Tomorrow's Premier League ends on a bum note rather than coming to a crescendo, with the identity of the top four the only issue yet to be settled.
Manchester United and Crystal Palace is among the games with nothing competitive riding upon it, although victory could be worth up to £19 million than defeat to Palace. For United, the game means nothing: the Europa League final has cast a shadow over the league run-in, with a run of five games without a win confirming a sixth-placed finish.
After the 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane, Jose Mourinho admitted that he doesn't want to play Premier League games for the rest of the season, and heavily rotated for the goalless game at Southampton on Wednesday.
After that game, Mourinho admitted that he would "play the kids" against Palace on Sunday, and the BBC's Simon Stone has the line on United's likely matchday squad tomorrow:
Jose on Sunday's squad: "Joel and O'Hara. Mitchell. Harrop. Gomes. McTominey. Fosu-Mensah. Axel. Plus 3/4 first-team players to play 1 half"
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) May 19, 2017
With Sergio Romero kept for the final against Ajax, Mourinho is expected to pick Joel Pereira in goal, meaning Irish youngster Kieran O'Hara will likely be United's substitute 'keeper. He has travelled with the squad to European games against St Etienne and FC Rostov, but did not make the matchday squad. That fact should change tomorrow.
Who is Kieran O'Hara?
O'Hara signed a professional contract at Old Trafford in 2014, and has since been farmed out on loan to Trafford, Stockport and Morecambe. Happily, O'Hara has decided to represent Ireland over England.
He explained his decision to United's website:
My name is a bit of a giveaway.
My grandparents on my dad's side were both born in Galway. The call came towards the end of last season when the Under 21 coach Noel King gave the Morecambe manager a ring to ask if I'd be interested in getting involved.
I was more than happy because it was an international call-up. When I was about 17, I had England Schools games against Scotland, Republic of Ireland and Wales but my Dad's happy now with it being his side of the family and my mum is proud as well.
It's a great experience being involved in international football and more games, a different type of football completely, so I hope I can grab it with both hands.
Let's hope we get to see him tomorrow afternoon.
