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 21:07 · Sam Dymond]

48 mins: GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 0:

Crystal Palace double their lead! Marcus Rashford's introduction and a new attacking outlook had brought early promise for United, but they've been caught cold by Patrick van Aanholt and trail by two. After Christian Benteke had been tripped by Nemanja Matic, the visitors went to sleep and Jeffrey Schlupp took full advantage. The left-winger's quick free-kick played Van Aanholt in on goal with Chris Smalling trailing in his wake, and the Dutchman kept his cool to curl in at the near post. On the touchline, Jose Mourinho is furious; Roy Hodgson celebrates in delight.

[5 March 2018 21:13 · Sam Dymond]

52 mins: Chris Smalling nearly nods United back into the game immediately, but his far post header from Rashford's corner travelled just wide of Hennessey's goal.

[5 March 2018 21:14 · Sam Dymond]

55 mins: GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 1:

Chris Smalling gets his header right this time and Manchester United are back in it at Selhurst Park! Again, it was a Marcus Rashford corner from the left that caused problems, but Palace thought they had cleared their lines when they directed the ball to Antonio Valencia outside the box. The Ecuadorian had time to pick his pass and, when James Tomkins was slow in getting out, Smalling was left completely unmarked to head back across Wayne Hennessey's goal to halve the deficit.

[5 March 2018 21:17 · Sam Dymond]

57 mins: Ashley Young picks up a booking for cynically pulling back Jame McAthur as the Palace midfielder attempted to counter.

[5 March 2018 21:24 · Sam Dymond]

62 mins: Another excellent interception by Wan-Bissaka on his own touchline sparks a Crystal Palace counter attack that ends with shouts for handball against Matic in the box. Neil Swarbrick isn't interested, rightly, in awarding a penalty, but it's a 20-second spell that is indicative of how stretched this game has become. There are more goals to be scored here, surely.

[5 March 2018 21:25 · Sam Dymond]

64 mins: And Christian Benteke nearly gets one! The striker is first to meet Van Aanholt's lofted cross, but his towering header is just wide of De Gea's goal.

[5 March 2018 21:27 · Sam Dymond]

66 mins: Now it's Paul Pogba's turn! The midfielder meets Valencia's pull back first time with his side foot, but it's a comfortable height for Hennessey to parry to safety.

[5 March 2018 21:28 · Sam Dymond]

67 mins: A final throw of the dice for Jose Mourinho is a double substitution that sees Luke Shaw and Juan Mata introduction to the action. The pair take over from wing-backs Ashley Young and Antonio Valencia.

[5 March 2018 21:32 · Sam Dymond]

71 mins: United continue to push again with less than 20 minutes remaining, and a good looking cross from the right from Lukaku finds Lingard arriving at the near post. The midfielder is unable to replicate his heroics from last weekend, however, and steers his header off target.

[5 March 2018 21:33 · Sam Dymond]

74 mins: GOAL? No! Christian Benteke somehow denies Manchester United an equaliser with an extraordinary clearance off the line! Matic was convinced he had scored when he rocketed a loose ball goalwards.