In an odd sort of a way, and despite the state of the opposition, this is quite a significant game. It marks the end of Manchester United’s (relatively) soft start to the Premier League season: after this, everybody takes a couple of weeks to play international football, and then it’s Liverpool away, the first Big Game of the campaign.
A win today will mean six wins in seven, 19 points from a possible 21, and a favour from the fixture computer seized with both hands. With one of City or Chelsea certain to drop points later in the day, this represents an excellent occasion to take back top place. And maybe to inflate the goal difference a little in the process.
Helpfully for all this, Palace are a state. They haven’t scored a goal in their opening six league games, they’ve lost the lot, and Christian Benteke is injured. Frank de Boer was the wrong appointment, and there’s been nothing so far to suggest that Roy Hodgson might be the right replacement. And we could go on, but we’ve already done enough to jinx this afternoon. Oops. 1-1 draw coming right up.
Premier League schedule
3pm in the UK, 10am on the east coast of the USA, and a bright and shiny 7am over on the west. Good morning to you!
Premier League TV channel
No luck in the UK, given that it’s a 3 o’clock kickoff. Over in the USA, you can find the game on NBCSN. Everybody else, head over to livesoccer for the details.
Premier League streaming
Nothing legal in the UK. In the UK, it’ll be on NBC Sports Live.
Starting lineup
Predicted lineup, assuming everybody that might be fit is fit: David de Gea; Antonio Valencia, Eric Bailly, Phil Jones, Matteo Darmian; Nemanja Matic, Marouane Fellaini; Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata, Marcus Rashford; Romelu Lukaku.
Update: nine out of 11. Not too shabby. Wonder what Eric Bailly did.
Here it is - today's #MUFC team for #MUNCRY... pic.twitter.com/6XcmV0FHQG
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 30, 2017
This will also be our live thread for the game, so join us in the comments below.