Premier League team news and prediction: Man Utd vs Crystal Palace

After being given an extra week off to recover from their exploits in last season's Europa League knockout stage, Manchester United will kickstart their 2020/21 Premier League campaign with a home league game against Crystal Palace.

Palace started their season with a surprise 1-0 home win over Southampton but followed that up with penalty shoot-out heartache to Championship outfit Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup in midweek.

Ahead of United's first game of the new season, we have your need-to-know match information in one place, including when the game kicks off, where it is taking place, team news, probable XIs and predicted scoreline.

When is kick off?
Saturday 19th September, 17:30 GMT
Where is the game?
Old Trafford, Manchester
Where can I watch it?
Sky Sports Premier League / Sky Sports Main Event

Summer Transfers

It's been a bitterly disappointing summer for Manchester United, who have so far only managed to sign Donny van de Beek from Ajax. Talks with Borussia Dortmund over Jadon Sancho have reached impasse over his €120m valuation. After finishing third in the Premier League last season, United have failed to kick on while their rivals have.

Crystal Palace have quietely enjoyed a good summer in the transfer market. Ex-Queens Park Rangers attacker Eberechi Eze has already made his Palace debut, while the Eagles are also in talks to land Brentford ace Said Benrahma. The aforementioned duo finished last season as two of the top three WhoScored rated players in the Championship. Roy Hodgson's side have also managed to re-sign Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi on loan and so far keep hold of star man Wilfried Zaha.

Team News

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has plenty to ponder ahead of Saturday's match following a disrupted pre-season. Dean Henderson has returned from his loan spell with Sheffield United to challenge David de Gea for the No.1 spot at United this season and it's unclear who will start against Palace. Luke Shaw is back from injury but is not yet fit for 90 minutes, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka was late back to pre-season training. Harry Maguire is expected to start despite his arrest in Greece over the summer. Solskjaer has confirmed Van de Beek will make his debut but it's unclear whether Paul Pogba or Bruno Fernandes will accompany him in midfield owing to fitness concerns. Mason Greenwood has also endured a summer to forget and may be taken out of the firing line.

Roy Hodgson is expected to tinker with his forward line on Saturday, with Eberechi Eze coming in for his full league debut and Michy Batshuayi making his second league debut for the Eagles. Wilfried Zaha is expected to move back on the wing as a result, with Andros Townsend and Jeffrey Schlupp dropping to the bench. With injuries still ravaging Palace's defensive options, Cheikhou Kouyate will have to start at centre-back once again.

Probable XIs

Manchester United (4231): De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Van de Beek, McTominay; James, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial

Crystal Palace (442): Guaita; Ward, Kouyate, Dann, Mitchell; Eze, McCarthy, McArthur, Zaha; Batshuayi, Ayew

Key Battle: Marcus Rashford vs Wilfried Zaha

While Eberechi Eze may well end up serving as Wilfried Zaha's long-term replacement, the latter is still the main man for Crystal Palace for as long as he remains at Selhurst Park. The ex-Manchester United winger opened his account for the season with the winning goal in last weekend's victory over Southampton and will be the man to stop for the home side on Saturday.

Anthony Martial emerged as United's star forward by the end of last season but as United's No.10, Marcus Rashford is arguably the prize asset of United's attack. Rashford is coming off his best ever season in terms of goals scored even if he was majorly disrupted by a nasty back injury. Out on the wing, Rashford and Zaha may even see plenty of each other on Saturday depending on what flank Zaha spends most of his time out on. It's a mouthwatering duel between two players that love to beat a man.

Scoreline Prediction: Man Utd 2-1 Crystal Palace