Man Utd 0-0 Crystal Palace LIVE: Score, goals and Premier League updates from Old Trafford

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace: Premier League latest score, goals and updates

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Darmian, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Lukaku

Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Wan Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur, Townsend, Meyer, Zaha

MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 CRYSTAL PALACE

• Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata start
• Luka Milivojevic and Mamadou Sakho booked
• Cheikhou Kouyate goal disallowed for offside
• Romelu Lukaku goals disallowed for offside

MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 CRYSTAL PALACE

83: Huge save! Matteo Darmian collects a partially-cleared corner and fires it over to Romelu Lukaku, who adjusts quickly to force a good save from Wayne Hennessey.

80: Anthony Martial looks for one of his signature goals when opening his body and darting one into the side-netting.

78: Huge chance. Roy Hodgson will be wondering how his side haven’t snatched the lead through Andros Townsend. The Palace winger races beyond Matic and Lindelof but shoots with his weaker foot and De Gea happily watches it dribble wide of the far post.

75: Marcus Rashford executes a brilliant tackle to spark a counter. Sanchez runs with the ball, it’s four on three, he sees Martial, Plays the ball behind him and out for a throw-in.

73: Ashley Young is cautioned for dragging back James McArthur as he looked to race through. Nothing really coming, folks…

70: Final change for Manchester United. It’s Alexis Sanchez coming on, replacing Paul Pogba. Thought the Frenchman was looking decent enough myself.

Anyway, Marouane Fellaini may have changed his hair – but the ruthless and unpredictable streak remains. He flies in high on Milivojevic but isn’t even shown a yellow.

68: More bad news for United fans, and Crystal Palace now I think about it. Mohamed Salah has opened the scoring for Liverpool against Watford, while Fulham lead Southampton. It’s 3-2 at Craven Cottage.

65: Palace might not have won at Old Trafford for decades – but they are playing to win today.

62: It’s the Eagles turn to attack. Kouyate tries his luck from distance and his swerving effort is parried by De Gea, who saves again from Van Aanholt.

59: Jose Mourinho’s seen enough. He makes a double change. Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata are replaced by Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini.

That’s the shaven-headed Marouane Fellaini folks. Looks so strange.

57: Disallowed goal! Manchester United think they’ve taken the lead but the linesman is spot on with his decision. Romelu Lukaku pokes home after Ashley Young’s cross was diverted into his path. Still goalless here.

54: United fans trying to galvanise their side as their side win a corner. Ashley Young goes over to take it but AGAIN it’s far too close to Hennessey. He punches clear.

51: Hmmmmm – not a great watch since the re-start. I would say that the current MOTM is Aaron Wan-Bissaka. He’s kept Anthony Martial and Ashley quiet on that left touchline.

48: Second half starts as the first did with Manchester United attacking. Ashley Young’s deflected cross narrowly flies over Romelu Lukaku inside the penalty area.

A few moans and groans from the Old Trafford faithful.

MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 CRYSTAL PALACE

45: The second half kicks off here at Old Trafford. No changes for either side but I would expect to see Alexis Sanchez and Marcus Rashford if things stay the same!

MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 CRYSTAL PALACE

HT: And that was the last significant action of the first half. Manchester United and Crystal Palace have possibly produced the most entertaining goalless 45 minutes of the season.

42: GOALLLL-FFSIDE! Now what’s going on here? I thought Crystal Palace had taken the lead after Kouyate, or perhaps Lindelof, diverted Milivojevic’s free-kick beyond David de Gea. The replay shows Kouyate was JUST offside. Good decision.

39: Now what can the hosts do with this corner. Juan Mata trots over to place it down… poor. Wayne Hennessey plucks it out of the sky with a minimum of fuss.

We’re starring a goalless draw in the face here folks.

36: Sorry to be the bearer of bad news Manchester United fans, but your rivals Manchester City are winning at life. They are 3-0 ahead against West Ham after 35 minutes thanks to goals from David Silva, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane. Far too easy.

