Man Utd v Crystal Palace: Team newspublished at 13:03 GMT
13:03 GMT
Michael Carrick hands a starting spot to Benjamin Sesko following the Slovenian's match winner at Everton on Monday.
Amad Diallo drops to the bench in the only change to Carrick's entire squad as United look for a victory that would take them into third spot for the first time since the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
Manchester United XI: Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Brighton v Nottingham Forest" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Chelsea", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Man Utd v Crystal Palacepublished at 10:20 GMT
10:20 GMT
Manchester United have been very good under Michael Carrick and they are a team full of confidence - Benjamin Sesko is a great example of that.
Palace picked up a late win over Wolves last time out but it still feels like their manager Oliver Glasner should have left by now, because there is such a negative atmosphere around the whole club.
I don't like to question anyone's commitment but, in this scenario, I think you have no choice. Glasner wants to leave, and the whole situation has been handled very badly.
Palace have won away at Manchester United in the past two seasons but, the way things are going for both teams, you'd only ever go for a home win here.
Manchester United v Crystal Palace: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 13:02 GMT 28 February
13:02 GMT 28 February
Manchester United will put their resurgence to the test against one of their more awkward opponents in recent years, as Crystal Palace visit Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday (14:00 GMT).
A dogged 1-0 win at Everton on Monday night propelled the Red Devils back into the top four. A Champions League place is very much United's to lose at this stage, although they will face pressure from Liverpool and Chelsea.
As for Palace, a win over Zrinjski Mostar on Thursday in the Conference League pushed them into the knockout stage proper. However, problems off the pitch remain.
Carrick finds formula for new transfers
It has been an impressive start for Michael Carrick in the Manchester United dugout, with five wins and a draw from his first six matches in charge of this spell. In the club's history, few have fared better in the early stages of their tenure.
Carrick has won all four of his home league games in charge (one in 2021, three in 2026). Only Frank O'Farrell has won his first five home league games in charge of the Red Devils, doing so in 1971 (he won his first six).
Carrick is also yet to lose any of his seven matches managing United across two spells. Only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2018–19 with 11 and Herbert Bamlett in 1927 with 10 managed to accumulate more unbeaten games at the start of their respective tenures.
United were far from their best at Hill Dickinson Stadium but showcased the determination to get through the game. When the key moments came, they were able to produce moments of quality too.
Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko combined to set up the latter's goal on the counter-attack. The three summer signings have settled at different speeds at Old Trafford, but Carrick appears to be getting a tune out of all of them at the moment.
Glasner seeking more Old Trafford glory
Palace face a curious end to the season. The Eagles know their head coach, Oliver Glasner, is on the way out, and there were protests against him and the board at the previous game.
Even so, they remain in European competition and, after two wins from their last three Premier League games, there appears to be no danger of the team being dragged into a relegation battle.
Old Trafford is a venue where they have performed well in recent seasons, meaning even an in-form United side may not necessarily welcome a visit from the south London club.
Palace have won four of their last six league matches at Old Trafford. On Sunday, they are looking to become just the second London side to win three consecutive away league games against Manchester United, after Chelsea between 1967–68 and 1969–70.
The match will also be a big one for former United goalkeeper Dean Henderson. He has recently been handed the Palace captaincy and stepped up last weekend to save a penalty from Tolu Arokodare.
It means Henderson has now saved a third of the Premier League penalties he has faced - five out of 15 - which is the joint-highest ratio among goalkeepers to have faced at least 15 spot-kicks. Former United goalkeeper Mark Bosnich saved six of the 18 he faced.
Wait for De Ligt return goes onpublished at 15:01 GMT 27 February
15:01 GMT 27 February
Simon Stone Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
When Ruben Amorim was asked in the aftermath of his side's 1-1 home draw with West Ham on 4 December if defender Matthijs de Ligt would be fit for the trip to Wolves four days later, the answer was clear – "I think so".
At that point, there had been no explanation for why the Dutchman, who had completely the full 90 minutes of the previous weekend's win at Crystal Palace, had missed his first Premier League game of the season. He had not even been substituted at that point.
Thirteen weeks and 15 games later, De Ligt remains side-lined.
His back injury has still not cleared up and there is no timescale on a return.
Even when I asked head coach Michael Carrick earlier if it was likely De Ligt would be back after next month's international break – United's first game is against Leeds on 11 April – he was reluctant to commit to a timescale.
"Matthijs has had a back issue which has been a bit slow to progress," he said.
"The nature of the injury means it's a difficult one to pin down time wise. He's definitely improving though."
United struggled badly in De Ligt's absence until Harry Maguire's return, which is another reason why it is more likely than not, the England defender will get a new contract before his current one expires in the summer.
Carrick on injuries, Maguire contract and starting Seskopublished at 14:19 GMT 27 February
14:19 GMT 27 February
Melissa Edwards BBC Sport journalist
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford (kick-off 14:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Mason Mount is back training on grass and is expected to return "pretty soon", while Matthijs de Ligt is a "bit further behind" with his back injury.
Harry Maguire has made 14 appearances in the Premier League this season, alongside a large spell out with injury, and Carrick thinks his experience is key to the team's success: "Harry is an impressive character. He's had a great career so far, hopefully there is a lot more to come. He's been here on the journey and the experiences he's had show exactly what he is. We know the player he is and what he is capable of doing. He was fantastic the other night [against Everton] - his experience, attributes and character helps. He's willing to put himself out there. He's been really important for us."
He continued: "There is a case, as your career goes when you're a young player and everything is fresh and new, you're fearless and there's not many scars there. You get to your peak years and you feel good and everything is there, but you've had a few ups and downs. You get towards the later times and the experience should make you a better player, we've seen that with Harry's performances of late."
On Maguire's contract being up in the summer: "Within the squad there is that balance, you want that younger potential and excitement and helping develop players, you need the sweet spot in the middle with players at the peak and experience is massive. It's hard to put a price on how valuable that can be. Harry has gained an awful lot of experience with this club. Casemiro leaving is another one and we have to understand that."
Benjamin Sesko has come off the bench to score late and earn United vital points in their past two matches, but Carrick says there is "no drama" with the forward not starting matches. He said: "The whole thing is a real positive. It's certainly not a decision that is one I look at in a negative way. We're playing well as a team, we're not getting carried away and thinking that carries on. The forwards have scored a good number of goals, Ben has been so good in so many ways. It's really not a drama. It just shows the quality Ben has got. If he starts the next game or the one after, it is what it is, but he's doing so many good things."
On squad rotation while playing in one competition: "When there is a lot more games we have rotation or having to change things physically. There are huge positives with the results we've had, playing well and winning games, but a big awareness from me and the staff is how important everyone is in the group. Even though it's the same players, game-to-game we have tweaked things, some of the front players have changed in different positions, Luke [Shaw] has played in different role in possession, but there is a feeling of trying to keep the momentum."
On Manuel Ugarte: "I like Manu a lot, he's been terrific around the group with his attitude and how we go about it, his training qualities, he's got a lot of good attributes, when the team is winning there is a big upside to that. For one or two boys who haven't played as much, it makes it a little bit tougher to get in the team, but everyone is pushing each other. Many are desperate to get on the pitch a bit more. There are times when we might need to change things and he's a big part of that."
Champions League return - what's on the Carrick agenda?published at 10:56 GMT 27 February
10:56 GMT 27 February
Simon Stone Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
A big goal from super-sub Benjamin Sesko at Everton on Monday gave Manchester United a three-point cushion over Liverpool and Chelsea in the battle for fourth spot in the Premier League.
With Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace both making it through their respective European play-offs, fifth is almost certain to be enough for Champions League qualification.
No European distractions – United entertain Palace at Old Trafford on Sunday – gives Michael Carrick's side a massive advantage and from this position, it would be a shock if they didn't make it.
Carrick is due to face the media this lunchtime, when he is likely to be asked about the fitness of Lisandro Martinez, who missed out on Monday with a calf problem, and whether he will start Sesko, who has scored six goals in seven games.
I wonder if Champions League qualification might also get a mention.
Man Utd's £5.8m kit sponsor blowpublished at 10:45 GMT 27 February
10:45 GMT 27 February
Simon Stone Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
It's been an interesting couple of days when it comes to assessing the finances of Manchester United.
Profits, so far, for the current financial year, but growing debt on Wednesday and last night confirmation of the compensation figure that may end up being paid to Ruben Amorim following his dismissal last month.
But there is other stuff in the small print.
For a start, there is a decrease in sponsorship revenue of 13.5%, or £5.8m, over the six months to 31 December, primarily, the club say, due to the end of the training kit deal with Tezos last summer.
That's a big gap and one of the reasons why Champions League qualification this season is so important when it comes to United being an attractive commercial proposition.
Finance costs – to service the debt – are always a point of interest. They have reached £35.4m over the first six months of the financial year. Fans argue without the debt, that money could be invested in the respective squads.
The amount United owe in outstanding transfer fees is £422.1m, of which £130.49m is due between one and two years and £53.8m between two and five.
There are also contractual fees of £106.18m written into player contracts for both the men's and women's team if certain conditions are met – although United would presumably be happy to pay that as it would mean those players are doing well.
