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4-3-1-2: Man Utd predicted XI to face Crystal Palace

Manchester United will be looking for another three points this weekend when we host Crystal Palace in a 3pm kickoff at Old Trafford.

We started the season with a thumping 4-0 thrashing of Chelsea on home soil before being held to a 1-1 draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are yet to score in their opening two games of the season – held 0-0 at home by 10-man Everton on the opening weekend and then beaten 1-0 at newly-promoted Sheffield United last time. This should be easy for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and co on Saturday.

Here is the team I expect the boss to put out:

Goalkeeper: David de Gea
David de Gea has only been beaten by a stunning Ruben Neves strike so far this season as the new look back four have been very impressive in our opening two matches. Spain’s number one will be looking for his second clean sheet of the season this weekend against a Crystal Palace side that look dire going forward.

Defence: Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw
This is Ole’s first choice back four. Aaron Wan-Bissaka faces his former club following his summer transfer. The right-back has been impressive defensively whilst offers support down the right wing going forward. Could do with more confidence in putting crosses into the box. Perhaps this will be the game that the England Under-21 is more adventurous in the final third. Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire has the making of a great centre-back pairing. Nothing has got past them in open play so far and Maguire looks particularly impressive when defending set pieces. Expect Luke Shaw to bomb forward from left-back as always in a game that we’re expected to dominate possession and territory.

Midfield: Scott McTominay, Andreas Pereira, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata
I can see the boss reverting to a diamond formation in midfield to introduce playmaker Juan Mata. The Spaniard has been a late substitute in our two opening matches but the number 10 role this weekend would allow him to open up the Crystal Palace defence in supplying the front two. This would give Paul Pogba a box-to-box role alongside Andreas Pereira, whilst Scott McTominay is the anchor man.

Attack: Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial
The front two have made an impressive start to the season with four goals between them. They’ve split time as a striker and left winger between them so far but this is a good opportunity for Ole to partner the duo in attack. Should the 4-4-2 formation not work then the Norwegian always has Jesse Lingard and Daniel James on the bench to move back to a 4-3-3, but with the possession we should see it makes sense to go with a front two.

Here’s our team on paper: