Summary

  • Man Utd XI: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Lingard, Schneiderlin, Mata, Rooney, Martial, Rashford

  • Crystal Palace XI: Speroni, Kelly, Mariappa, Delaney, Souare, Jedinak, Cabaye, Lee, Zaha, Sako, Adebayor

  1. Postpublished at 19:53

    Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)

    Seven minutes to go until kick-off and it's fair to say there's a sparse crowd inside Old Trafford right now.

  2. Back on familiar turfpublished at 19:51

    Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)

    Wilfried ZahaImage source, Getty Images

    Wilfried Zaha has scored five goals in 48 Premier League games since joining Crystal Palace permanently from Manchester United in February 2015.

    "Palace play exactly to Wilf’s strengths and he's been able to play in every game," says United defender Chris Smalling. "He didn't get that with us but at Palace he's been able to show his ability, week in and week out, in the Premier League.”  

    Will Zaha get the better of Smalling?

  3. 'Nothing straighforward for Man Utd'published at 19:49

    Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)

    Mark Lawrenson
    Former Liverpool defender

    "Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has already come out and said he will change his team around before Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Watford.

    "That helps Manchester United, who have their own semi-final to look forward to, but nothing is straightforward for Louis van Gaal's side at the moment."

  4. Attack, attack, attackpublished at 19:46

    Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)

    .Image source, Rex Features

    Manchester United have scored three goals in the last five Premier League games. Palace's haul of 36 top-flight goals this season is only four fewer than their hosts.

  5. Low key atmospherepublished at 19:44 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    .Image source, .

    "Low key atmosphere at Old Trafford this evening, although perhaps it is no surprise. Pockets of fans but no more inside the Premier League's biggest ground half an hour before kick off."

  6. Costa Del Traffordpublished at 19:41 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)

    Conor is not exaggerating. It's been a glorious spring day in Manchester and blue skies are above Old Trafford as early the evening sun continues to shine.

  7. 'Defeat won't help LVG'published at 19:38

    Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    .Image source, Getty Images

    "Which way is it to be for Manchester United?

    "Victory against Crystal Palace tonight and the battle for a Champions League place will really be on; one point behind Arsenal and just two adrift of Manchester City.

    "Lose and the top four will surely be out of reach - and that is not going to help Louis van Gaal stay in his job."

  8. Seven changes for Palacepublished at 19:35 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)

    .Image source, .

    Three changes for Manchester United as defender Matteo Darmian, midfielder Jesse Lingard and forward Anthony Martial return to the side.

    Man Utd XI: De Gea, Valencia, Smalling, Blind, Darmian, Lingard, Schneiderlin, Mata, Rooney, Martial, Rashford.

    .Image source, .

    Crystal Palace make seven changes from the team that started the 1-1 draw at Arsenal last Sunday. In come keeper Julian Speroni, defenders Martin Kelly and Adrian Mariappa, midfielders Lee Chung-yong, Wilfried Zaha and Bakary Sako, while Emmanuel Adebayor starts up front.

    Crystal Palace XI: Speroni, Kelly, Mariappa, Delaney, Souare, Jedinak, Cabaye, Lee, Zaha, Sako, Adebayor.

  9. Champions League next season?published at 19:33

    Man Utd v Crystal Palace (20:00 BST)

    Will Manchester United be playing in the Champions League next season?

    This game will go a long way to deciding whether Louis van Gaal's side can secure a top-four finish.

    Victory over lowly Palace will leave United two points behind third-placed neighbours Manchester City.

  10. Wembley must waitpublished at 19:27 British Summer Time 20 April 2016

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Manchester United and Crystal Palace can be forgiven if thoughts of the FA Cup are occupying minds at Old Trafford and Selhurst Park.

    Both clubs have Wembley semi-final dates this weekend and, having been kept apart in the last four, both could meet again in the final on 21 May.

    Yet having allowed league form slip, neither team can afford to look beyond tonight.

    United are in danger of missing out on a Champions League place while Palace are still not mathematically safe.

    Wembley and the FA Cup must wait...