Also, given a lot is made of the fact missing out on Champions League qualification costs United £10m a season from their Adidas deal, it is worth noting additional payments can be made if teams are successful.
Although there are no actual details, it seems one of those is the women's side winning the Champions League.
Even more incentive for Marc Skinner's side to beat Bayern Munich in the last eight next month.
Ticket revenue continues to soar in Premier Leaguepublished at 09:58 GMT 27 February
09:58 GMT 27 February
Daniel Austin BBC Sport senior journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Fans of the Premier League's six wealthiest clubs are paying an average of £74 per ticket for each match they attend, while ticket revenues are soaring, according to data from a new report.
The Uefa European club finance and investment landscape report shows that Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham earned an average of 19% more money from selling tickets for home matches in 2025 than in 2024.
Among Premier League clubs, Arsenal made the most per fan, per match, earning an average of £89 per ticket.
The biggest increase in ticket income was earned by Liverpool, who made 27% more than the previous year, for a total of £120m.
The figures include matches in all European and domestic competitions and comprise the average price for general admission and hospitality tickets.
The data shows all 20 Premier League clubs made a combined total of £920m from ticket sales last year - an increase of £90m from the previous year.
That total is almost double the total of £514m in ticket income earned by Spanish clubs.
Nine Premier League clubs feature in Europe's top 25 for gate revenue, with the wealthiest six all in the top 11.
The report shows the 20 Premier League clubs are well ahead of their European rivals when it comes to overall revenue, earning a combined total of £6.5bn.
That is almost double the revenue of the next highest division, Germany's Bundesliga, whose 18 clubs made a total of £3.4bn.
Of the 25 clubs who generated the most revenue, 11 were English.
But those revenues did not mean the Premier League clubs turned a collective profit, as only five made a profit while 15 made losses and across the division, there was a combined pre-tax loss of £559m.
Chelsea - with £355m - made the second-highest loss in European football history while Spurs (£129m) were the the third-biggest losers in 2025, with Aston Villa fifth (£85m).
Sacking Amorim could cost Man Utd nearly £16mpublished at 09:52 GMT 27 February
09:52 GMT 27 February
Simon Stone Chief football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United have confirmed sacking Ruben Amorim could end up costing the club almost £16m.
The Portuguese was dismissed on 5 January following his public attack on the club's hierarchy after a 1-1 draw at Leeds the previous day.
The figure was released in a filing to the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday, a day after the club confirmed they had made a profit of £32.6m in their second-quarter results to 31 December 2025.
Listed as an "event that occurred after the reporting period", United confirmed an amortised fee of £6.3m - which related to the cost of getting Amorim to Old Trafford from Sporting in November 2024 - had been written off and a "provision of £15.9m" would be made, representing the highest amount United could be liable to pay Amorim and his coaching staff.
It is not explicitly stated in the submission what would trigger the highest payment but sources with an understanding of the situation have said it relates to future employment.
Amorim is yet to speak publicly about his time at United and sources close to the 41-year-old have said there is no immediate likelihood of that changing.
The payment completes an expensive managerial experiment that ultimately ended badly.
United confirmed in a similar filing on 27 November 2024 they were paying Sporting £11m to hire Amorim to replace Erik ten Hag, whose exit was costing £10.4m.
It means the combined changes around Amorim could cost £37.3m.
His 14-month stint in charge was the shortest reign of a permanent manager at Old Trafford since David Moyes was sacked just eight months into his tenure in 2014.
Amorim won 25 of his 63 games in charge, finishing 15th in the Premier League, United's worst performance since they were relegated in 1973-74.
They also lost the Europa League final, meaning they have no European football this season for only the second time since 1990.
The Wayne Rooney Show: European aways and meeting Maradonapublished at 08:00 GMT 27 February
08:00 GMT 27 February
Image source, Getty Images
The latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show has dropped on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer.
Rooney takes us on a trip through his most memorable European away nights, explaining what Rangers' and Celtic's grounds mean to him, and shares his surreal encounter with Diego Maradona.
Gossip: Man Utd won't pay Mane's price tagpublished at 07:58 GMT 27 February
07:58 GMT 27 February
Liverpool and Manchester United will not pay Wolves' £50m asking price for 18-year-old England youth international Mateus Mane this summer as they consider the midfielder too raw. (Football Insider), external
Lammens lends his support to Man Utd book initiativepublished at 12:12 GMT 26 February
12:12 GMT 26 February
Simon Stone Manchester United reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Manchester United's Foundation is encouraging fans to make donations as part of their support for World Book Day.
United goalkeeper Senne Lammens visited a nearby school to offer his support, a visit that clearly went down well judging by the reaction of the children, who revelled in his classroom and playground activities.
