In this article…
Man United v Crystal Palace
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Date: Tuesday 26th September
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Competition: EFL Cup
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Kick off: 20:00
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Watch live: Sky Sports Main Event
An all-Premier League third round EFL Cup tie is not what either side would have wanted ahead of the draw, but there are often great spectacles at this stage of the competition between players who are often young and hungry to stake their claim as potential first-XI players in the manager’s thoughts.
Manchester United will make heavy rotations from the starting XI that played away at Burnley on Saturday night. However, United are the defending champions and Erik ten Hag will undoubtedly want to defend the competition well, especially as it gave him the best of starts as a Manchester United manager. Roy Hodgson is, of course, always keen to manage a football match. The Crystal Palace manager has never won the EFL Cup and as much as he would love to win some silverware at this stage of his career, it may well be the case that he sees Premier League survival and sustainability as a more important task in his role at the moment.
One would anticipate that the fringe players at Manchester United should be of a higher quality than Crystal Palace’s, but the way that mid table Premier League clubs are able to spend money in the modern game does mean that almost every club has excellent depth, and also a strong Academy. Palace are a club that represents that. There are plenty of interesting angles at play from a betting perspective, with value on offer because of the relative unfamiliarity of the line-ups and the fact that it is a one-off cup tie.
This preview has an intriguing 3/1 shot and a bigger priced alternative, levelling up on the original angles, to take a look at.
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Erik ten Hag ready to launch defence of his first Manchester United trophy
In retrospect, Erik ten Hag‘s winning the EFL Cup last season is carrying quite a heavy weight for those who back his management of Manchester United. The fact that he won some domestic silverware, as well as qualifying for the Champions League, adds up to a pretty successful season when compared to other recent campaigns at Old Trafford. For this reason, it is a competition that the Dutchman is likely to look upon favourably and as an opportunity to try and build some momentum into this season, therefore full rotation may be a bit risky.
Indeed, looking back to this stage of the competition last season, against a fairly similar standard of opponent, Aston Villa, the United team was rotated but retained a high calibre of players. Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford both started the game but so did Martin Dubravka, an appearance that would have massive significance in the final a few months later.
Man United team news
Altay Bayindir will have had this match circled in his calendar for a potential first-team debut for Manchester United. It is still unsure what ten Hag will decide, but Bayindir has to have a chance. The Red Devils will undoubtedly stick to a back four, Diogo Dalot may well continue at right back and Sergio Reguilon is expected to be fit enough to play on the opposite flank. Harry Maguire is training with the group and may well be fit enough to play, but Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof are set to reprise their central defensive partnership from the Burnley match.
Scott McTominay is almost a certain starter in central midfield, Christian Eriksen will probably get a start as well. The third member of the midfield may well be Sofyan Amrabat, who came off the bench right at the end of the Burnley match and still managed a foul in his one minute on the pitch.
It looks pretty certain that the wide forwards at Old Trafford will be young guns Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri. Rasmus Hojlund could start as he looks to get more minutes on the pitch to get up to full sharpness.
Crystal Palace management and players in a mental fight over priorities
It is the most realistic piece of silverware that Crystal Palace can win in a season, but yet, it has been a long time since Palace made a deep run in the EFL Cup, though they have reached the semi-finals four times in their history. Interestingly, they have done that twice as a second-tier side this century, the other two occasions were right at the beginning of the Premier League era in 1993 and 1995.
In their recent Premier League history the club seems to have decided, consciously or otherwise, that this competition is not important to them. They haven’t even passed the fourth round since getting back into the top division in 2013. Indeed, looking at last season they played a partially rotated side at this stage and went out to eventual finalists Newcastle on penalties. That was under Patrick Vieira, but it wasn’t that long ago that Roy Hodgson last managed Palace in the EFL Cup. Going back to 2020, Hodgson’s last campaign with Palace in that competition fell at the first hurdle against League Two Colchester on penalties. Again, that was a heavily rotated side.
There will be definite rotation in this Crystal Palace side and it is difficult to see the Eagles going all out to chase down a United lead if the Red Devils can get one.
Crystal Palace team news
There will be a change in goal as Dean Henderson will get the chance to make his Palace debut against the club he left to join the Eagles.
