Crystal Palace vs Manchester United, Premier League - as it happened

Re-live all the action from Selhurst Park

(Getty)

Crystal Palace host Manchester United this evening in a clash of pivotal importance for both sides. As Manchester United look to reclaim second place from Liverpool, Palace will be hoping they can secure an unexpected three points to climb out of the bottom free. Follow all the live action below.

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Preview:

Palace have not beaten United in top flight football in over 27 years, and the current injury crisis at Selhurst Park will far from aid their cause to end this barren run. A seemingly endless injury list including the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Wilfried Zaha, Ruben Loftus-Cheek as well as six other first team players has seen Palace’s resurgence halted sharply, and with 10 games remaining of the 2017/18 campaign, they are 18^th in the table with 27 Premier League points.

United have enjoyed a more successful patch of recent form than their opponents in this Monday night clash, with Mourinho overseeing a 0-0 draw away to Sevilla in the Champions League last-16, whilst also masterminding a vital victory against his previous employers, Chelsea, in a 2-1 win at Old Trafford last weekend.

From a perspective of comparison, this Premier League clash is of immeasurable importance to Roy Hodgson’s side, with a win potentially lifting them as high as 14^th in the table. For Mourinho’s side, they will view the game as a springboard for cementing their Champions League qualification, with three points lifting them nine clear of Chelsea who are fifth.

What time does it start?

Crystal Palace vs Manchester United kicks off at 20.00pm

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League from 20.00.

It’s a big game for...

Romelu Lukaku: Manchester United’s Belgian striker defied his critics in last weekend’s victory over Chelsea, with a rare goal against ‘top-six’ opposition. Lukaku put in a commanding performance at Old Trafford, and Monday’s clash against Palace will be a telling indicator if the Belgian has the potential to follow up his goal-scoring achievements with another vital contribution, this time at Selhurst Park.

Lukaku has struggled at times this season (Getty)

Best Stat…

Crystal Palace have not won any of their 17 Premier League meetings with Manchester United (D3, L14) – a Premier League record for the most games against an opponent without winning.

Remember when…

Eric Cantona’s Kung Fu Kick: 25^th January 1995. Eric Cantona took a disliking to the musings of a fan in the crowd at Selhurst Park, and famously kicked the fan in the face whilst in the crowd. Cantona received a nine month football ban for the incident.

Player to watch…

Anthony Martial. Manchester United’s French forward could be set to make a considerable impact at Selhurt Park on Monday night, with Martial potentially starting on the bench. If he does, Mourinho will be hopeful of a goalscoring return, with Martial having been involved in a league-high six goals as a substitute in 2017/18.

Will Martial start? (Getty)

Past three-meetings…

• Manchester United 4 (Fellaini 2, Mata, Lukaku) Crystal Palace 0, Premier League, September 2017
• Manchester United 2 (Harrop, Pogba) Crystal Palace 0, Premier League, May 2017
• Crystal Palace 1 (McArthur) Manchester United 2 (Pogba, Ibrahimovich), Premier League, December 2016

Form guide…

• Crystal Palace: WLDDLL
• Manchester United: LWLWDW

Odds…

• Crystal Palace to win: 6/1
• Manchester United to win: 1/2
• Draw: 33/10

(Odds provided by 888 Sport)

[5 March 2018 20:06 · Sam Dymond]

3 mins: Has the tone been set early on here? There hasn't been much football played in the opening minutes, but two players have found themselves on the end of sore ones. After Paul Pogba was left on the deck by Alexander Sorloth's challenge, Patrick van Aanholt required treatment after finding his nose on the end of Antonio Valencia's accidental forearm.

[5 March 2018 20:08 · Sam Dymond]

6 mins: Now it gets going and there's a chance to report from both ends. From the first corner of the game, Crystal Palace defender James Tomkins nearly hooked in a spectacular effort while seconds later, Alexis Sanchez was denied a headed goal by the alert goalkeeping of Wayne Hennessey.

[5 March 2018 20:10 · Sam Dymond]

9 mins: Alexis Sanchez again causes problems for Palace, this time combining well with Ashley Young down the left. The Chilean has already upset the Selhurst faithful once this season after he netted a brace for Arsenal in a 3-2 win here over the Christmas period.

[5 March 2018 20:11 · Sam Dymond]

11 mins: GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 0:

Crystal Palace lead and Selhurst Park is rocking! After seeing off some early United pressure, the hosts broke and found Christian Benteke on the left. The Belgian striker toyed with the idea of taking on Chris Smalling on the edge of the box, but sensibly sought other options. Holding play up, he eventually squared to the arriving Andros Townsend, whose first time side-foot crashed into Victor Lindelof and flew into the top right corner with David de Gea stranded.

[5 March 2018 20:16 · Sam Dymond]

A historic goal.

[5 March 2018 20:19 · Sam Dymond]

16 mins: Palace's two big men up top are giving Manchester United plenty to think about. It's allowing the wide players Roy Hodgson spoke about before kick-off to run an occupied defence, most recently when Townsend won another Crystal Palace corner. From the dead ball, James McArthur nearly forced in a second.

[5 March 2018 20:23 · Sam Dymond]

20 mins: Sorloth, the six foot four Norwegian is enjoying his evening. After overpowering Lindelof once again, the striker registers his first effort of the game - a low drive straight into the body of De Gea.

[5 March 2018 20:28 · Sam Dymond]

26 mins: Buoyed by his earlier goal, Andros Townsend tries his luck from long range after Sorloth knocks down a long ball upfield. Unfortunately for the Palace winger, there's no Manchester United defender to crash the ball into this time and it soars into the stand.

[5 March 2018 20:33 · Sam Dymond]

30 mins: United are having little joy in trying to break the home side down. Paul Pogba has a go at bursting forward into the penalty area, but is denied brilliantly by 20-year-old Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Let's face it, nobody does two flat banks of four like Roy Hodgson.

[5 March 2018 20:35 · Sam Dymond]

32 mins: Romelu Lukaku has a fine goalscoring record against Crystal Palace having netted five in his last seven appearances against Eagles. It's not happening tonight though - yet. The Belgian forward miscontrols a long pass and the ball trickles out of play for a goalkick much to the amusement of the relentless home support.