Manchester United vs Crystal Palace live: Latest score and updates from Premier League clash at Old Trafford
The match kicks off at 8pm
Welcome to The Independent's coverage of live updates from Manchester United vs Crystal Palace at Old Trafford.
- Manchester United vs Crystal Palace (8pm)
- United can close gap on fourth-placed Arsenal to one point with win
- Palace have never beaten United in a Premier League match
- Also tonight:
- Liverpool vs Everton (8pm)
- Toffees last won at Anfield in 1999
- Everton are without a win in their last six league games
- West Ham vs Watford (7.45pm)
- Hammers are unbeaten in eight league games
- Follow the latest below:
Manchester United need a figurehead in defence to marshal the host of young defenders coming through the club's academy, former captain Nemanja Vidic says.
United's problems this season with injuries and indifferent performances, have led to manager Louis van Gaal handing debuts to teenage defenders Cameron Borthwick-Jackson, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Joe Riley, Regan Poole and Donald Love.
The relatively young backline, led by the ever-present Chris Smalling, has conceded just 30 goals in the club's 33 Premier League games so far, only title-chasing Tottenham Hotspur have given up fewer.
"I think it's more difficult for defenders, especially when you have three or four of them playing together in the same match... in defence, I think you need someone who can lead these young boys," Vidic told the club's website (www.manutd.com).
"Manchester United always need to win trophies and when the club don't, players have to accept some criticism and that can be hard for the younger ones to take. They need some experienced players to take that weight off their backs."
Fifth-placed United are four points behind Arsenal, who hold the final Champions League qualifying spot, with five games left. The 13-time league champions host 16th placed Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
51 min WHU 2-0 WAT Abdi fires over from a Jurado cross early in the second half in East London.
53 min WHU 3-0 WAT - GOAL! Yet another penalty conceded by Watford - Mark Noble dispatches this one and the Hammers are three up.
FULL-TIME MAN 2-0 CRY This match was over a long time ago, to be honest. Both these sides have FA Cup semi-finals to look forward to this weekend but it is the Old Trafford side who will head to Wembley in better mood, coasting to the three points against a Palace side still just above the relegation fight.
90 min LIV 4-0 EVE We're into seven minutes of injury time at Anfield.
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