Manchester United will be targeting a fourth successive win when they welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford in the Premier League this afternoon.
United will welcome the Londoners to M16 with the ambition of building on Thursday night's 2-0 win over FCSB in the Europa League. The Reds booked their place in the last-16 via second half goals from Diogo Dalot and Kobbie Mainoo.
Having avoided the play-off round that will take place later this month, United can now switch their focus back to domestic matters. They will be looking to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time since winning their final two games of last season.
READ MORE: I was fuming at 'criminal' Manchester United decision - now I am ready to prove them wrong
READ MORE: Pep Guardiola hints under-fire Man City man could get permanent position switch
Here are five things to look out for at Old Trafford this afternoon:
A new attack?
Mainoo's eye-catching performance in the No.10 position in Bucharest in midweek means head coach Ruben Amorim will be under pressure to deploy him from that starting position once again. The England international excelled in a more advanced role, creating Dalot's opener before scoring United's second goal himself.
He started as the left-sided No.10 and should have given United the lead in the first half. He switched to the right-sided No.10 berth after the introduction of Alejandro Garnacho at half-time.
Garnacho was a bundle of energy and excitement after coming on at the halfway stage in Bucharest and is also worthy of a start in attack today. If he and Mainoo get the nod to start as the two No.10s, Bruno Fernandes could start in a deeper midfield role once again.
Ramsus Hojlund stretched his dry spell in front of goal to 12 matches in midweek. He stored 80 minutes under his belt before being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee for the closing stages.
Taking that, the short turnaround time between the two games and the travel time into account, Zirkzee could lead the line against Palace, joining forces with Garnacho and Mainoo in attack from the start for the very first time.
Connect four?
I wrote last week that Fernandes' last-gasp winner against Rangers had to become a moment that changed United's fortunes. Since the United captain scored that 92nd-minute winner against the Scottish outfit, they have won back-to-back games without conceding, securing three straight wins for the first time this season.
Winning breeds confidence and United will have ambitions of chalking up a fourth successive win for the first time since last February this afternoon. That run spanned five matches and included four successive Premier League wins.
Amorim said United would have to "suffer" during the process of the team adapting to his methods and demands. Another win today would suggest the level of suffering is beginning to ease.
Palace's away form
After winning 1-0 at Old Trafford last season, Palace will be eyeing back-to-back victories in M16 for the second time since 2019, and their recent away form suggests they will be confident of scooping all three points.
The Londoners have not lost on their travels since losing 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on October 21, meaning they will arrive at Old Trafford unbeaten in their last seven away games. They have won each of their last two on the road, beating both West Ham United and Leicester City 2-0, and have kept three successive clean sheets on their travels.
Since their aforementioned defeat at Forest in October, no team in the Premier League has conceded fewer goals away from home than Palace (five), highlighting just how defensively assured they have been. Also a bogey team for United recently, Palace will be a tough nut to try and crack.
Yoro or De Ligt?
Having played no part in the win over FCSB, Harry Maguire is likely to come back into the starting XI this afternoon. He has been one of United's most consistent performers in recent weeks and it would be a surprise to see him omitted from two starting XI's in a row.
Should the England international get the nod to start in the heart of the back-three, the expectation is Lisandro Martinez will start to his left. Who starts to his right, however, is up for debate.
Matthijs de Ligt played the full 90 minutes against FCSB after failing to complete the two previous matches. However, the short turnaround time could mean that he is rested from the start and Leny Yoro replaced him.
The Frenchman stepped off the bench in the second half in Romania and will be hungry to bag his first start since the win over Rangers. As big a dilemma as it is, it is a good headache for Amorim to have.
A routine home win would be nice
When you take into account Palace have not conceded a single goal in their last three away games, you would be brave to tip United to win handsomely this afternoon. The Reds have won just five of their 12 home league games this season and only two of those victories have been what you could describe as convincing.
Though the recent 3-1 win over Southampton, judging by the scoreline, looked comfortable and convincing, United trailed 1-0 against the Premier League's bottom club heading into the last ten minutes and were only saved by Amad's stunning hat-trick.
United's other wins at Old Trafford in the league this season have included a narrow 1-0 win over a Fulham and a tense 2-1 triumph over Brentford. Only the 3-0 win over Leicester City under Ruud van Nistelrooy and the 4-0 success over Everton in Amorim's first home league game in charge have been truly comfortable.