Nathaniel Clyne may get a chance at right back to deputise for Joel Ward, one would usually expect James Tomkins to play in central defence but he may not be fit enough to do so which means Joachim Andersen could play. The lesser-spotted Rob Holding could also play with left-footed Jairo Reidewald filling the defence.
Naouirou Ahamada will have been pencilled in to start here, but he is another one who has picked up a knock. Will Hughes will likely start and the wide threat will come from Jeffrey Schlupp and Jesurun Rak-Sakyi who tore League One up on loan at Charlton Athletic last season. Jean-Phillipe Mateta is a very likely starter up front.
Man United v Crystal Palace Cheat Sheet
Here’s the Cheat Sheet for the game and isn’t it glorious? All the stats in one handy guide, ready for you to pick out any betting angles you can find when choosing a bet builder for this Tuesday night EFL Cup clash.
If you fancy getting bet builder stats for games across major European leagues tonight, you can sample our Bet Builder feature on site. We combine historical averages, the perceived value of the selection, and player form to determine the best value picks for any potential bet builder.
To make the most of our Man United v Crystal Palace bet builder tips you can sign up to Paddy Power below. Stake up to £10 on your preferred option, and get £50 in free bet builders no matter what the result.
ABC’s 3/1 Man United v Crystal Palace bet builder
✅ Man United to win
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Odds: 1.57
There are lots of unconvincing signs around Crystal Palace when it comes to this competition. It is difficult to ignore their recent record, especially when Roy Hodgson is in charge.
If we were to exclude Brighton from the records, then Man United would be unbeaten at home for over a season.
It may not be a full-strength Red Devils side, but there are enough full internationals and experienced players on the pitch to guide them through to the next round.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
🛑 Diogo Dalot to commit 1+ foul
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Odds: 1.61
Full-back is one of those positions on the pitch that is prone to fouls. The position out on the flank means that, generally, a foul conceded is not an immediate goal threat and also there are more 1v1 battles conducted out on the flank.
This is relevant because despite team news rumours suggesting that Dalot will continue to play at right-back, the price seems quite big for him and his position.
This is especially so when Palace are well-known to use the flanks quite heavily in their attacks, usually with accomplished ball carriers as well.
Dalot is averaging over a foul a match so far this season and he is playing a lot of full matches. That may come to be a negative for this one as it is a chance to rest him, but if he does play it’s a great price.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
🚀 Alejandro Garnacho to have 3+ shots
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Odds: 1.40
The Argentine wonderkid is a definite goal threat and is almost certain to get a start and a large number of minutes unless the match goes awry for ten Hag, and he requires Marcus Rashford.
Garnacho needs to make an impression to make himself a viable alternative in Premier League matches. His modus operandi is to cut in from the left and shoot on his right and, although Palace will be aware of this, it isn’t very easy to stop.
He averages over five shots per 90 when looking at his data over the last 30 United games, although he is mostly used as an impact sub when defences are tired, which can skew the data a touch. Even so, he should have enough possession in this match to get three shots off.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
ABC’s 25/1 Man United v Crystal Palace bet builder
👑 Man United (-1 handicap)
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Odds: 2.62
Despite their defeat at home to Brighton recently, United’s home record is actually very good.
At this stage of the competition last season, they put four past an Unai Emery Aston Villa side and won by two.
With Palace not potentially taking the match as seriously as United there is every chance that, if the Red Devils get off to a flyer, they won’t chase them down too hard.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
🛑 Diogo Dalot to commit 2+ fouls
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Odds: 3.75
Dalot committed three fouls against Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the season so there is precedent for this happening.
As mentioned before, his price seems dependent on him not playing the full 90 minutes, but he may well do so.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
⚽ Alejandro Garnacho to score anytime
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Odds: 3.50
Garnacho shapes up to be United’s 2nd biggest goal threat in this match and this price is slightly too big for his status in a game that Manchester United are expected to win.
Obviously, Garnacho has had limited minutes and the majority of those minutes have come as an impact sub late in games, so his stats have to be taken with a pinch of salt. Regardless, over the last 30 United matches, Garnacho has a 0.41 goals per 90 record.
If he gets the full 90 tonight his price is big.
*Click the drop-down arrow to view full bet research
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* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing
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