Manchester United are looking to kickstart a serious title challenge following their stellar turnaround victory over cross-city rivals Manchester City last weekend.
United are currently one point off their neighbouring rivals and could move past them with a victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park tonight.
The classic venue was also the stadium in which Erik ten Hag watched his future team for the first time as he was in attendance for the final league game of the 2021/22 season.
That was on the eve of Ten Hag’s full unveiling by United and the side from that day is completely unrecognisable going into Wednesday’s game against Crystal Palace.
A whopping nine changes have been made since that glum afternoon in May, with only David de Gea and Bruno Fernandes keeping their places.
Manchester United XI vs Crystal Palace (May 22, 2022): De Gea; Dalot, Lindelof, Maguire, Telles; McTominay, Fred; Elanga, Fernandes, Mejbri; Cavani
Aaron Wan-Bissaka has reclaimed his place at right-back, with Dalot currently out injured. Lindelof and Maguire are both on the bench tonight as Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez continue to dominate the heart of United’s defence.
The biggest change comes in midfield, with Scott McTominay and Fred both dropped by Ten Hag. They are both used sporadically and only when there’s a specific game plan to be executed. More often than not, Casemiro and Christian Eriksen start and that’s the case tonight.
On the wings, Marcus Rashford has made himself undroppable and Antony, the big-money signing from Ajax, replaced Anthony Elanga.
Quite surprisingly, Wout Weghorst has been named to make his debut for the club and the former Bundesliga star completes the stunning list of changes Ten Hag has made since he watched United succumb to a drab 1-0 loss in London.
Manchester United XI vs Crystal Palace (January 18, 2023): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Eriksen; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst
