Manchester United completed the league double over Crystal Palace this season, but next season they won’t have the advantage that helped them do so.
Generally, Crystal Palace have been one of the bogey teams for Man Utd, be it home or away, so this league double will really feel like a good mental block overcome.
The 2-1 scoreline in both games was largely well-deserved, even if both fixtures had a “game of two halves” cliche to them.
The interesting thing is that United won both games due to the same advantage, and they won’t have it next season. If anything, Palace are likely to have it.
Michael Carrick speaks with Matheus Cunha and Bruno after the team’s victory in the Premier League match between Manchester United and Crystal Palace at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
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Man Utd’s advantage over Crystal Palace this season
When United faced Palace at Old Trafford, the two teams were on very different trajectories, with Michael Carrick’s United flying, and Oliver Glasner trying his best to get himself sacked.
That was a world apart from when Ruben Amorim took his United team to Selhurst Park, as Glasner’s Palace were still basking in the glory of Europe.
Both games started similarly, with Palace on the front foot and neutralising United fairly easily.
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While Carrick got helped by a red card, it’s likely that United would have gone on to win regardless, because both these games, under him and Amorim, came on a Sunday afternoon after Palace had played in Europe on Thursday.
Glasner has repeatedly said this season that he doesn’t have the squad to compete in multiple competitions, and it’s true.
In that game at Selhurst Park, Palace faded away as United ascended, clearly tired due to their midweek travels.
The same happened at Old Trafford, and United completed a turnaround on both occasions.
Both times, they came across an under-equipped team fighting on multiple fronts, and came through due to freshness. That’s an advantage they won’t have next season.
Man Utd need to avoid Palace’s trap
The shoe will be on the other foot next season as things stand, because United will be in Europe, probably the Champions League, while Palace will be out.
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Manchester United's Portuguese midfielder #08 Bruno Fernandes (L) congratulates Manchester United's Slovenian striker #30 Benjamin Sesko
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United need to learn from Palace’s mistake and ensure the squad is fully equipped to deal with tackling four competitions next season.
Plenty of players have called this season ‘strange’, but the effects of free midweeks have been visible on the weekend against teams tackling multiple competitions.
For United to avoid being in the same situation as them, the summer transfer window needs to be attacked with purpose and precision.
United would gladly cede this season’s advantage to Palace next season if it meant that the UCL anthem is back playing at Old Trafford.
It’s just that this scenario comes with a potential pitfall United have already taken advantage of.
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