Manchester United get their 2020-21 campaign belatedly underway when they welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.
Just over a month after their 2019-20 season finished in the Europa League semi-finals, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are back in competitive action a week later than most teams, including Palace, who began the campaign with a 1-0 win over Southampton.
Match preview
Even with the additional week afforded to those who reached the latter stages of Europe last season, this is a quick turnaround for a United side whose summer break will have lasted just one month and three days.
The true significance of that may not been known in full until the majority of the season unfolds, but Solskjaer will know that his side needs to hit the ground running immediately.
A third-placed finish last season means that their main goal for the upcoming campaign is to close the gap on the top two of Liverpool and Manchester City, as well as building on an encouraging second half of 2019-20.
Indeed, the Red Devils begin their new season with the longest ongoing unbeaten streak in the Premier League, having ended last term on a 14-game run without defeat which stretches back to January.
The form of the likes of Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood drew particular praise during that time, but there is still a feeling among fans that they need to strengthen more this summer.
The transfer window began with understandable excitement as United were linked with a host of star names - most notably Jadon Sancho - but Donny van de Beek is the only new name through the door in time for the new season.
The Red Devils appear to have missed out on Sergio Reguilon, Gareth Bale and Thiago Alcantara to Premier League rivals, while the Sancho saga rumbles on, and when you throw captain Harry Maguire and Greenwood's off-field troubles into the mix as well, it has not been an ideal summer for the 20-time champions.
Matters on the pitch could have been better too, with a 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa in their only pre-season contest.
The hosts will be favourites going into Saturday's match, but they will also be wary of the fact that one of their two home defeats in the league last season came at the hands of this weekend's opponents.
That memorable Old Trafford triumph is the only time Palace have ever beaten United in the Premier League era, though, so if the Eagles are able to come away with a positive result again on Saturday then it would be an achievement of some significance.
Roy Hodgson will certainly believe that his side can do it; they beat Southampton on the opening day of the season to get off to a winning start, despite the stats suggesting that away specialists Southampton went into the game as favourites.
Star player - and former United winger - Wilfried Zaha is showing signs of getting back to his best after an underwhelming campaign last term, and the club appear to have addressed their lack of goals in 2019-20 by re-signing Michy Batshuayi on loan.
The Chelsea man made his second debut for the Eagles in midweek but drew a blank as Palace were ultimately dumped out of the EFL Cup by Championship side Bournemouth following a remarkable penalty shootout.
The first 20 spot-kicks went in before both keepers missed, and then Luka Milivojevic saw his saved after the order had come full circle as Bournemouth won the shootout 11-10 at the Vitality Stadium.
Palace will have no fears about going back out on the road again, though; they won more away league games last season than both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal and will fancy their chances of causing United problems on the counter with their quick attackers.
Manchester United pre-season form: L
Crystal Palace Premier League form: W
Crystal Palace form (all competitions): WL
Team News
A question mark hangs over the head of Pogba ahead of this contest after his return to pre-season training was delayed by a positive coronavirus test.
The Frenchman has now fully recovered from the virus, but his fitness levels could be a few steps behind some of his teammates and so Solskjaer will make a decision before the game.
New signing Van de Beek is in contention to make his debut after playing in the friendly against Villa - a match that seven regular starters missed.
One of those absent was David de Gea, and there will be plenty of attention on who gets the gloves for this match with Dean Henderson now back from loan and pushing for regular football.
Greenwood's actions while away on international duty with England could cost him a starting role in this match, while Pogba, Victor Lindelof, Fernandes, Martial and former Palace full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka were among the other names missing against Villa.
Axel Tuanzebe and Phil Jones are currently the only guaranteed absentees, but United could be below full strength due to a number of players only returning to training this week.
Palace, meanwhile, remain very short of defensive options with Gary Cahill, Patrick van Aanholt, James Tomkins and Nathan Ferguson among the players out injured.
Mamadou Sakho's midweek return is timely, then, but the former Liverpool centre-back is unlikely to be ready from the start this weekend and so Cheikhou Kouyate could once again fill in alongside Scott Dann.
Eberechi Eze will be pushing for his full Premier League debut, while Batshuayi will be hopeful of a start up front, perhaps alongside Jordan Ayew.
Christian Benteke and Connor Wickham will not be ready in time for this match, but Jairo Riedewald could be available after recovering from the injury he picked up last week.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Van de Beek, Pogba; James, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Guaita; Ward, Kouyate, Dann, Mitchell; Eze, McCarthy, McArthur, Zaha; Batshuayi, Ayew
We say: Manchester United 2-1 Crystal Palace
The hosts are not in the best shape possible heading into this season opener, which is understandable given they have only had a month off.
However, Solskjaer should still be able to name a team strong enough to see off Palace, who are struggling even more with injuries and whose win in the corresponding fixture last season was very much an exception to the rule in the Premier League era.
Top betting tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a home win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home Win:dataVideo prediction
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