Hello everyone. Welcome to our coverage of what could be a sticky enough fixture for Louis van Gaal’s side.
Palace have been immensely competitive so far this term and are a tough team to break down.
Will United’s struggling attack deliver this afternoon or will Alan Pardew pick up an impressive win?
As always, feel free to email (eoin@the42.ie), tweet, leave a Facebook message or a comment.
Let’s bring you the teams, shall we? Here’s how United will line-up.
For Palace, Damien Delaney starts in central defence while former United winger Wilfried Zaha is also included.
There is a fresh face on the United bench this afternoon – 17-year-old Axel Tuanzebe. He’s been included in the matchday squad for the very first time.
Last season, he was captain of the club’s Under-18 team and finished the campaign being crowned the Young Player of the Year.
Born in the Congo but raised in Rochdale, it’s clear that his ball-playing skills at centre- half appeal to the possession-obsessed Louis van Gaal.
Louis van Gaal has seemed to hint pre-game that Anthony Martial will, again, be asked to play out wide rather than through the middle.
As United’s biggest goal-threat, it seems ludicrous not to play the French youngster centrally.
AND WE’RE OFF!
CLOSE! United are smothered in their own area and cough up possession. The ball breaks for Dwight Gayle, who drives a low shot towards goal but it’s quite tame and straight at de Gea. Early warning for the guests though.
Bright start from Palace here – pushing United, closing them down quickly. It led to that Gayle chance at they cheaply surrender the ball again after good work from Bolasie in pressuring Darmian into an error. Luckily, de Gea is off his line quickly to thump it clear.
This time it’s Schweinsteiger who’s caught by the Palace energy and desire and, rather inevitably, there’s a lack of urgency and pace to United early on.
Free-kick for Palace in a dangerous position here after Juan Mata’s high leg. Cabaye to swing this in.
SO CLOSE! Incredible sequence here. From the free-kick, Scott Dann chests down for Bolasie who smacks a thunderous shot towards goal that smacks the bar. Moments later, Smalling mis-kicks and almost puts through his own net before the corner leads to de Gea pushing a header over the bar. On the replay of the Bolasie strike, de Gea gets his fingertips to it – what a brilliant piece of goalkeeping.
United are all over the place here. Palace have taken the game to them from the off and they should be in front. I don’t think Rooney has touched the ball yet.
A shake of the head from Louis van Gaal on the bench. They haven’t even got started here and seem overwhelmed by the Palace approach.
BOOKING! That’s silly from Cabaye. Schweinsteiger – hardly the quickest – heads down the left and the Frenchman dives in to make a reckless challenge, stretching to bring the ex-Bayern man down. That’s an early yellow for a key Palace player.
Ander Herrera has gestured to his team-mates, encouraging them to calm down, get their foot on the ball and keep composed. And that’s what they’ve done over the last few minutes. Better possession from them.
Central free-kick for United on the edge of the box here, as Mata is taken down by Scott Dann. They’ve been solid in the last few minutes and weathered that ferocious Palace storm from earlier. Good chance here.
CLOSE! It’s a careful hit from Rooney, who seems pre-occupied with just getting the ball over the wall and doesn’t put much pace on it. It’s a nice height for Hennessey, who dives across and catches in his two hands.
BOOKING! Martial slips past Martin Kelly down the left side and it’s a lazy foul from the full-back. It’s not malicious and a tame yellow card to pick up, really.
That was beautiful from Mata who pops up in the middle, takes on a pass at pace, gets turned and pushes the ball through MacArthur’s legs. Rooney makes a run but the pass isn’t on par with the skill which preceded it.
VERY CLOSE! Martial drops deep, has a look up and plays through an excellent ball for Rooney to run onto. He seems to be in control but Hennessey is off his line very quickly. Still, the striker steadies himself and stabs towards goal. It’s not a great effort but the keeper does do very well to block.
Seems to be something brewing between compatriots Cabaye and Schneiderlin – the former is already on a booking so he needs to be careful.
CLOSE! Lovely stuff from Cabaye, who takes the ball down brilliantly as he evades Schneiderlin before slipping it through for Gayle. But, like what happened inside the first few minutes, his shot lacks conviction and it’s easy for de Gea. Some decent chances here for Palace.
Mata has grown into this game and by slipping inside, Palace are finding it hard to quell his influence. He plays a lofted pass over the top for Martial – it’s clever and the Frenchman is just about to run onto it. But a despairing header from a Palace defender puts it out for a corner.
Palace have a problem on their right side. Kelly is on a yellow card and he’s really up against it facing Martial. He brings him down again and United are awarded a free-kick that comes to nothing. But it’s something to exploit as the game goes on.
CLOSE! Oh, Ander Herrera! That was a great chance. Mata is involved again, racing towards the area after Rooney changes direction of attack with a clever back-heel. It’s played to Martial in the left channel, he gets his head up, plays it across the six-yard area for Herrera who essentially mis-kicks and shanks wide.
AND THAT’S HALF-TIME!
In fairness, Rooney has been a lot better today compared to some of his other performances this season. But that slow, cumbersome run onto Martial’s through-ball could prove a defining moment. It’s just not as explosive as before. And when he’s leading the line, trying to make runs in behind, he needs pace.
