Manchester United vs Crystal Palace prediction, odds and preview

Manchester United will face Crystal Palace in the third round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday, September 26.

The Red Devils return to action after the weekend’s win over Burnley away from home, their first in four games.

Erik ten Hag’s boys had lost three consecutive games until the win over the Clarets at Turf Moor as Bruno Fernandes scored the only goal of the game.

However, in midweek, the focus is away from the Premier League though they face a top flight opposition in the cup competition.

Man United are the defending EFL Cup champions, having won the cup last season with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United in the final, and they will fancy their chances of advancing deep into the competition despite now being back in the Champions League.

Palace has never won the EFL Cup or the FA Cup, with its best achievements in major cup competitions coming in 1989-90 and 2015-16, when they reached the FA Cup finals and lost to Manchester United on both occasions.

The Eagles have previously played in the EFL Cup this season, winning 4-2 against Plymouth Argyle to advance to this round of the competition.

Roy Hodgson’s side lost 3-1 at Aston Villa in their previous away match on September 16 before drawing 0-0 with Fulham at home on Saturday.

Palace now faces two trips to Old Trafford in rapid succession. The London team has a recent away victory over the Red Devils, winning 3-1 in September 2020, but Man United won 2-1 in the same fixture last season.