After three consecutive defeats, Man United finally got back to winning ways by beating Burnley 1-0 in the Premier League at the weekend and they will be hoping to keep this momentum going when they take on Crystal Palace in the third round of the EFL Cup in midweek.
Manchester United are not contenders for the EPL so Ten Hag will be targeting tournaments like the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup as the chance to pick up silverware but this third-round tie will be a tricky one for the Red Devils.
This one will be a home game for Man United and despite their recent loss to Brighton, under the current manager, this team has a wonderful record at Old Trafford. The team should see this one through unless, of course, there are individual errors like in the Bayern game.
On the other hand, Palace have made a mixed start to their 23/24 campaign and they go into Tuesday’s game at the back of a 0-0 draw against Fulham. Roy Hodgson’s team will take on Man United twice in a space of just five days. The home side will be favourites to win in this cup tie more so because the Eagles manager will be focused on inflicting a blow in the Premier League next weekend.
Manchester United’s team news and injuries:
Ten Hag has seen the return of some key players in the previous couple of days but still some important starters remain absent. Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka are both ruled out which means Reguilon and Dalot will continue to start.
Reguilon came off in the 80th minute at the weekend and his manager later revealed that the full-back played with an illness. His substitution looked worrying on Saturday but the loanee should be back in the side.
Ten Hag said on Saturday(h/t Goal): “Reguilon was ill – and that says a lot about the character and the spirit that this team wants to show. He wanted to play. He wanted to support and contribute to the team.”
Lisandro Martinez was the latest Man United player to pick up an injury with his manager confirming that the defender has not been able to fully recover from the foot injury he picked up against the Gunners.
“He’s injured,” Ten Hag has told The Mirror. “Another one. So Licha had an issue, and he recovered from that. But, still, he needs some build-up.”
Harry Maguire was seen training with the rest of the Man United squad on Monday so he should be ready and available for the Palace game.
Casemiro will definitely be rested because he does not have the legs to play every four days but Ten Hag won’t be too worried because Sofyan Amrabat is back to full fitness and he played around 15 minutes at the weekend.
The Moroccan international will start against Palace and he could be partnered by Christian Eriksen in central midfield. Mason Mount is back to full training so he will be pushing for a start as well.
Hannibal Mejbri put in a shift in the No 10 role at the weekend but he will move to the bench against Palace allowing Bruno Fernandes to play as the link. Pellistri had a very good game against Bayern Munich and he is expected to come into the starting line up as the right winger.
Rashford and Hojlund will both be rested as games are coming thick and fast and this means Garnacho and Marcus Rashford will come into the side.
Man United predicted line up vs Crystal Palace:
Predicted Starting line up(4-2-3-1): Onana; Reguilon, Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof; Amrabat, Eriksen/Mount; Fernandes, Garnacho, Pellistri; Martial.