AND WE’RE BACK!
Bizarre moment from Darmian early on in the half as he kicks a ball straight out of play as he attempts to give a simple pass.
BOOKING! Smalling gets done by Gayle down the left side and cynically pulls back the attacker as he races clear. Certain yellow for the centre-back.
There’s a positional change for Palace and it’s what we touched on earlier. Kelly was struggling with Martial so he’s swapped over to the left side of defence now.
Herrera catches Cabaye with a challenge and the Spaniard isn’t happy with the Palace midfielder’s reaction. There’s a bit of pushing and shoving but the United midfielder escapes without a booking. He probably deserved one too – stepping on Cabaye’s toes as he dribbled past.
BOOKING! Darmian has struggled here. He’s been a bit all over the place and after initially impressing with performances, he’s had some problems in recent weeks. He gets a yellow after dragging down Zaha.
We’ve followed a similar pattern to the first half – Palace have been industrious while United have been sluggish. But, as they knock some passes together, they’ll inevitably create some more chances.
Rather turgid stuff so far. United need to get Mata on the ball, as they did in the opening period. He holds the key to unlocking the Palace defence.
Palace knocking on the door again as Bolasie does really well in the right channel but there’s no support in the middle for him as Gayle hangs back on the edge of the area. The cross is whipped in and Darmian outs it out for a corner.
SUBSTITUTION! Young (on) – Darmian (off)
The Italian has been struggling to contain the offensive charms of Wilfried Zaha so he makes way. It means a re-shuffle for United here.
Young has gone straight into right-back, and faces up to Zaha. He’s van Gaal’s Dirk Kuyt – a flexible and willing player who will put a shift in wherever it’s required.
SUBSTITUTION! Fellaini (on) – Schweinsteiger (off)
United’s second change and it’s largely inevitable. The towering figure of the Belgian gives Palace something fresh to worry about and it looks like Martial has pushed up top now.
SO CLOSE! It’s a lovely build-up from Palace down the right and when Ward clips in a super little cross, there’s Cabaye – all alone – who looks to turn it to the net. But it rolls agonisingly wide of the far post and United get away with it. Just about.
Herrera takes a dive in the area as Delaney nips in to challenge. The commanding centre-half is not happy at all and instantly starts jabbing a finger at the Spaniard.
CLOSE! It’s all Palace again. Firstly, as a corner is floated in, Fellaini doesn’t bother to jump and Dann’s header loops wide of the upright with Delanaey stretching to apply a finishing touch right on the post. Moments later, on a counter attack, there’s a low shot fizzed towards de Gea’s near post and the keeper sticks out a leg to block.
SUBSTITUTION! Lingard (on) – Mata (off)
A strange afternoon for Mata. He was excellent in the first-half and central to United creating some chances. But he’s been anonymous in the second period and makes way for some more energy and youthful exuberance in the United attack.
BOOKING! Gayle brings down Young as he scampers away towards the area and this is a great position for a free-kick here.
SUBSTITUTION! Jedinak (on) – Cabaye (off)
The Frenchman gingerly makes his way off. He had a great chance in the second half and probably knows it too.
Jedinak has always been such an under-rated player. Fantastic for Palace to be able to spring a player of his calibre from the bench, just as they want to firm up the midfield. Steel, determination, physicality.
Rojo goes down after being hit by Bolasie’s flailing arm. It’s a free-kick to Palace after all of this though and the game is just ebbing towards a scoreless draw – yet another one for United.
That was a half-chance for United as Rooney cuts inside and floats a deep cross to the far post where Lingard arrives. He nods it back across goal and Martial turns and thumps a shot towards goal but there’s a massive block in there – probably from Delaney – and Palace get it clear.
SO CLOSE! From the Palace corner, Bolasie and Dann are both in there. One of them gets a header in towards goal and it just about misses the crossbar. United hanging on.
BOOKING! This game has been riddled with yellow cards and Marcos Rojo is the latest to pick one up.
AND THAT’S FULL-TIME!
Well, that was pretty putrid from Manchester United. Palace are a solid if unspectacular side and van Gaal’s side were hanging on at Selhurst Park.
Palace created plenty of chances – de Gea brilliantly tipped Bolasie’s thunderous strike onto the bar in the first half, Dwight Gayle had a couple of decent opportunities while Yohan Cabaye agonisingly rolled a close-range effort wide of the post in the second period.
For United, Rooney went close and that was it.
After the break in particular, they were very poor and their levels dropped dramatically. A third straight scoreless draw for United now. In their last four games, they’ve scored just once.
And if van Gaal was out to dispel the criticism handed out by Paul Scholes earlier this week about United being a boring side, his charges failed miserably.
Thanks for staying with us and there will be plenty more coverage across the site throughout the evening.
Looks like Mayo will be asking Santa Claus for Sam this year
@david hynes: Now you’re just being silly there David. Even we know Santa doesn’t come until Christmas eve ..
@david hynes: even if they whole championship was cancelled they’d still be runners up.
