Anyone who understands how Erik ten Hag works could have predicted Manchester United's starting line up against Crystal Palace.
Ten Hag has preferred to name his strongest team possible for each match his season - he rarely rotates his side - and that meant that Casemiro, who was at risk of picking up a suspension at Selhurst Park, was always bound to start the game.
Those who discussed talk of an unlikely Premier League title challenge after victory in the Manchester derby suggested it was the wrong decision to play Casemiro, as he faced the possibility of being suspended to play Arsenal, but there was objectively more chance of winning three points at Selhurst Park on Wednesday night than at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon.