One of the Foundation's aims is to develop and improve the wellbeing and life skills of children aged five-to-11 and the presence of United's new number one goalkeeper clearly helps, even if he has not had that much time to read since he arrived at Old Trafford from Royal Antwerp in September.
"When I have a really good book or a book I'm interested in, I read quite a lot," he said.
"Getting started with a new book is always difficult. But it's reading about other athletes, for example, about mentality.
"There are also lots of good books about dealing with adversity, or stress that can also help you in this kind of industry."
Gossip: Onana wants to stay at Man Utdpublished at 07:50 GMT 26 February
07:50 GMT 26 February
Manchester United's Brazil midfielder Casemiro, 34, wants to continue his career in Europe when his contract ends at Old Trafford in the summer, and Italy is a possible next destination. (Sun), external
Manchester United plan to sell Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana, 29, this summer, but expect to receive significantly less than the £50m they paid Inter Milan to sign him in 2023. (Talksport), external
However, Onana wants to fight to re-establish himself as Manchester United's number one when his loan spell at Trabzonspor finishes in May - and believes he will be given a chance to do so. (Guardian), external
Manchester United are yet to formally reopen contract talks with England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, 20. (Sun), external
Arsenal,Liverpool and Manchester United are closely monitoring the development of Ajax's 18-year-old Dutch midfielder Sean Steur. (Teamtalk), external
Manchester United have reached an agreement to sell their reserve goalkeeper, Turkey's Altay Bayindir, 27, to Super Lig side Besiktas for £4.3m in the summer. (Fanatik via Metro), external
'Hat-trick, ripped collar, iconic' published at 17:35 GMT 25 February
17:35 GMT 25 February
Image source, Getty Images
Ten years on from Marcus Rashford's sensational first appearance for Manchester United, we asked you to share your favourite debut by a United player. You can read what BBC Sport's Simon Stone thinks lower down this page, where there's also info on the night Rashford made himself known to the masses.
And you seem to all be in agreement for a debut that sticks in the mind...
Gareth: It's Wayne Rooney in the Champions League against Fenerbahce and it's not close. Hat-trick, ripped collar, iconic.
Ady: Remember watching this young lad called Wayne Rooney score a debut Champions League hat-trick while I was sitting in a bar in Ibiza. Think he ended up all right...
Joseph: I was fortunate to be at Wayne Rooney's debut against Fenerbache with my younger brother when I had season tickets. I was only about 16 or 17 and to see him score a hat trick, with a right foot shot, a left footed shot and a free kick on his debut in Europe was amazing. I knew we'd be in store for a lot of titles after seeing that performance. European nights are aways special at Old Trafford but that game is up there. He had the world at his feet and nobody could get near him. A memory I'll never forget.
Simon: Rashford's debut was excellent and second only to Wayne Rooney v Fenerbahce when he scored three and assisted. Incredible. Can't see many other 18 year olds doing something like that, with such confidence as Rooney did at the time. The other significant difference is that Rooney continued to do it week after week. Rashford dipped in and out quite a lot. I suppose though he was playing in one of the worst United teams in a long time.
Ryan: Wayne Rooney's Champions League debut against Fenerbahce was incredible. Scoring a hat-trick to announce himself on the European Stage. He let all United supporters know what there was to look forward to. Trust me, he didn't disappoint. One of the greatest players in my opinion.
Mark: You can't beat Rooney's debut. He was just coming back from the injury sustained at Euro 2004 and other than training, hadn't had other minutes like now in reserve games. A hat-trick with all the goals coming from 18 yards or further, including taking a free-kick off Giggsy. All a few weeks before turning 19.
The England midfielder has been Forest's standout performer this season as they battle relegation from the Premier League.
Anderson is preparing to face Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-off as Forest aim to reach the last 16, holding a 3-0 lead from last week's first leg in Turkey.
"I'm just focusing on my football at the moment, performing and trying to give everything for Nottingham Forest. So that's all that's on my mind," said Anderson.
The 23-year-old is contracted to the City Ground until 2029 after joining from Newcastle in 2024.
The Manchester clubs are also reportedly monitoring Forest and England team-mate Morgan Gibbs-White.
Forest's captain almost joined Tottenham last summer, with Forest threatening legal action against Spurs, before signing a new deal until 2028.
BBC Sport has been told it does include a release clause, but boss Vitor Pereira believes the 26-year-old remains committed.
"I'm not hearing this. Every day is work. I feel they are very committed to our target, which is the most important thing," he said.
"He is a top player, the captain, the top player with the true spirit. That's why I accepted the job, because I have very good players.
"We need to prove every day in the work and we need to prove on the pitch, in the games, that we don't have just the talent in the team, but we create a strong team together."
