• Competition: EFL Cup (Second Round)
• Date: Tuesday, 26th, September 2023
• Kickoff: 20:00 UK/21.00 CEST
• Venue: Old Trafford (Manchester)

Manchester United, the reigning champions, kick off their EFL Cup defense in front of their loyal fans at Old Trafford as they welcome Crystal Palace on Tuesday.

The Red Devils enter the showdown on Tuesday as the reigning champions of the tournament, as they managed to finally end their trophy drought last season and bring the first silverware to Old Trafford since 2017, defeating Newcastle 2-0 in the final. The delicate start to the 2023-24 campaign for United, with four defeats and only three victories in their first seven challenges, casts a shadow on their ambitions. Such a performance doesn't align with the club's reputation, especially after significant investments during the summer. However, Erik ten Hag's team momentarily put their troubles aside with a hard-fought 1-0 win over newcomers Burnley over the weekend, breaking a streak of three consecutive defeats.

On the other hand, it seems that the EFL Cup is not Hodgson's Eagles' favorite tournament, as they have never managed to win it, and they have also never been in a position to compete for the same trophy, with the second round being the furthest they've gone in three out of the last four editions. Crystal Palace, in fact, booked their clash with the Red Devils at the "Theatre of Dreams" by convincingly defeating Championship newcomers Plymouth 4-2 at the end of August. The Selhurst Park-based squad embarked on the current campaign with notable inconsistency, compiling two wins, along with the same number of draws and losses, in their first six Premier League contests.

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace Betting Tips : United to Win

Following the EFL Cup clash on Tuesday, Crystal Palace won't need to return to South London as just four days later, on Saturday, they face another showdown with the Red Devils at Old Trafford in the seventh round of the Premier League. Despite United's recent inconsistency, we anticipate Erik ten Hag will quickly devise a plan to revive his squad. Primarily, the Dutch tactician will need to address the defensive concerns, as conceding 14 goals in their last six matches appears highly alarming. Therefore, it all hinges on the performance of Manchester's defense – if the backline fulfills its duties as expected, the Red Devils will likely commence their EFL Cup defense on a high note.