Sam Allardyce is bemused by the Premier League’s decision not to move Crystal Palace’s game with Manchester United to Saturday.

United host the Eagles on Sunday, just three days before their Europa League final with Ajax in Stockholm.

Jose Mourinho’s men will finish sixth, while Palace’s 4-0 win over Hull confirmed their Premier League survival last weekend – making Sunday’s encounter a dead rubber.

Mourinho said: “In any country in the world the match would be on Saturday, because Sunday we are sixth and Crystal Palace are safe.

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“It's frustrating for me. I hope you don't kill me when you see my team. I don't lose time. When I know the battle is lost I don't fight.”

Allardyce sympathises with Mourinho, and would have had “no problem” bringing the game forward by a day.

The ex-England boss added: “Why would I not want to help one of our Premier League clubs win a European trophy? It’s an easy ask for us to play on Saturday.

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Jose Mourinho

“What would the Premier League have done if he [Mourinho] played a weak team at Old Trafford and we had won, with us still needing to stay up?

“They would probably fine him because it’s in the rules. As a manager, some of the rules we have are quite unbearable.”