33: Unbelievable stuff at Old Trafford – and NOT in a good way. I don’t know how we’re still goalless. Jesse Lingard recycles the ball after his own shot was parried clear – but his cross is tamely headed at Hennessey by Anthony Martial.

30: Quite a let-off for Crystal Palace. The resulting free-kick from the Sakho foul sees Juan Mata ping a cross over to Chris Smalling, who squeezes between two defenders and heads wide from all of two yards.

28: The visitors should be ahead courtesy of van Aanholt. Nemanja Matic gifts the ball to Max Meyer who sets Wilfried Zaha free. He’s cut the ball back to the full-back, who fires wide.

Sakho is also booked for bringing down Lingard.

25: Anthony Martial nearly profits from Jese Lingard’s deflected strike that pinged straight at him, but the Frenchman can’t control and Crystal Palace clear.

22: Have United run out of steam already?! They are seeing more possession (60 percent) but they’ve not caused Hennessey any problems. Zero shots on target.

19: Close! It’s cliche to say but wouldn’t Wilfried Zaha love to score against his former club? Wilfried Zaha lines one up from the edge of the area, but curls his shot high and wide.

16: Brighton are leading Leicester thanks to a Glenn Murray opener, while Manchester City lead West Ham 1-0 courtesy of a David Silva opener.

As for Old Trafford, United are camped inside Crystal Palace territory and don’t look like leaving anytime soon.

13: Lots of love for Pogba this afternoon. He’s pulling the strings in midfield with some delightful passing. He’ll need to maintain this consistency in the Champions League next week.

10: Booked! Could be a long afternoon for Luka Milivojevic. He’s shown a yellow card on the ten-minute mark for dragging down Jesse Lingard. Just another 80 minutes to go…

8: FPL players around the country will be disappointed with this. Anthony Martial, who’s been on fire lately, collects a throughball from Nemanja Matic and beats the offside trap.

He’s through but Wayne Hennessey races off his line and makes an important block. More than a slight suspicion of handball about that.

5: Romelu Lukaku knocks the ball down to Jesse Lingard, who rifles an effort towards goal that’s blocked by Wan-Bissaka. The corner comes to nothing.

3: All the talk of a pressure-cooker atmosphere today can’t have reached Jose Mourinho. He’s looking rather relaxed on the touchline as United start on the front-foot.

MANCHESTER UNITED 0-0 CRYSTAL PALACE

1: Sun gone, weather cold – I make those the perfect conditions for a Premier League classic at Old Trafford. OK, that might be going a bit far – but fingers crossed we’re entertained.

Twitter round-up

Ander: Juan Mata making his 200th appearance for the club today, and he deserves every single one! Best signing we’ve made since Fergie retired, no doubt about it.

Jorn: Jose Mourinho OUT, need attacking football, and not boring or slow football!

Maxwell: What!? Jesse Lingard starting?! Can’t believe this! Alexis Sanchez benched.

Blimey Jorn, the game hasn’t even started yet!

Top four?

14:45: Sky Sports pundit and former West Ham and Everton striker Tony Cottee thinks Manchester United could snaffle a top four position this season – but thinks there’s only two spots up for grabs!

Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea occupy the top three spots and are all still unbeaten heading into this weekend’s action – and Cottee reckons City and Liverpool will finish in the top two come May.

“I think it’s realistic,” Cottee said of United’s top-four chances. “I think the players are there.

“Manchester United have enough quality in that team to go on a run of games and if you go six, seven games unbeaten, they will push up towards that top four.

“I think most people, myself included, would say Manchester City, Liverpool will be the top two. But that third and fourth place is going to be open I think for any team to get there in terms of pushing up from the top six or seven.

“I think if Manchester United hit a good run of form they can get in there.

