Crystal Palace vs Manchester United
As the 2021/22 Premier League campaign draws to a close, here are two clubs who will look back on the season with very different feelings.
For Crystal Palace, the campaign has undoubtedly been one of progress under a new manager with the potential of more strides to come.
For Manchester United, I think even the most polite observer or ardent Red Devils would admit it has been little short of a disaster.
At times, a sheer embarrassment in which Premier League highlights have been few and joyous occasions even fewer.
In the words of a letter I read in the ‘Red News’ fanzine this week, and I summarise: ‘the fact is United is now no longer a football club but a mega-business run by owners we despise to the extent we now feel no connection, no honour and no pride’.
Can there be much more of a damning indictment than that?
Anyway, back to the football.
Talking Points
The final spot in next season’s Europa League is up for grabs and two teams are vying for it.
Tournament winners in 2017 Manchester United and this year’s semi-finalists West Ham.
Of course, only one can secure sixth place and while United know it will be theirs if they win at Selhurst Park, they will also be aware that should they miss out, it would be the final ignominy in what has been a bitterly disappointing campaign.
While the Hammers are determined to get back into a tournament they lit up this season, United can consign them to the Europa Conference.
Seeing off Palace on their home turf has been no mean feat this season, however, as reigning champions Manchester City and Champions League-chasing Spurs and Arsenal can attest.
Even on Thursday night, Palace rested some men I consider regulars against Everton, which suggests Eagles’ boss Patrick Vieira had one eye on this encounter.
One of those players was Conor Gallagher who has played 36 times in all competitions so far this campaign and netted eight times from open play, while catching the eye with his energetic displays in the centre of the pitch.
His early season form was rewarded with his first senior call-up to the England national team in November before being voted Palace’s player of the season at their end-of-season awards night.
He will almost certainly return to the starting XI on Sunday for a Palace team which has impressed me enormously under Vieira, the Frenchman surpassing my, admittedly low, expectations and shaping a side which has made me sit up and take notice ever since an early season win over Spurs at Selhurst Park.
By contrast, United hit a new low last time out on the south coast against Brighton, a performance I described as unacceptable.
In fact, it speaks volumes for the quality of the league (outside the top three) that the team has claimed a European berth next term, despite turning in consistently below average performances, often with little endeavour.
In front of the soon to take over boss, Dutchman Erik Ten Hag, and in interim manager Ralf Rangnick’s final game in charge (they were also his first opponents), can United show an element of pride or will Palace pile on the final misery to their instantly forgettable season?
History
Between November 2011 and August 2019, United won 11 and drew two of the
14 meetings between the sides.
Since then, however, the Eagles have enjoyed back-to-back victories at Old Trafford and only narrowly lost at Old Trafford in December, Rangnick’s first encounter as interim boss, when a super Fred goal settled the contest.
This game finished goalless last term and United were 2-0 winners the season before, courtesy of goals from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
United have won 39 of their 60 clashes with a further 12 games ending all square.
Betting Tip
The SBOTOP Premier League betting odds have these two so evenly matched with United slight favourites with odds of 1X2 @ 2.28 and Asian Handicap -0.25 @ 1.99.
Palace are priced 1X2 @ 3.10 and Asian Handicap +0.25 @ 1.94.
Goals are expected judging by odds of @ 1.93 with over 2.75 goals.
The 1X2 Draw @ 3.25 has certainly caught my eye but, with more offers still to come at the time of writing, make sure you take a final look at the array of odds ahead of the final weekend of another dramatic top flight season.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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