Crystal Palace vs. Manchester United – EPL, March 3, 2021

Crystal Palace has probably just about done enough to ease any real worries of relegation this season and welcomes Manchester United to Selhurst Park on Wednesday.

The Red Devils will probably not be able to catch City at the top now but will be keen to pick up some more points as they aim to consolidate a Champions League spot.

Manchester United might be second in the league, but it has not been entirely convincing this season, so there may be some that look at these odds from BetOnline and fancy an upset. The odds for the home win do seem a little high, but I think Palace can get a draw from this one at best – and the away win bet does look like being the best choice.

Crystal Palace has had trouble winning games without Wilfried Zaha, but the four points from the last two games – including the win at Brighton – has proved that there is more to the Eagles than just the Ivory Coast international. He will probably miss out on playing against his former club on Wednesday, so it could be a more defensive effort again.

That defense was able to do the job at the weekend against Fulham. The Cottagers actually looked like the better team throughout the game but were unable to break down a stubborn Palace backline. Roy Hodgson said after that he wanted his team to be difficult to beat – and that will surely be the game plan for this one as well.

Manchester United should be going all out to win this fixture after managing a goalless draw with Chelsea at the weekend. That game was low on action and excitement, but the result did the job for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as his side remains six points clear of the Londoners in fifth. As Champions League qualification is probably the best that can be hoped for this season now, that gap is a solid safety net.

Solskjaer will be hoping that playmaker Bruno Fernandes has more of a significant role against Palace, though. He was strangely subdued against Chelsea – and Roy Hodgson’s side should probably be ready for an improvement. It has been a weird season for United, but another win at Selhurst Park will keep its closest rivals at arm’s length.

Manchester United still isn’t really getting the acclaim that it should probably be receiving. That’s down to the performances of its cross-city rivals at the top of the league – and the fact that United has not looked completely dominant for long enough throughout the campaign. But it does still sit second in the league, having lost just once in its last 20 EPL games. That is impressive – and there should be three more points on Wednesday.