Manchester United v Crystal Palace: Live TV details, tickets, match facts, quotes, odds
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ByEurosport
Updated 19/05/2017 at 21:56 GMT
Get team news, match facts, quotes, odds and more ahead of the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Crystal Palace.
Manchester United's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho waits for kick off of the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on May 17, 2017.
Image credit: Getty Images
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has admitted the string of youngsters set to face Crystal Palace are not ready for this weekend's baptism of fire.
Three days before the make-or-break Europa League final against Ajax, the injury-hit Red Devils will go through the motions at Old Trafford as the Premier League comes to an underwhelming conclusion.
Mourinho has long since announced his intention to play a weakened side against Sam Allardyce's Palace on Sunday in a bid to keep his players fit and fresh for Stockholm.
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Manchester United's Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho gestures from the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on May 17, 2017.
Image credit: Getty Images
Joel Pereira, Kieran O'Hara, Demetri Mitchell, Scott McTominay, Josh Harrop, Matthew Willock, Zachary Dearnley and 16-year-old midfielder Angel Gomes will all be involved on Sunday, according to Mourinho.
Asked if the young players were ready, the Portuguese said: "All together? No. I think one in the middle of a good structure, a dynamic structure, an experienced structure, I think, yes. I think lots of them together, no."
Mourinho confirmed 19-year-old defenders Tim Fosu-Mensah, back after a shoulder injury, and Axel Tuanzebe would also play on Sunday - a bold, callow line-up borne out of necessity.
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Axel Tuanzebe
Image credit: Getty Images
"The only positive is to save my players to give them better conditions for Wednesday," Mourinho said. "It's the only positive thing. Of course individually for the kids, I think it will be a great experience: Old Trafford, Premier League, Crystal Palace, last match of the season. I think for the kids it will be a big occasion, it will always be good experience for them.
"But I think the best debut for a young player is in the middle of an experienced structure, where he can be supported. To play so many kids at the same time, honestly, I don't think it's good. Obviously there is a big difference of quality, strength, experience between them and good players, experienced players like Crystal Palace have. I would prefer to give them debuts like I gave to Axel against Reading, to Joel against Wigan - or a big match, but for one player. With so many at the same time, I think they really need my support, (reserves manager) Nicky Butt's support (and) supporters to understand the difficult job they have, because it will not be an easy one for them."
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United:Joel Pereira, Kieran O'Hara, Demetri Mitchell, Scott McTominay, Josh Harrop, Matthew Willock, Zachary Dearnley and 16-year-old midfielder Angel Gomes will all be involved. Marouane Fellaini and Chris Smalling have minor knocks and are likely to be rested.
Crystal Palace: James Tomkins should be fit, but Scott Dann and Yohan Cabaye are both doubts. Andros Townsend is likely to miss out.
MANAGER QUOTES
Jose Mourinho: "The number of matches has been unbelievable but I know people like to lie, the reality is since January we’ve played 37 matches. We’ve played a complete season minus one match in the space of five months whilst suffering from five big injuries. We had to deal with the Jones and Smalling international week incident. [We have played] 37 matches in 5 months which makes us the team with the most matches in Europe. We have played every possible match this season aside from two. The red card for Herrera vs Chelsea [in the FA Cup] was a blessing for us."
Sam Allardyce: "They [The FA] could easily have changed it last week and said: 'We will give you the best chance to try to win the Europa League.' "It's a great shame that we are not like other countries, who will bend over backwards in fixture terms to help their teams win European competitions.
"We've all been moaning about the fact we're not getting anywhere near the Champions League or we're not getting anyone winning the Europa League. When you look at Jose's fixture list, this will be his 63rd game on Sunday. It's a tremendous effort, but [there has been] no help unfortunately from the Premier League to give him the best chance of winning a trophy that Manchester United haven't won. That would happen abroad. They would change the fixtures for you."
WHEN IS THE MATCH?
Kick off is at 15:00 BST on Sunday 21st of May.
WHERE IS IT BEING PLAYED?
The match will take place at Old Trafford. Here's all the info you need about the ground.
WHY SHOULD I CARE?
Manchester United haven't had a proper home-grown core in a number of years. Of course it's not under ideal circumstances but this could be a great chance to watch the next generation at Manchester United.
CAN I WATCH IT ON TV?
The match will not be shown in the UK.
CAN I STILL GET TICKETS?
MATCH BUZZ
MATCH FACTS
- Manchester United have played Crystal Palace 15 times in the Premier League and have never lost (W12 D3). The only side they have played more without tasting defeat is Charlton (16, W14 D2).
- Crystal Palace have lost 12 times to Manchester United in the Premier League, more than any other side they’ve faced.
- The Red Devils have won each of their seven Premier League home games against Crystal Palace; only against Wigan have they got a longer 100% record of such kind (8).
- Jose Mourinho is unbeaten against Sam Allardyce in the Premier League (W7 D3); only against Mark Hughes has the Manchester United manager won more top-flight contests (8).
- Manchester United have won 16 of their 24 final day matches in the Premier League (D6 L2) – the most wins in the competition.
- The Eagles have failed to win each of their five Premier League away trips on the final day (D2 L3), conceding 14 goals
- Jose Mourinho will be overseeing his 250th Premier League game as manager, making him the 22nd manager to achieve this feat. Of those to make this milestone, Mourinho will have the most wins (currently 157 from 249 games) and five more than Alex Ferguson (152/250).
- Regardless of the result of this match, Manchester United have won the fewest number of games in a single Premier League season (currently 17) - worse than their tally of wins in both 2013-14 and 2015-16 (19 wins).
- Even with a win, this will be Manchester United’s lowest total of home wins in the Premier League era (currently seven, with the previous low nine in 2013/14).
- Crystal Palace have lost 20 Premier League games this season and a defeat in this match would equal their record of defeats in a single PL campaign (21 in 1997-98).
- Christian Benteke has scored in his last two Premier League trips to Old Trafford, but both have ended in 1-3 defeats for his side.
- There have been more draws at Old Trafford than at any other Premier League stadium this season (10) and if this game ends as a draw then Manchester United would set a new outright record for the most home draws in a Premier League season (11).
MATCH ODDS
Manchester United 9/5 Draw 27/11 Crystal Palace 9/5
Best odds at time of writing
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