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After a humbling 1-0 home defeat to ten-man Everton, Manchester United will want to bounce back in a tough away match against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Eagles are fifth in the table, but the Red Devils could leapfrog them if they claim all three points. The win would also send a message that Monday’s debacle was just a bump in the road as United continue to make progress under the Portuguese.
Tactically, Palace’s physicality and instant transitions mean United must be precise and disciplined in their approach, something head coach Ruben Amorim’s men have struggled to achieve.
Dictate play
United need to control the early rhythm. Selhurst Park is a cauldron when Palace gain momentum, so Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes need to slow the game down with short bursts rather than forcing vertical balls too quickly.
The back three of Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Luke Shaw should maintain a slightly deeper line than normal. Palace thrive on quick penetrations into the channels, and keeping the space compact provides protection against Jean-Philippe Mateta’s runaways.
Possession must be built mainly through Shaw’s left side. His comfort in midfield gives United an overload against Palace’s usually narrow box.
With Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui likely to replace Patrick Dorgu at left-back, United would have to switch play regularly. Palace’s wingers perform poorly during long defensive moves, and quick diagonals can create isolated one-on-one situations. The same goes for the opposite flank, which should be attacked aggressively, opening up shooting lanes for Fernandes to take advantage of.
However, United must avoid overusing full-backs at the same time. Doing this exposes Casemiro, which is exactly what Palace feeds on.
Cutting edge
Getting Bryan Mbeumo out on the right is crucial. His directness and inside movement can exploit Palace’s weaker left side. United should feed him early and often.
Amorim could select Mason Mount as a left-sided forward. The high press will be the key to stopping the construction of the Palace from behind. This vulnerability to pressure is a weakness in the home side’s backline and Mount’s energy will be perfect in this scenario.
Overall, United must play a patient, possession-based and disciplined game and keep Palace in the background. The full-backs are the main key; they must be aggressive enough to push back the Eagles’ own attack, while being wary of overcommitting and leaving holes for the Londoners to exploit.
Featured image Michael Regan via Getty Images
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