Carrick Aims To Sustain Manchester United Momentum Against Crystal Palacenewsline24

-myKhel Team

Manchester United aim to extend an impressive Premier League run when Crystal Palace visit Old Trafford in MD28. Michael Carrick’s team are fourth and unbeaten in the league since Boxing Day, while Oliver Glasner’s side arrive lifted by European progress and recent domestic wins but facing a demanding away test.

Since Boxing Day, no Premier League side has collected more than United’s 22 points, earned through six wins and four draws. In that period, United are also the only team without a league defeat. Carrick has overseen six games in all competitions, winning five and drawing one since taking over as caretaker manager.

Carrick has stuck with a stable core, helped by United competing in just one tournament. “When there are a lot more games, we have rotation or have to change things physically,” he said. Carrick stressed the value of the wider group and praised how players accept different tasks to support the team.

He noted subtle tactical shifts across recent matches, especially in attacking roles. “There are huge positives with the results we’ve had, playing well and winning games, but a big awareness from me and the staff is how important everyone is in the group. Even though it’s the same players, game-to-game, we have tweaked things; some of the front players have changed in different positions.Luke [Shaw] has played in different roles in possession, but there is a feeling of trying to keep the momentum.”

Data points towards a home victory. Following a 2-1 success at Selhurst Park in November, United seek a first league double over Palace since the 2017-18 season. Over their last 12 Premier League home fixtures, United have taken 27 points, with eight wins, three draws and just one defeat.

That recent home return is 16 points better than their previous 13 league games at Old Trafford, when United managed only three wins, two draws and eight defeats. United’s strong current form contrasts with Palace’s away record against higher-placed teams, which has been less productive over a longer stretch.

Palace have claimed two victories in their last three Premier League outings, losing the other. However, 12 of Palace’s last 14 away league wins have come against opponents who started the day in the bottom half. Against sides beginning in the top half, Palace have won only two of their last 26 away league games.

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace historical trends and away record

Recent head-to-head results at Old Trafford offer encouragement for Glasner’s team. Palace have won four of their last six Premier League away matches against United, losing the other two. Before that spell, Palace had only two wins from 22 league visits to Old Trafford, with three draws and 17 defeats.

Palace also arrive on a short streak of success in Manchester. The Eagles have won on their past two league trips to Old Trafford and could become only the second London club to win three straight away league games there. The first to do so were Chelsea, between the 1967-68 and 1969-70 seasons.

Glasner expects a demanding contest after studying United closely. “Manchester United are on a good run. I watched their game on Monday night at Everton,” Glasner said of Carrick’s side. “It was a fantastic transition goal [from Benjamin Sesko], and you can see the pace they have in their attack. They are a very good team; they have a very good balance.”

Palace’s confidence has grown after progress in Europe and a lift in their league position. Palace beat Zrinjski 2-0 in the second leg on Thursday to reach the last 16 of the Conference League. That victory followed a league win over Wolves, which moved Palace up to 13th place and 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

Benjamin Sesko has become central to United’s attacking threat since Ruben Amorim left the club. Sesko has scored five goals in six league appearances under Carrick, averaging a goal every 37 minutes. Before MD28, no Premier League player in 2026 has more non-penalty goals than the Slovenian forward’s total of five.

Sesko has recently been used from the bench but will hope these numbers support a starting role. For Palace, Dean Henderson’s personal record against United stands out. Henderson has kept three clean sheets in four games versus former club United, giving a 75 percent clean-sheet rate, the highest of any Premier League goalkeeper facing the Red Devils.

Fraser Forster is the only visiting goalkeeper to record clean sheets in a first two Premier League starts at Old Trafford. Forster achieved this with Southampton in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. Henderson could move closer to that mark if Palace manage defensive stability and restrict United’s in-form attack at Old Trafford.

With United defending a long unbeaten league stretch and Palace buoyed by European progress, both sides enter with clear aims. United look to preserve momentum, complete a league double and strengthen a top-four push, while Palace chase another positive Old Trafford result to extend the cushion above the relegation places.