Crystal Palace v Man Utd: Back Rashford at 6/1 to keep red-hot run going

• Man Utd can climb up to second by beating out-of-form Palace

• Marcus Rashford is the bet to set United on their way by scoring the first goal at 7.06/1

• Bruno Fernandes can net again and is a Bet Builder play at 9.08/1

Palace suffering slump

With plenty of other higher-profile teams currently being given crisis-club status, there's not much heat on Crystal Palace.

A glance at the table shows the Eagles in 12th spot which is just about where they're supposed to be, right? However, it's six points up to 10th so it's not the case that a win for Palace could lift them into the top half.

Instead, they're just two points above Nottingham Forest, and other sides beneath them could soon start picking Palace off after the Eagles' miserable run of form.

A 1-0 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend means Patrick Vieira's men have lost five of their last games, the one win in that poor spell a 2-0 success against a Bournemouth side in freefall.

These are uncertain times and with a home game against Newcastle and another meeting with United, this time at Old Trafford, to follow, Palace could really do with putting something on the board quickly.

What goes in their favour is a decent head-to-head record against Wednesday night's opponents.

United the Premier League's form team

Back in August following a 4-0 loss to Brentford, a Betfair news update reported that Manchester United had been cut to 22/1 to be relegated while new manager Erik ten Hag was down to 13/2 to be the first Premier League manager to leave his post.

Fast forward to mid-January and United are now 14/1 to win the title while Dutchman ten Hag is being hailed as their best manager since Sir Alex Ferguson. How fast things change.

Without doubt, ten Hag has done a brilliant job since that challenging start and victory in Sunday's derby - even if helped by the dubious offside law - made it nine straight wins in all competitions for the Red Devils. Wind back a little further and it's 12 wins in 13.

A look at the table now shows United in fourth, a point behind second-placed City and only beneath Newcastle on goal difference. Since that 4-0 chastening at Brentford, no team has won more points than United's 38.

After Wednesday's game against Palace, United face a showdown with leaders Arsenal. They beat the Gunners 3-1 at Old Trafford in September and completing the double at the Emirates would pull them within six of the leaders.

Is a first Manchester United Premier League title since 2013 really on? Or are we just witnessing a purple patch?

Palace have troubled United before

Given the vast contrast in form as well as reputation, United were always going to be odds-on but by how much?

The Man Utd price of 1.875/6 is perhaps a little bigger than some would have guessed. After all, a win here would make it 10 straight victories in all competitions.

Crystal Palace are 4.77/2 to cause a shock while The Draw is 3.953/1. Regarding the latter, Palace have drawn just one at home in the Premier League this season while United have been involved in just a single away stalemate.

Like many struggling teams, Palace don't score many in front of their own fans. Indeed, their 10 home goals is just one more than each of the bottom three have managed on their respective patches.

In addition, Palace have shipped 15 goals at home, the second worst tally in the division.

Historical form is kinder to the Eagles as they've won three and drawn one of their last six against United. Two of those victories came at Old Trafford although they did win this fixture last season thanks to a Wilf Zaha strike.

But ten Hag's United look to be going places again and victory here would elevate them to second place. On current form, I expect that to become a reality.

Rashford can continue hotstreak

With Palace conceding plenty at home, it could pay to take the very obvious route and back red-hot Marcus Rashford to score the first goal. The price of 7.06/1 is more than enough to lure me in.

The England striker is in sensational form having netted in all seven starts since returning from the World Cup where he bagged three goals in five games.

While he's in this 'can't do no wrong' phase, it's worth following Rashford, who scored the only goal in United's last road game, a 1-0 success at Wolves.

Fernandes worth a Bet Builder punt

Bruno Fernandes scored Manchester United's controversial equaliser against Manchester City and I'm going to back the Portuguese to pop up with another here.

With Cristiano Ronaldo now gone, Fernandes seems freer and ready to thrive again. And that could mean an uptick in his goal output.

Fernandes to score in a Man Utd win pays 4.47/2 on the Bet Builder but, given Palace's struggles in front of goal, I'll extend that by adding in an away clean sheet.

Fernandes to score, Man Utd to win and Both teams to Score 'No' pays around 9.08/1.

If United win a penalty, Rashford or Fernandes will grab the ball so that's a potential help to our two bets.

Opta stat

Manchester United have won five of their last eight Premier League away games (D1 L2), after losing seven in a row before this.