Manchester United meet Newcastle United at Old Trafford in a pivotal clash in the race for European qualification.
Victory would see Man Utd keep their hopes of European qualification alive until the final day although they would stay eighth regardless of the result, as a draw wouldn’t be enough due to their inferior goal difference despite mathematically taking it to the last day.
Defeat coupled with a win or draw for Chelsea at Brighton would end Man Utd’s hopes of achieving European qualification via the league path, meaning that they would have to win the FA Cup Final to secure a place in Europe next season.
Newcastle meanwhile will stay sixth if they can match or better Chelsea’s result elsewhere.
Team News
Lisandro Martinez is in contention to return for Man Utd following a lengthy calf injury.
Willy Kambwala (knock), Bruno Fernandes (wrist) and Marcus Rashford (ankle) could also return
Harry Maguire, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw (all muscle), Victor Lindelöf (hamstring), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Mason Mount (unspecified) and Anthony Martial (groin) remain sidelined.
Newcastle could be without Alexander Isak due to illness despite having played in their 1-1 draw at home to Brighton.
Matt Targett, Joe Willock (both Achilles), Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles (both ACL), Fabian Schar (hamstring), Lewis Miley (back) and Sandro Tonali (suspension) remain ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host Newcastle at Old Trafford on Wednesday 15 May at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd are winless in their last four league meetings against Newcastle (D2, L2).
- Newcastle are winless in their last eight league visits to Man Utd (D2, L6).
- Defeat would see Man Utd lose four consecutive matches against Newcastle in all competitions for the first time since a five-match losing streak between January 1897 – February 1907.
- No Man Utd player has been caught offside in the top-flight this season on more occasions than Rasmus Højlund (15).
- Bruno Guimaraes has scored in two of his last three away appearances for Newcastle.
Prediction
With just three points separating Man Utd from sixth-placed Newcastle who are just above seventh-placed Chelsea on goal difference, Erik Ten Hag’s Red Devils need to just deliver a more clinical performance and get the win if want any shot at European qualification on the final day.
Not even a draw here is ideal due to their inferior goal difference through some awful defeats this season so this is do-or-die for Utd, especially after their wasteful narrow defeat against Arsenal where they just didn’t take their chances and one momentary defensive lapse was punished.
Newcastle meanwhile weren’t exactly at their best against a spirited Brighton who certainly made the Magpies grind out a draw in an evenly-matched game, so I do expect them to come here full of energy and fight to avoid any final-day tensions at Brentford.
Man Utd though do need something just to avoid any further embarrassment to add to their historical club record under Ten Hag – given that Newcastle have won their last three clashes but if Eddie Howe’s Magpies can play like they’ve done lately then they might just nick this.
Prediction: Manchester United 1-2 Newcastle
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