Old Trafford sets the stage for one of the standout Boxing Day fixtures as Manchester United take on Newcastle United in the Premier League.
Man Utd’s morale took a hit last weekend after Aston Villa defeated them 2-1, leaving them three points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea in the Premier League table.
Newcastle did a favour to the Red Devils by holding the Blues to an action-packed 2-2 draw at St James’ Park, although it’s worth noting that they dropped a two-goal lead at half-time.
Match Preview
Morgan Rogers’ match-winning performance condemned United to a 2-1 defeat in Birmingham last Sunday, heightening the pressure on Ruben Amorim’s side ahead of this meeting.
Ominously for the home fans, Man Utd have lost five of their last six clashes against Newcastle (W1) since beating them in the 2023 Carabao Cup final, failing to score on four occasions.
That’s as many losses as they suffered in their 42 previous encounters against the Magpies (W28, D9), which paints a bleak picture ahead of their return to Old Trafford.
While the Theatre of Dreams was supposed to be United’s safe haven, it has been far from the fortress it once was, with only six teams collecting more home points than Man Utd’s 14 this season.
The 20-time English champions have failed to win any of their last three home league outings (D2, L1), including a 4-4 draw against Bournemouth in their most recent such contest.
That result forms part of United’s underwhelming run of only two victories from their last eight matches (D4, L2), highlighting the scale of the task facing Amorim as his men look to ease the mounting pressure.
Newcastle have struggled for consistency in the first half of the season, as they are stranded in mid-table mediocrity, six points behind Chelsea.
Wasting points from winning positions has also been a common theme for the Magpies, who have dropped the division’s second-highest 11 points after breaking the deadlock this season.
They have won just one of their last four games across all competitions (D2, L1), including a gut-wrenching 1-0 derby loss to Sunderland on their most recent league travel.
Newcastle’s road form has been dreadful, as witnessed by a disappointing return of just one victory from their last seven competitive away matches (D1, L5).
They’ve been particularly wasteful in the Premier League, where they’ve racked up just one triumph in their last 11 fixtures outside St James’ Park (D4, L6), failing to score five times.
Lapses of concentration in the latter stages of play have contributed to Newcastle’s domestic struggles, with no side conceding more goals beyond the 76th minute than them (10).
Team News
In addition to three Africa Cup of Nations absentees – Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui and Amad Diallo – Man Utd will be without Bruno Fernandes, who was injured against Villa.
With Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt sidelined with fitness problems, Amorim is likely to turn to teenage defender Ayden Heaven to fill the gap at the back.
Casemiro returns from a yellow-card suspension and will probably take Fernandes’ place in the middle of the park.
Dan Burn, Tino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles remain on the sidelines for Newcastle. William Osula recently joined the injury list.
Trippier’s absence means young talent Lewis Miley could again perform as an auxiliary right-back, paving the way for Joelinton’s return to the starting line-up.
Manchester United possible starting line-up:
(3-4-2-1): Lammens; Yoro, Heaven, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Martinez, Dorgu; Mount, Cunha; Sesko.
Newcastle United possible starting line-up:
(4-3-3): Pope; Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.
We Say: Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United
With Man Utd losing six of their last seven Premier League matches without Fernandes in the starting XI, a point here may not be the end of the world.
Newcastle’s well-documented travel sickness suggests they may struggle to capitalise on United’s vulnerability, reinforcing the likelihood of a draw.
