Manchester United v Palace

Old Trafford, Saturday 12.45pm

Story so far

Following the international break, David Moyes has more to worry about then just Wayne Rooney’s head injury. After an impressive start against Swansea, Moyes’ men have failed to win their next two games, and they host a Crystal Palace side buoyed by their victory against Sunderland.

The Red Devils should be wary of defender Joel Ward. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index he’s had wingers in his back pocket all season, completing 84% of his tackles.

Ward’s efforts have been aided by the contribution of his defensive partner Damien Delaney. He’s made more clearances than any of his teammates, booting the ball away 31 times. 888sport.com are offering 12/5 for the defensive duo to maintain their fine form, and help the Eagles keep a clean sheet this weekend.

Maintaining possession will be paramount for the Eagles as they look to topple the Champions, and much of the responsibility for doing so will rest on the shoulders of Kagisho Dikgacoi. He’s made more passes than any other Palace player with 63, averaging a pass every 4.3 minutes.

It is often said that it is a momentous step up from the Championship to the Premier League, but Mile Jedinak has taken to the top flight like a duck to water. He’s made 61 offensive contributions, (passes, crosses, dribbles and shots), according to the EA Sports Player Performance Index.

Robin Van Persie topped the goalscoring charts during the last campaign, and it isn’t difficult to see why. Palace will have to be wary of the Dutchman as he’s taken 9 shots so far this season, level second in the league.

Michael Carrick’s stock has risen over the past couple of seasons, with his ability to retain possession becoming increasingly evident. The EASPORTS Player Performance demonstrates exactly why this view has developed, as he has made 100 passes in the opposition half during the course of the first three league games.

Interestingly, Tom Cleverley is the only United player who is level with Carrick, as he too has completed 100 passes. It was suggested that Roy Hodgson overlooked the English youngster as he conceded possession too easily, but on the basis ofthese statistics Hodgson’s decision may have been unwarranted.

With Iker Casilles finding himself on the bench for Real Madrid it has been suggested that Spain may have to look elsewhere for a new number 1. Look no further than David De Gea, The twenty-two year old has made 13 saves so far this season, the second most in the league. 888sport.com are offering odds of 3/4 for David de Gea to maintain his fine form, and keep Palace at bay again.

The blame for David De Gea’s exposure to shots from the opposition can’t be blamed on Michael Carrick. The midfielder may be renowned for his passing exploits, but he has also made 14 interceptions according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index – more than anyone else in the league.

Antonio Valencia may have lost the coveted number 7 shirt at Old Trafford this year, but the comparisons to Christiano Ronaldo shouldn’t completely disappear. He’s completed 5 dribbles so far this season, more than any of his teammates.

Data supplied by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. Select and manage your own team of stars at fantasy.premierleague.com or with FIFA Ultimate Team for FIFA 14.

Team news

Jonny Williams (ankle ligament) and new recruit Jack Hunt (ankle break) are both set to miss the rest of 2012 after suffering the injuries in the past week. New signing Jimmy Kebe (groin) is close to fitness but not ready for yet.

Left-back Jonathan Parr (ankle ligament) might return to the squad for the first time this season after coming through 60 minutes in the friendly with Oman in midweek.

New boys Adrian Mariappa, Barry Bannan, Cameron Jerome and Adlene Guedioura could all make their Palace debuts at Old Trafford.

Right-back Darcy Blake also featured on his return from injury but will be heading out on loan after failing to make the 25-man squad. Aaron Wilbraham, Owen Garvan, Stephen Dobbie and Florian Marange also failed to make the cut.

Palace (from): Speroni, Alexander, Ward, Delaney, Parr, Moxey, Gabbidon, Mariappa, Dikgacoi, O'Keefe, Jedinak, Campana, Guedioura, Bannan, Bolasie, Kebe, Thomas, Grandin, Puncheon, Chamakh, Gayle, Phillips, Jerome.

Quotes

Roy Hodgson

"I asked about a loan for Wilf but David [Moyes] will select him at the right time. I asked about him in the last day of the transfer window. Just in case. If there is a better club for him to go to I would like someone to show me. I am delighted for him. I am so proud of him."

"Ferguson has left a legacy behind him.

"But David is a fantastic manager and he has decided that is what he wanted to do. It was an honour for him to get the job and good luck to him, but not this weekend.

"Only time will tell for all of us what we leave, the mark we leave at each club that we work for.

"I hope Dave leaves a fantastic mark on Manchester United. He has worked so hard, he deserves it and good luck to him, but I am more concerned about my team."

"At this moment in time they are in a transitional period,"

"They've got a new manager, who was chosen by the last one - you don't get much better on your resume than that. To hear 'I want him to replace me' must be an honour.

"But the fact of the matter is David has to make his mark on Manchester United - I've got to make my mark on Crystal Palace.

"Is it a good time to play them? I will tell you after the game."

Jimmy Kebe

“The knives are always out for the teams promoted from the Championship because the Premier League is the best and toughest league in the world.

“But the boss has brought a lot of experience over the summer and there is some real quality in the side that I know we have the right squad to stay up.

“It’s going to be a challenge, no doubt about it, but it is one me, the players and everyone at the club, including the fans are up for. Don’t write us off. We’ll be fine.”

Cameron Jerome

"I'm just looking forward to bedding in with the new players and hopefully we can click together quickly. We have a half-decent squad here.

"I've played with one or two of them before and I know a few of them from playing against them in the past. The boys are spot-on, there are no egos here and Palace have always been renowned for being a well-run family club. That's the impression I've got so far.

"I don't think there are any guarantees in the team at Palace, there are no egos, and as a footballer you have to work hard to put in the performances on a Saturday.

"We just have to maintain our Premier League status. "But I just hope to do well for myself, do well for the team, and then just see what happens from there."

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Manchester United - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
7th	3	1	1	1	4

Full league table

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Manchester United - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
3	1	1	1	4	2

Full form table

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Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
30/11/2011	League Cup	Manchester United	1 - 2	Crystal Palace
05/03/2005	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Manchester United
18/12/2004	League	Manchester United	5 - 2	Crystal Palace
10/11/2004	League Cup	Manchester United	2 - 0	Crystal Palace
27/04/1998	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 3	Manchester United

All time results

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Last meeting

Manchester United 1-2 Palace

Wednesday November 30 2011

Manchester United: Amos, Evans, Fabio Da Silva  (Fryers, 37), Rafael Da Silva (Pogba, 64), Smalling, J-S Park, Valencia, Gibson, Macheda, Diouf, Berbatov (R Morrison, 46)

Subs not used: Lindegaard, Cole, Keane

Goals: Macheda (69, pen)

Palace: Price, Gardner, McCarthy, Moxey (Ambrose, 46), Clyne, Wright, Dikgacoi, O'Keefe, Easter (Murray, 74), Scannell (Parr, 45), Zaha

Subs not used: Jedinak, Iversen, Ramage, Speroni

Goals: Ambrose 65, Murray 98

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