What to Expect from Manchester United Against Crystal Palace

Manchester United must pick up the pieces from their derby-day defeat, when they attempt to get their season back on track as they host Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Saturday.

A Chris Smalling red card at the Etihad last weekend was a key factor in United's 1-0 loss to rivals Manchester City, ensuring Louis van Gaal's side are now three games without a victory and enduring their worst start to a campaign since 1986.

It was at a similar stage of the 1986/87 campaign that the club made the move to relieve Ron Atkinson of his managerial duties—little did they know how successful his replacement would prove to be. While neither the club's nor fans' faith in van Gaal seems to have fallen so drastically just yet, positive results as well as performances are now beginning to become a necessity.

Speaking after the game to the club's official website, the Dutchman spoke of his pride in the performance of his players against the Champions, whilst promising that improvements were just around the corner.

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We were so close in spite of playing with ten men. We had more chances [with ten men] than in the first half. We are close but not close enough.

We have 13 points out of 10 matches and Chelsea have a lot more, as do Manchester City so we have a problem. We need to improve and prove that we are not close but better. We will improve, that I promise.

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Following a late Robin van Persie equaliser and a much improved performance over Chelsea, things were beginning to look up for United, but defeat to City ensures that the team now occupy 10th place in the table going into the 11th round of fixtures, four points off the final coveted Champions League spot.

With the pressure seemingly beginning to mount, the visit of Neil Warnock's struggling Palace side offers United the perfect opportunity to restore confidence and attempt to find winning ways again ahead of a date at the Emirates with Arsenal on 22nd November.

The Eagles were unfortunate on Monday night not to receive an early penalty before going down 3-1 to Sunderland at Selhurst Park, suffering their third loss in four in the process. Skipper Mile Jedinak was given his marching orders for two bookable offences and will therefore sit out the trip to Old Trafford, along with on-loan winger Wilfried Zaha who is ineligible against his parent club.

To further add to Van Gaal's woes, Marcos Rojo now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a dislocated shoulder—United's 35th injury under their new manager—whilst Smalling's dismissal means that he too will miss the visit of Palace, leaving the Reds looking extremely frail at the back.

Michael Carrick—who made his return for United at the back in the derby—could well come in to replace one of United's centre-half absentees. Youngster Paddy McNair is also likely to get the nod having given another good account of himself after replacing Rojo on Sunday. 

Though not naturally a central defender, Carrick has been asked to fill the void on several occasion's during his Old Trafford career and Bleacher Report's Manchester United correspondent Rob Dawson believes this could become a more permanent fixture for the 33-year-old.

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Van Gaal likes defenders who can step out into midfield and pass the ball. And if there's one thing Carrick can do, it's pass.

He's been used as a centre-half before but only ever in an emergency. It was the same on Sunday against Manchester City.

But there's no reason why he shouldn't make a good central defender. He's comfortable on the ball and relies on clever positioning to break up play. He lacks the pace of the world's top defenders, but at 6'2" he's better in the air than he's given credit for.

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If Rafael fails to shake off the injury which kept him out of the Manchester derby in time, United can expect to field the same back four that finished that game, a back four of Valencia, Carrick, McNair and Shaw.

With United's defence looking somewhat vulnerable, much will be expected not only of Daley Blind—who will act as a protective shield sitting in front of the back four—but in particular the attack. For all the possession Van Gaal's side have had during their previous two matches - 52 percent and 48 percent respectively—the lack of clear-cut chances created will be a cause for concern.

Angel Di Maria will be expected to reproduce some of his early-season form—which saw him contribute three goals and three assists—after a disappointing display against the Champions in which he completed just 65 percent of his passes. The Argentinian has had less impact in recent matches out wide and could find himself back in a more central role against Palace.

While Radamel Falcao continues to struggle for fitness, Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie will once again be tasked with putting the Eagles to the sword, something they will be all too familiar with after the pair each netted one-a-piece in home-and-away 2-0 victories last season.

With the Colombian edging closer to fitness and James Wilson waiting in the wings for his starting berth, the pressure will be on Saturday's frontmen, particularly Van Persie who has failed to replicate his mercurial 2012/13 form.

It's important now for United not only to get points on the board and begin to climb the table again, but to win in style. Old Trafford has witnessed glimpses this season of what the side can offer—most notably in a 4-0 victory over QPR—but the team must put recent difficulties behind them starting with the visit of Palace.

Performances over both Chelsea and Manchester City saw glimmers of hope for United, but a step down in opposition, coupled with the loss of two big names for Palace in both Jedinak and Zaha, could and should see Van Gaal's side in much more control of the game. This will bring a much greater sense of freedom for the likes of Di Maria and Rooney to impose themselves on the match.

With Liverpool hosting Chelsea in Saturday's early kick-off and Everton and Tottenham not in action until Sunday, there will be added incentive for United to pick up all three points and potentially move up to sixth in the table—provided results go their way.

Defensive concerns aside, the Reds have an array of outstanding quality going forward and provided they can find a way to utilise their firepower effectively again, they can begin to lay some foundation and put a difficult beginning to the campaign behind them.

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