Croke park in December. Rain and hail. Extortionate ticket prices. Getting dark at 4pm and a very long dismal drive home. No thanks.
@Patrick Agnew: Haha stay at home so. Some of us would be delighted with the misery of being in croker in december
@Patrick Agnew: I’d say you’re the life and soul of a party. Generally, ticket prices are good value with many being double headers. As for the weather, this being Ireland, you’ve as much chance of being soaked in July as you do in December.
@Gareth Ward: off you go Gareth. I’ll watch it in the pub.
@Patrick Agnew: I’ll meet you there for a pint so after ive been to the games!
@Patrick Agnew: Do ya hear this lad? Christ. The pessimism. I’d crawl over broken glass to see my county play in a December final. Driving home from a match in the dark, what will they think of next!
@Patrick Agnew: You’re from Fermanagh Paddy, you won’t need to worry about it…
@Joe Brennan: good spot joe but I’m from Armagh
@Patrick Agnew: Still won’t.
Hopefully galway can beat mayo to relegate them
How is the provincial system fair for lets say an Ulster team who have to play a lot more and tougher games. Open draw would have been fairer and a good chance to trial something different. Instead its the same old.
@Lad: The provincial system has never been fair. So its not any different this year
@Gareth Ward: there is no back door? That does make it more unfair.
@Lad: Agree about Ulster but this is best way as open draw means some teams dont even have provincial title to go go for. I for one will be looking forward to it!!!
@Lad: Probably. But someone else would have a reason to complain then
@BrianG: true but they have a chance to go for that every year. What about giving them one good chance off the All Ireland. Last 32, round of 16, quarters, semis and final. Fair for everyone and gives someone like kildare, Tipp, Derry a real chance to go further than they could ever hope for the AI, rather than through the province. Give them hope, its crucial in GAA, just like nowhere but Newbridge and what that meant for kildare.
Just imagine a game of hurling in a potential snowstorm
@Sean Treacy: Bring it on baby
@Sean Treacy: just give me a game of hurling anywhere right now ..hail , rain or snow .
This will shorten the winter for a lot of people.
Roscommon at 100/1, twill be the best Xmas ever had
Lets go 6 in a row!
@Johnny 5: “Yis can fook off with your ga, Liverpool are playing Southampton at 4 o clock.” Jesus wept
@Baz:
Ha ha you can watch the paint dry Wel watch a mans game
Football so predictable.
Hurling so exciting.
@Colman Walsh: your comment was also predictable
Galway for the double this year at senior and U20, and the camogie and ladies football too!
@David Finn: Is that not a quadruple?
Kerry v Galway and Dublin v Donegal for the semis. Repeat of last years final, Dubs to shade it by a couple of points.
@Johnny 5: jes lad say if Galway can get back to the form they had up till this will give Kerry a good run for there money
@Johnny 5: jaysus I dunno, I like the name Johnny 5.
@Johnny 5: our game v Tyrone in ballybofey will be massive.
Should the semi finals not be Leinster v Munster and Connacht v Ulster? Before the break the super 8′s would have been Connacht and Ulster winners in one group and Leinster and Munster in the other. Why the change now?
@Alan Kenny: They obviously want a kerry dublin final
@Alan Kenny: I’d imagine 2020 framework moves to 2021. Hopefully back to normal
not a hope we will be well into lockdown 2 by then
Is there relegation in the leagues ??
@Gareth Ward: I would say so. Bottom two will still get relegated.
Also why are games to be finished on penalty’s? These are not low scoring games, there could easily be made a new rule to finish a game after a draw in extra time, such as first team to lead by 2 points or more wins.. Much fairer.
@Lad: Penalties are more craic anyway. Plus it could take an hour for a team to get a 2 point lead
@Gareth Ward: Seriously? An hour?
Ya because All Ireland Finals are all about the craic.
@Lad: Well i cant put an exact time on it. But imagine how untra defensive teams would get then! An hour might be generous
And yes, all ireland finals are great craic!
@Lad: can you imagine Tyrone defending a lead in extra time with that rule. Christ there be lads building blocks across the 45m line
I’m just glad we’re having championships – but fingers crossed! The virus will do what it wants to do.
Good luck to all – GAA management, teams and players.
Limerick league champions. So only lost two of the last 7 trophies they could have won. 2* league 1a, 1 all Ireland, 1 * league 1b, 1* munster
@Trevor: Well Clare are also league champions. 1a and 1b are the same level, it was division one split into 2 groups
@Gareth Ward: 1a and 1b are not the same level
@Trevor: Do your research kid, they are
@Trevor: they are the same level changed format start of this year
@Gareth Ward: use your brain. Also I would have included a munster cup win if I was going to the level of lower 1b
@Trevor: Hahaha you are making less and less sense with every comment
it’s an absolute farce. Never has it been easier for Dublin and Kerry to walk their provinces.
No other div 1 team from their provinces next year. Kerry might not even face a div 2 side.
Absolute huge asterix joke.
@Peter McGlynn: no there won’t be any asterix next to it, if Kerry or Dublin win the all ireland it’s cause they are the best team, its not there fault if the rest aren’t up to the standard.
Dream on GAA
Another handy all Ireland for Tipp