- Manchester United face Crystal Palace in the U18 Premier League Cup final
- Team news
- How to watch and predictions
Manchester United face off against Crystal Palace in the U18 Premier League Cup final, as the Red Devils look to take their first step towards silverware.
The Red Devils arrive well prepared, having already defeated tonight’s opponents 2-1 in the FA Youth Cup semi-final. JJ Gabriel opened the scoring, before Chido Obi drove a dagger through the Eagles’ hearts, his 116th-minute strike proving decisive as United ran out winners.
Darren Fletcher’s side will now face rivals Manchester City in that competition’s final, revisiting the 1986 FA Youth Cup showpiece 40 years on.
First in their sights, however, is Palace tonight, where the Under-18s aim to secure the first of a possible three trophies this season.
How to watch
If you cannot make the game, MUTV has you covered, with live footage available from 18:55 BST for viewers in the UK and Ireland, and the action is also on ManUtd.com and in the United app.
The game kicks off at 19:00 BST and takes place at Selhurst Park.
| Date: | Wednesday (April 22nd) |
| Kick-off time: | 19:00 BST |
| Location: | Selhurst Park |
| Match: | U18 Premier League Cup Final |
| Broadcast: | MUTV |
Man Utd vs Crystal Palace U18 PL Cup final – Preview
Having lifted the 2023/24 edition under Adam Lawrence, United now chase a second title, which would see them draw level as the competition’s most successful club.
That triumph came courtesy of a 2-1 win over Manchester City at Leigh Sports Village, where Ethan Wheatley’s brace sealed the club’s first crown, in a side featuring the likes of Bendito Mantato and Harry Amass.
A repeat tonight would take United level with both Chelsea and Manchester City on two titles. United entered a group consisting of Brighton and Hove Albion, Birmingham, and Middlesbrough.
The Red Devils swept through it with authority, scoring 12 and conceding none as they won all three matches to top the group. In the quarter-final, braces from Louis Bradbury and Jay McEvoy proved enough to overcome West Bromwich Albion, who rallied late with three goals of their own after United had surged into a 4-0 lead.
JJ Gabriel—United’s 15-year-old prodigy—received a controversial red card in the 54th minute, a decision that sparked widespread frustration across social media.
In the semi-final, United faced holders West Ham, but once again proved too strong, dispatching the London side 3-1 after extra time. Palace, on the other hand, navigated a far tougher path.
Drawn in a group with Manchester City, Sheffield United, and Chelsea, Palace opened with a draw against City before beating the other two to progress. In the knockout rounds, they saw off Peterborough before edging past Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 in the semi-final.
Manchester United may be without talismanic star Gabriel, who came off against Palace just days earlier. Whether that stemmed from fatigue or something more significant remains unclear.
Prediction: Manchester United 2-0 Crystal Palace
Predicted XI – Byrne-Hughes; Helafu, Mills, Kukonki (c), Armer; McCormack, Thwaites; Brown, Gabriel (doubtful), Ajayi; Obi.
