Erik ten Hag should be fully fit for Manchester United’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace this weekend, as the team hosts the team for the second time in five days at Old Trafford.
The Reds defeated the Eagles 3-0 on Tuesday night to secure their spot in the Carabao Cup fourth round. Alejandro Garnacho, Casemiro, and Anthony Martial all scored goals to cap off a relaxing evening for a significantly altered team.
Despite the quick turnaround, Christian Eriksen and Scott McTominay, who both recovered from brief illnesses, were allowed to rejoin United’s roster. On Friday morning, the team did, however, clarify that Sergio Reguilon and Lisandro Martinez would not be playing.
Ten Hag now has three senior left-backs who are all unavailable due to the latter’s absence; the United boss will probably stick with Sofyan Amrabat in that position on Saturday. In his debut start for the team on Tuesday, the Moroccan played a fantastic role, settling into central midfield and giving Roy Hodgson’s team a lot of problems.
Due to Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s injury, Diogo Dalot will most likely maintain his starting position. Dalot was also relishing the freedom to move into midfield against a Palace team that sat deep. After playing for sixty-one minutes throughout the week, Raphael Varane, thirty, is expected to start once more, this time with Victor Lindelof in front of Andre Onana in goal.
After his injury layoff, Mason Mount played for forty-five minutes before a scheduled halftime substitution. The England international, who hasn’t played since the team’s 2-0 loss against Tottenham, may have had his best game in red midweek, exhibiting the technical ability to match his enthusiasm.
Ten Hag will hope his team can control possession and territory as they did in the cup, but he will probably start with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the midfield three that was overwhelmed in that loss to Spurs. McTominay and Eriksen will be healthy enough to start on the bench.
After discussing the accusations of violence made by a former girlfriend, which Antony vehemently rejects, with Greater Manchester Police, United announced on Friday morning that he would be joining the squad again. Ten Hag thinks the Brazilian has maintained his level of fitness, but after a strong showing over the week, he would be inclined to keep Facundo Pellistri in the starting lineup.
However, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford, respectively, might start in place of Martial and Garnacho, two of United’s top scorers on Tuesday. Ten Hag will be eager to give the two as much playing time as possible as Rashford recently acknowledged that they had been practicing together in an effort to try and develop a bond early on.
Onana; Dalot, Varane, Lindelof, Amrabat; Casemiro, Mount, Fernandes; Pellistri, Rashford, and Hojlund were United’s expected starting lineup.