Elsewhere…

14:40: Let’s pause for a moment and see what else is on offer this afternoon. I’m sure you know the fixtures but here are a few talking points to enjoy.

The London Stadium is a happy hunting ground for champions Manchester City, who have scored 13 goals in their previous three games there against West Ham.

Pep Guardiola’s side have launched their Premier League title defence in imperious fashion – unbeaten in domestic competition and chasing an eighth-straight win. The Hammers will slide further towards the bottom three if they lose for a fourth time at home this season.

Ranieri defied odds of 5,000-1 to guide former club Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016 and he must work his magic again in order to keep Fulham in the top flight this season.

Their solitary league win was against Burnley back in August and all eyes will be on Craven Cottage on Saturday to see if the ‘Tinkerman’ can inspire his new club – who appointed him earlier this month after sacking Slavisa Jokanovic – to a much-needed win.

Twitter round-up

Kyle: Imagine if someone asked you to pick United’s worst back four possible. I guarantee that back four would be pretty much the same as what Jose Mourinho has put out today.

Ken: I hope Romelu Lukaku doesn’t score and Anthony Martial scores a hat-trick, just to annoy Jose Mourinho. I also hope Marcus Rashford comes from the bench and he scores.

James: Can’t believe Matteo Darmian is still at Manchester United. Let alone starting ahead of likes of Diogo Dalot, Antonio Valencia and Phil Jones.

Not much love for Matteo Darmian or Jose Mourinho on Twitter today.

Jose not playing the game…

14:30: Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has refused to “play the game” and expand on comments made in a recent interview where he appeared to suggest some of his players lacked character.

Mourinho was quoted by Univision as saying in an interview with the Spanish-language broadcaster that some of his young players were “without character”, and it was reported that Luke Shaw, Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford were those he had mentioned in that context.

When asked at a press conference on Friday about the interview, Mourinho said: “I don’t play your game. I don’t play the game of take out of context and do what you want.

“I don’t play the game. I have nothing to say.”

Mourinho’s response to two further questions on the matter were “I don’t lose my time playing that game” and “next question”.

Thanks, Jose.

THAT interview…

14:29: Prepare yourselves folks. We’re about to delve into this midweek interview from Jose Mourinho. Warning: It’s clear as mud.

January sales?

14:25: No, says Crystal Palace Roy Hodgson.

The Eagles boss is understandably reluctant to sell his club short by continually having to answer questions about players potentially leaving.

Defender Mamadou Sakho is the latest player whose future has come into the spotlight after he gave an interview when on international duty with France suggesting he has ambitions to play in the Champions League, while Wilfried Zaha is regularly linked with moves away from Selhurst Park.

Hodgson accepts his squad is full of players who could make the step up, but thinks the Eagles can keep them happy.

“I don’t think Zaha is the only player in our squad that is capable of playing at a higher level for one of the teams above us in the league,” Hodgson said.

“But we are lucky enough to have them under contract and we try our best to make certain they are happy here and satisfied with everything Crystal Palace can provide for them.

“I think we can provide a lot, I don’t underrate ourselves to the extent that I am being encouraged to constantly talk about the top four or five clubs.”

Beware…

14:23: Romelu Lukaku loves a game against Crystal Palace. The Belgian, who’s arts today, scored in both wins against the Eagles last season, taking his tally against them to six goals in eight league games.

Makes sense that I’ve dropped him from my Fantasy Football side…

Twitter round-up

Usama: Our defence is a complete joke! No wonder David De Gea won’t sign a new contract anytime soon. Can you really blame him?!

Harder: Looking forward to seeing Juan Mata through the middle, think Alexis Sanchez is more suited with those three behind him but I get why Romelu Lukaku has been selected, needs a goal today.

Harry: So captain Antonio Valencia hasn’t played for 53 days. Darmian starts ahead of him. I remember Arsenal being a laughing stock for constantly having captains who never played. A sign of mediocrity and of an acceptance of that.

