Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League’s late kick-off as Manchester United travel to Crystal Palace hoping to avoid four straight defeats.

Kick-off is a little over half an hour away and both team sheets are in. Here’s how Palace will line-up this evening:

The big news is that neither Angel di Maria (injury) or Robin van Persie (ill) will be involved.

Louis van Gaal’s side shows two changes from the one that lost to West Brom last time out with Luke Shaw and Phil Jones in for van Persie and Paddy McNair.

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United fans, what do you make of today’s team? The official word is both di Maria and van Persie are absent through injury and illness but is it another indication they could be heading towards the Old Trafford exit door?

Wayne Rooney will spearhead the attack once again while there’s another defensive reshuffle with Jones and Shaw in.

Elsewhere, Burnley have just been relegated despite winning at Hull this afternoon. We’ll have a full round-up on the site shortly.

Here’s a quick look at the top half of the Barclays Premier League. Chelsea, as we know, have already been crowned champions but the race for Champions League football could yet go down to the wire.

United’s recent dip has given Liverpool hope but van Gaal’s side know they are in control of their own fate. They require six points from their remaining three outings to guarantee themselves of a top four spot. United may, however, not need as many depending on how Liverpool go tomorrow against Chelsea.

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While we’re waiting for the action to get under way, let’s check on today’s other results which had a huge bearing on matters at the other end of the table.

• Everton 0-2 Sunderland
• Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham
• Hull 0-1 Burnley
• Leicester 2-0 Southampton
• Newcastle 1-1 West Brom
• Stoke 3-0 Tottenham

Louis van Gaal confirms to Sky Sports that Angel di Maria injured himself in training on Wednesday while Rooney will play as the lone striker at Selhurst Park.

The United boss admits his side need to start converting their possession into goals but believes they also need some more luck on front of goal.

After today’s results, Crystal Palace are now mathematically safe and their manager, Alan Pardew, admits to Sky Sports they will release the shackles and have ‘a real go’ at Man United.

Jason Puncheon has been dropped to the bench today because, according to his manager, his ‘levels have dropped’ recently but could Wilfried Zaha punish his former club?

Pardew certainly has plenty of options going forward with Jordan Mutch, Frazier Campbell, Marouane Chamakh and Puncheon all waiting in the wings if needed.

It certainly won’t be an easy evening in the capital for United. Kick-off is imminent.

History is certainly on United’s side in this particular fixture but Palace have nothing to lose and will no doubt throw everything at a fragile Red Devils rearguard.

It’s a glorious evening in Croydon and, as you’d expect, Selhurst Park is hopping. Both sides are out on the pitch and we’ve just the formalities to complete before the action gets under way.

Here’s a quick look at the benches available to Pardew and van Gaal should they need to call on reinforcements.

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United, playing in their all white away kit, tip off.

The visitors have started on the front foot but Palace are compact in defence and will try and make it difficult for United to find pockets of space in the final third.

Glenn Murray plays a perfectly weighted ball for Bolasie to run onto but Luke Shaw just stepped up in time and the assistant correctly raised his flag. That will be an interesting duel down this left hand side.

United win an early corner as Herrera sets Valencia free down the right. The full-back does well to get there ahead of Ward and his cross is deflected behind despite the best efforts of Julian Speroni.

The resulting set-piece comes to nothing but United retain possession.

A couple of players have lost their footing in the early minutes and the pitch looks quite long. Perhaps a tactic by the hosts to stifle United’s passing game?

POST! Nobody closes Daley Blind down and he tries his luck from range but Speroni is equal to it as he pushes it onto the post.

United have started brightly as they look to silence the boisterous home supporters.

Palace seem happy to sit back and absorb the pressure. The plan will surely be to try and hit United on the break with players such as Zaha and Bolasie offering pace on either wing.

Young skips past Ward far too easily but the England international’s delivery is poor as he over hits his cross.

First opening for Zaha but he’s forced wide by Valencia and after eventually creating a yard to find a cross, his ball is too far for anyone in a red and blue shirt.

