw with West Ham United, and they bounced back to winning ways with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton earlier this week. The impressive run has lifted the Red Devils to fourth in the Premier League standings, only three points behind Aston Villa.
On the other hand, Crystal Palace’s recent mini-resurgence continued last weekend with a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Eagles have lost only one of their last six game across all competitions, and a return to the top half of the table may be on the cards if they continue the improved form.
The reverse fixture saw Manchester United come from a goal down to beat Crystal Palace 2-1, with Mason Mount scoring the match-winning goal. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
Michael Carrick has no new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Manchester United head coach may be bereft of the services of only four first-team players vs Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Lisandro Martinez is closing in on returning from a short-term layoff with a muscular injury. However, it is unclear if the Argentine international will be fit and available to take on Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Matthijs de Ligt (lower back), Patrick Dorgu (hamstring), and Mason Mount (knock) remain in the treatment room.
Senne Lammens is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Crystal Palace on Saturday. The backline will feature Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, and Luke Shaw.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo in the double pivot. Bruno Fernandes will reprise the no. 10 role, with Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha being the two wide attackers. Finally, Benjamin Sesko will lead the line for Manchester United against Crystal Palace, earning the reward for his recent impressive performances.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko
Crystal Palace
Like his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Oliver Glasner has no new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Old Trafford. The Crystal Palace head coach will be without four first-team players on Sunday.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is the most notable absentee, with the French international recovering from a knee injury. The 28-year-old striker accompanies Cheick Doucoure (knee), Jefferson Lerma (thigh), and Eddie Nketiah (hamstring) in the treatment room.
Dean Henderson is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Crystal Palace lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Sunday. The central defensive unit will feature Jaydee Canvot, Chris Richards, and Maxence Lacroix. Menawhile, Daniel Munoz and Tyrick Mitchell as the two wing-backs.
The wide duo will provide width in the final third and protect the three centre-backs. As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Adam Wharton and Will Hughes in the central areas. Finally, Jorgen Strand Larsen will spearhead the Crystal Palace attack against Manchester United, with Ismaila Sarr and Evann Guessand completing the numbers in the offensive unit.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Canvot, Richards, Lacroix; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Guessand; Strand Larsen
Key Stats
- Following the 2-1 win at Selhurst Park in November, Manchester United will be aiming to complete the first league double over Crystal Palace since 2017/18. However, the Eagles have won four of their last six away league games against Manchester United (L2), having emerged victorious on just two of their first 22 visits to Old Trafford (D3 L17). Meanwhile, after winning in their last two trips to Old Trafford, Crystal Palace will aim to become only the second London side to win three consecutive away league games against Manchester United after Chelsea between 1967/68 and 1969/70.
- Manchester United have picked up 27 points in their last 12 home Premier League matches (W8 D3 L1), 16 more then they managed in their previous 13 games at Old Trafford (11 – W3 D2 L8).
- Crystal Palace have won two of their last three Premier League games (L1), picking up twice as many points in these matches (6) as they did in their previous nine outings combined (3 – D3 L6).
- Manchester United are the only team to have not lost in the Premier League since Boxing Day (W6 D4). Additionally, no side has won more points than the Red Devils (22) in this period.
- Michael Carrick has won all four home league games in charge (one in 2021, three in 2026) of Manchester United. Only Frank O’Farrell won his first five home games in charge of the Red Devils, doing so in 1971 (won first six).
Player to Watch
Benjamin Sesko
While Jorgen Strand Larsen, Ismaila Sarr, and FPL captaincy candidate Bruno Fernandes were viable candidates for this section, we have picked Benjamin Sesko as the Player to Watch for Sunday’s Premier League clash between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
The Slovenian striker has been incredible since Michael Carrick took over as the head coach, and he has scored five goals in six Premier League games for Manchester United since the departure of Ruben Amorim, averaging a goal every 37 minutes in this run. Heading into Gameweek 28, no player has more non-penalty goals in the Premier League in 2026 than Sesko (5). So, he will be the go-to player for Carrick again this weekend.
Prediction
Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace may have shown signs of resurgence in recent weeks, but they will meet the most in-form team in the Premier League this weekend. Additionally, while the Eagles have a remarkable record at Old Trafford in the last few years, 12 of their 14 most recent away Premier League wins have come against sides starting the day in the bottom half of the league.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace’s six away wins this season have come against teams who were, on average, 17th in the league on the day of the game. The Eagles have two wins in their last 26 on the road against sides starting the day in the top-six (D8 L16). So, all signs point to a Manchester United victory, and The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Michael Carrick and his charges.
