Oliver Glasner has transformed Crystal Palace’s fortunes since arriving, and the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss will be hoping to continue his strong start when a downtrodden Manchester United visit Selhurst Park on Monday.
The Red Devils’ Champions League ambitions are over and their Europa League prospects do not look much better, although Erik ten Hag will still be hoping to save his job with a strong finish to an otherwise disappointing season.
- OVER 2.5 GOALS AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
- BRUNO FERNANDES TO SCORE ANYTIME
- MICHAEL OLISE TO SCORE OR ASSIST
Goals To Flow At Selhurst Park
United have problems all over the pitch, but by far the most pressing concern is their openness at the back and this has resulted in plenty of high-scoring games when they are involved.
Of course, you can point to some serious selection issues as the reason for some of this fragility, but those problems remain and that could lead to a goal-fest at Selhurst Park.
The Red Devils’ draw at Burnley last time out made it eight successive games in which both teams have scored and there has been an average of 4.75 goals per game in this sequence, while Crystal Palace have been threatening going forward since Glasner’s arrival.
The Eagles have scored nine goals across their last four games and hammered West Ham 5-2 at Selhurst Park last month, so expect the goals to flow freely.
OVER 2.5 GOALS AND BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
Purple Patch To Continue For Bruno
Bruno Fernandes is often the target of criticism but nobody can deny his influence on this United side and the Portuguese midfielder could play a key role on Monday.
Fernandes has scored 15 goals and assisted 11 more for his side this season and he has kicked on in recent weeks.
The 29-year-old scored twice and assisted once against Sheffield United a couple of weeks ago and now has seven goals across his last six games in all competitions.
He failed to make an impact in United’s 1-0 defeat in September’s reverse fixture, but he can add to his two goals against Palace this time around.
BRUNO FERNANDES TO SCORE ANYTIME
Olise To Shine
Palace slapped a £60 million price tag on Michael Olise last month and it is not hard to see why, with the 22-year-old attacker joint-second in goal contributions for his club this season, despite an injury-hit campaign.
The Frenchman has been limited to just 11 starts in the Premier League but has still managed to chip in with seven goals and four assists, including one of each in his last start at Selhurst Park in that 5-2 defeat of West Ham.
He has either scored or assisted in six of his last eight starts for Palace and has totalled 10 goal contributions in those fixtures, while he also bagged a goal against United at Selhurst Park last season.
MICHAEL OLISE TO SCORE OR ASSIST
