Erik ten Hag will want Casemiro and Fred to be on their best behaviour in Manchester United’s clash against Crystal Palace on Wednesday or they risk missing Sunday’s big clash with table-toppers Arsenal.
Casemiro has been one of the club’s best players since his arrival in the summer and has been an integral part of their success this season. As well as his acclaimed defensive work, the linchpin has also chipped in with two goals and four assists of his own.
Fred, meanwhile, has largely been used as a rotation player by Ten Hag, starting just nine of his 23 matches all season, of which five have come in the Premier League. However, he was named in a league line-up for the first time since October against Manchester City on Saturday.
READ MORE: What Casemiro and Fred did after Rashford goal
Like Casemiro, he lasted the full 90 minutes - for just the third time all campaign - as United earned a famous win. While both walked off the pitch with smiles on their faces, they will be treading a tightrope against Palace in midweek.
The Brazilian duo each picked up bookings on derby day and so have racked up four Premier League yellow cards so far this season. Competition rules state that players who receive five yellow cards within their team’s first 19 league fixtures are suspended for one match.
United have played 18 and so it means should either Casemiro or Fred go into the referee’s notebook at Selhurst Park, they will miss the visit to the Emirates at the weekend. Arsenal are currently nine points ahead of United in the table but a win over Palace and the Gunners will see Ten Hag reduce the gap to just three points.
Arsenal’s win over Tottenham in Sunday’s North London derby means United attain a five point gap over fifth-place Spurs. The Reds are dropped back to fourth on goal difference only following Newcastle’s late win over Fulham, with rivals City just a point ahead in second.
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