Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has backed Crystal Palace to steer clear of a relegation battle this season.

Palace currently sit 15th in the Premier League table, just three points clear of the relegation zone following a run of only one win in their last nine matches.

The Eagles will host United at Selhurst Park this evening, but Mourinho is confident that they have the quality to comfortably survive the drop.

"I don't think they are battling relegation – I think they are too good for that. I think they will be fine and, at the end of the season, they will be in a comfortable situation without that problem of relegation," he told MUTV.

"They have a good manager, good players, they are spending good money on good players, they have phenomenal fans; they have one of the stadiums where they are phenomenal with the support. So it will be a difficult match for us because they are a good team."

Palace have not beaten United in the top flight since 1991.