At the other end, Herrera has pop at goal but the angle is always against him and his effort skews well wide of Speroni’s upright. United have already enjoyed 73% of the possession.

First real chance for Zaha to run at Valencia and he skips past the United full-back with ease before standing an inviting cross towards the back post but Jones just about deals with it.

Young is then perhaps fortunate to win a free-kick just outside his own box with Bolasie sniffing around.

PENALTY! Man United

Scott Dann is adjudged to have handled Young’s cross and the referee points to the spot.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Man United (Mata)

With Rooney off penalty duties, Juan Mata is given the responsibility and the Spaniard makes no mistake as he slots low into the corner.

Dann tried to block the cross but leaned towards the ball and it strikes him on the right arm. Palace were not happy but you can see why the referee gave it.

That was United’s first goal in 306 minutes of Premier League football and they nearly got a second shortly after but Herrera was unable to keep his effort down twelve yards out.

Palace look to hit back instantly as Jedinak rises highest from a corner but after doing the hard work to lose his marker, the Palace captain heads wide.

Silly foul by Mata on the edge of the area gives Palace a dangerous free. The United goalscorer had two nibbles at Zaha but the training ground set-piece is eventually dealt with by the visitors.

Going forward, United look in the mood this evening but once again they are fragile at the back. That last move saw Palace work the free wide before Dann knocked it down for Murray but Jones intervened to avert the danger.

A period of United possession ends when Valencia comes infield and slips. Despite their lead, it’s much of the same for van Gaal’s side as they enjoy plenty of possession but aren’t doing a lot with it.

At the other end, Palace fans want a penalty when Ward is eased off the ball by Fellaini in the box. Michael Oliver isn’t interested, however, and waves away the appeals.

The United trainer is on and Jonny Evans is preparing himself on the bench. Luke Shaw is the player down and it appears to be a head injury as the stretcher comes on. He looked a bit groggy just before he went down and you can’t take any risks.

Replays show Glenn Murray accidentally elbowed the full-back in the face. Rooney, meanwhile, has been struggling with a groin complaint and is still trying to run the knock off.

Here’s the moment Juan Mata fired United into the lead:

Daniel Hambury Daniel Hambury

United want another penalty. Rooney volleys Young’s cross against Damien Delaney’s arm but the defender could do nothing about that given he was just a yard away from Rooney.

Phil Jones has switched to left-back after Shaw’s withdrawal. Bolasie will fancy his chances down this right hand side and Palace should try and get the ball wide at every opportunity.

CHANCE! Valencia embarks on a mazy run down the right and lays it off for Herrera to cross. The delivery evades Rooney but falls at the feet of the unmarked Fellaini at the back post but the Belgian can’t control and the chance is gone.

Palace are finishing the half strongly as a corner is followed by a succession of crosses. Jonny Evans is caught in possession but Smalling does well to head clear under pressure from Murray.

It’s been a frustrating season for Shaw after his move from Southampton. The England international has completed the full 90 minutes just eight times this campaign.

Bolasie crosses for Murray and the striker swivels but sees his shot blocked by Smalling. That should be it for the first-half.

And Michael Oliver brings the first period to an end. The home fans aren’t happy as the players leave the field, directing their anger towards the officials.

The big talking point of the half was the penalty. In the Sky studio, Thierry Henry believes the referee makes the right call while Jamie Redknapp questions how Michael Oliver could see the incident through a couple of players.

You can watch the goal here.

Wayne Rooney was back out on the pitch before everyone else with a trainer going through what looked like a fitness test. The United captain was struggling with a groin injury and it appears he won’t be able to continue.

Radamel Falcao is being prepared. Palace are also making a change with Jason Puncheon coming on for Joe Ledley.

We’re back under way at Selhurst Park.

Palace have started brightly as they search for a route back into this game. Puncheon has already made a difference as he releases Souare down the left. Glenn Murray tries to get on front of his marker and divert the low cross in and the near post but the angle is too tight.

Palace are winning all the 50/50 duels and have United on the back foot. Bolasie and Zaha are pinging crosses in at every opportunity but Smalling has dealt with them all so far.

