PREMIER LEAGUE analyst Dan McCulloch (@danmcc84) takes a look at Crystal Palace v Man Utd tonight.
Crystal Palace v Man Utd | Monday 5th March 2018, 20:00 | Sky Sports
Crystal Palace take on Manchester United at Selhurst Park this evening in what is surely a bigger game for the home side. United are currently 19 points behind rivals and league leaders Manchester City but enjoy a six-point lead over Chelsea in their battle for a top four spot.
Palace, in contrast, find themselves back in the bottom three having gained just two points from their last five games. They are also faced with a crippling injury crises and will be without star man Wilfried Zaha and top scorer Bakary Sako – among others – tonight.
Despite currently sitting third in the Premier League, United have rarely impressed this season and few clubs have been as thankful to their goalkeeper as they have been to David De Gea.
No side has conceded less goals than Mourinho's men but while both they and City have let in just 20 strikes, it is worth noting that United have faced 47 more shots on target.
With this in mind a best price of 8/15 seems a little short but I am conscious of how toothless The Eagles looked in a defeat by Tottenham last weekend.
The outright market is therefore ruled out, so I turned my attention to the goalscorer view and like the look of Romelu Lukaku to score anytime at 7/5 with Paddy Power. The Belgian has a reputation as a flat track bully and only scored his first goal against a top six side as a United player against Chelsea last weekend. In contrast, he has been responsible for 27% of The Red Devils strikes against sides from seventh down and I believe he will add to his 13- goal league tally this evening.
He has scored in four of his nine away matches to sides outside the top six and also netted both goals in United’s 2-0 victory at Huddersfield in The FA Cup two weeks ago.
I thought he would be close to Evens to find the net, so am more than happy to take the 7/5 Paddy’s are offering.
Best Bets
Crystal Palace v Man Utd – Romelu Lukaku Anytime (7/5 Paddy Power)
