Manchester United enter another Premier League weekend with momentum on their side, working towards building upon a hard-fought Everton win when they welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford.
Nine positions and 13 points separate the sides before a ball is kicked, as Michael Carrick and Steve Holland focus on maintaining a feel-good factor inside their dressing room.
Unbeaten since assuming control, the 44-year-old has restored pride in Manchester, collecting a remarkable 16 points from the 18 on offer.
Furthermore, with the allure of extending a 10-game unbeaten run (six during his spell), there is an undeniable motivation for his players.
Their impending guests have endured a season of inconsistencies, further hampered by the mid-season departure of club captain Marc Guehi.
Still, midweek progression in the Europa Conference League can only bolster morale within Oliver Glasner’s squad as the Eagles aim for a third consecutive win at M16.
Manchester United Team News
Benjamin Sesko scored his third league goal in five appearances from the bench, solidifying his growing claims for a starting berth.
The Slovenian has turned many doubters into believers with his attack-minded approach, but his manager remains calm on the topic.
“The forward players have scored a good number as a group so far – Ben [Sesko] has been so good in so many ways for us”, Carrick told the media.
“It’s really not a drama, believe it or not. It’s not a drama, and it just shows how much quality Ben’s got for what he’s produced over the last few weeks.
“If and when he starts, whether it’s the next game or the one after, I think it is what it is. He’s doing so many good things, as well as the team, so it’s a good position for us to be in.”
It was a largely positive pre-match press conference at Carrington on Friday, with the interim chief in understandably fine spirits.
The one-time midfield star also shared the latest updates on the recoveries of Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt, with both viewed as key members of this squad.
“Mason is getting closer, really,” he explained. “He’s on the grass, and he’s getting closer; he’s looking to train and be in around it pretty soon.
“He’s getting close. He’s just had to be patient, really, and he’s a big player, so we’re looking after him, making sure he’s ready for a big finish to the season.
“The good news is he’s getting really close.
“Matthijs, he’s had a back issue, which has been a little bit slower to progress, really. It’s something we’ve been working through, and he’s getting there. He’s in the right direction, but, as I said, he’s just a little bit further behind.
“It’s one of those things that’s disappointing, but it’s just a part of football, unfortunately, so we’ll get him back when we can.
“It’s just the nature of the injury and the issue in the back. It’s a difficult one to pin down, especially time-wise. He’s definitely improving, so that’s a good thing, and we’re just working towards that really. There’s not much more I can give at this stage.”
Patrick Dorgu remains sidelined after collecting a frustrating setback against Arsenal, while we are currently unsure about Lisandro Martinez’s availability, having missed the trip to Merseyside with a calf issue.
With Aston Villa travelling to Wolves for a Friday evening fixture under lights, the Birmingham outfit will hope to build upon their three-point lead over United.
Nonetheless, the Reds hold the advantage over Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for Champions League football, and are breathing down the neck of Unai Emery’s men.
Another victory against a Palace side who played on Thursday evening would go a long way towards adding to the feel-good factor in the North West.
And with a 2 PM start leaving little time for recovery, you’d be very brave to bet against Carrick’s side on Sunday afternoon.
Predicted Manchester United starting XI: (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Yoro, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Bruno, Cunha; Sesko.
Can Manchester United maintain their charge towards European football? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or across our socials.
Photo by Mark Cosgrove/News Images via depositphotos.com.
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