Palace are furious again. It’s poor defending from Mata initially as he turns his back on Puncheon and the United goalscorer then comes back and appears to trip Puncheon but Oliver is unmoved. Replays suggest there was certainly contact but the Palace winger’s emphasised fall to the ground may have convinced the referee otherwise.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Man United (Puncheon)

It was coming. Smalling is penalised for grappling with Murray and from the free, Puncheon curls it past de Gea via a slight deflection off Daley Blind.

For the second time in two games, United’s wall were to blame for the concession of a soft goal. Blind was at the end of the wall but puts his hand on front of his face and the ball skims his head to loop over de Gea.

It was Palace’s first goal in four matches and now Selhurst Park is bouncing.

More penalty appeals as Jedinak feels he’s tugged by Valencia but again the referee isn’t interested. United simply haven’t come out after the break and are all over the place.

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Smalling is left in no man’s land by a sloppy pass and McArthur has Murray free to his right but opts to go alone and his low effort goes narrowly wide with de Gea scrambling.

Palace scent blood and they are applying the pressure by pushing high up the pitch.

Not sure Falcao has touched the ball since he’s come on. To be fair, United have been under the cosh in this second-half but he needs to try and make something happen. Talk about the perfect time to make an impact.

WHAT A SAVE! How many times has David de Gea bailed United out this season? Murray has to score and inflict more woe on Louis van Gaal’s side but he is thwarted from five yards by the Spanish goalkeeper.

De Gea is called into action again as McArthur’s pinpoint cross finds Zaha at the back post and the winger shoots first time but it’s straight at the ‘keeper.

Here’s a closer look at Jason Puncheon’s equaliser:

This time it’s United’s turn to go close. Young powers past Ward, drives into the box and then sees his effort trickle agonisingly wide off Dann.

United are unable to clear after Valencia is forced to concede a corner. The ball eventually falls invitingly for Delaney on the edge of the area but his effort is wild.

End to end now as Young drives down the left and cuts it back for Mata but a slight deflection on the way through makes it difficult for the former Chelsea man and he skies his volley.

GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-2 Man United (Fellaini)

Young has caused untold problems for Ward and its his cross which catches Speroni out and Fellaini arrives at the back post to head home into the empty net.

Young has been superb all afternoon and Ward has been unable to contain him. On that occasion, he cut back inside rather than going doing the line and Young sent over a floated cross for Fellaini to restore United’s lead.

But it was poor goalkeeping from Speroni who came and found himself in no man’s land.

Evans has been off the pace since his introduction and he’s caught out again which leads to a Palace corner in front of their passionate fans but it comes to nothing.

Chris Smalling trudges off and Paddy McNair is his replacement. Pardew makes two changes as he looks to throw everything at United. Jedinak makes way for Chung-Yong Lee and Chamakh comes on for Zaha.

SAVE! De Gea called upon again as he denies Murray with another fine stop. The striker turns McNair and does everything right but the ‘keeper is in inspired form as he saves with his feet.

Palace continue to file forward and you have to feel they’ll get at least one more chance. This is the goal that separates the sides. Speroni won’t want to see this again:

Gary Neville has given Ashley Young the man of the match award despite de Gea’s heroics. Young has been involved in both goals and has been a constant threat down the United left.

Herrera, meanwhile, nearly seals the win with a sweet volley after Falcao’s ball through but Speroni tips it over the bar.

There will be four minutes of injury time. Palace send it long and Valencia concedes a needless free-kick to give the hosts the chance to load the box.

Anxious moments for United as we enter the final stages. De Gea relieves the pressure by plucking a cross out of the air to take the sting out of Palace’s late onslaught.

Into the final minute now and United are trying to wind down the clock by keeping hold of possession. Young forces Ward to concede the throw and the visitors are nearly there.

And that’s it! United end their losing streak but they’ve had to grind it out here and Louis van Gaal’s side are now within touching distance of a return to the Champions League.

If Chelsea beat Liverpool tomorrow, United are assured of a top four finish.

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That’s all from us this evening but there will be plenty of reaction on the site later as well as full coverage of all of the today’s other Premier League action.