Team news – Manchester United

14:15: There’s a rare start for the lesser-spotted Matteo Darmian this afternoon with Luke Shaw serving a one-game suspension having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in the contest at the Etihad Stadium.

Elsewhere Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku and Juan Mata return to the starting XI ahead of Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini.

Team news – Crystal Palace

14:10: Just the one change for Roy Hodgson – but It’s a mightily important one for the Eagles.

Former Manchester United forward Wilfried Zaha returns in place of Jordan Ayew, who drops to the bench.

Jose scouts

14:05: That’s right, Jose Mourinho has been scouting… his own player!

Jose says he travelled to Belgium during the international break to gain insight on Romelu Lukaku.

Mourinho attended Belgium’s 2-0 win against Iceland in Brussels on November 15 – and was not watching any of his own players, with neither Lukaku nor Marouane Fellaini involved for the hosts.

Mourinho was asked ahead of today’s Premier League home clash with Crystal Palace – for which Lukaku has been declared “ready with a little bit of a risk” – about his trip to Belgium.

And after joking that he went “for the weather”, he said: “I went…mentally to be with Lukaku, to feel him, to see his situation, his injury.

“Roberto Martinez invited me to meet him, which I decided not to do, because I don’t like to disturb people before matches. But I was with Roberto on the phone trying to feel, trying to understand the problem and evolution of the problem.”

Starting XI…

14:00: The wait is over, here are the starting line-ups for today’s clash at Old Trafford.

Manchester United XI: De Gea, Darmian, Lindelof, Smalling, Young, Matic, Pogba, Lingard, Mata, Martial, Lukaku.

Subs: Grant, Jones, Sanchez, Rashford, Fred, Valencia, Fellaini.

Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey, Wan Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, Kouyate, Milivojevic, McArthur, Townsend, Meyer, Zaha.

Subs: Guaita, Ward, Sorloth, Ayew, Schlupp, Kelly, Puncheon.

Twitter round-up

Mohit: The entire structure in the club needs to change! The under-performing players need to go! We need to make key signings in areas where we have struggled. Tactically, make some changes! And get some players confidence back up! Changes will come.

Gary: Nothing beats the walk to the ground on match day – especially when the walk will end walking into the Stretford end at Old Trafford – come on United, let’s have these today!

Thando: Haven’t a faintest idea of what to expect from Manchester United today. All I’m hoping for is a clean-sheet, that’s not to much of an ask?!

So you’d be happy with a 0-0 draw then, Thando?

Afternoon

13:50: Hello everyone, and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Manchester United vs Crystal Palace from Old Trafford.

It’s dank, cold and horrible outside… ideal conditions for Premier League football to make a return from the international break.

Don’t get me wrong, England beating Croatia to make the semi-finals of the Nations League was nothing short of fantastic.

But there’s nothing quite like Premier League football on a Saturday afternoon, right?

Anyway, I’ve waffled on enough – let’s get down to business.

Jose Mourinho’s side are 12 points behind Manchester City, and seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham.

A win today is critical. Team news and line-ups coming up. Standby…

MANCHESTER UNITED vs CRYSTAL PALACE

Paul Pogba is set to return to action against Crystal Palace. The midfielder has recovered from the injury that ruled him out of the 3-1 loss at Manchester City. Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Marouane Fellaini are all ready to be involved. Luke Shaw serves a one-game suspension.

Crystal Palace will welcome Wilfried Zaha back to their squad after he missed their last game with Tottenham due to a hamstring injury. James Tomkins (knee) is fit, Mamadou Sakho has shaken off a knock. Christian Benteke, Connor Wickham, Joel Ward and Scott Dann are all out.

Last season: Crystal Palace 2 Man Utd 3, Man Utd 4 Crystal Palace 0

Last five league matches: Man Utd W D W W L; Crystal Palace L L D L L

Top scorers: Anthony Martial (Man Utd) 7; Andros Townsend and Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) 3

Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire)