Struggling Manchester United entertain in-form Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
Victory will see Man Utd climb to 11th in the table, whilst Newcastle can go fifth with a win.
Team News
Bruno Fernandes is suspended for Man Utd following his red card in their 2-0 loss at Wolves.
Manuel Ugarte is too suspended following his fifth booking of the season, whilst Victor Lindelöf (unspecified), Mason Mount (leg) and Luke Shaw (unspecified) are still sidelined.
Newcastle could welcome Tino Livramento back after he missed their win over Aston Villa, due to illness.
Emil Krafth (shoulder), Callum Wilson (hamstring), Nick Pope, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles (all knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host Newcastle at Old Trafford on Monday 30 December at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd have won one of their last five league meetings against Newcastle (W1, D2, L2).
- Newcastle are winless in their last nine league trips to Man Utd (D2, L7).
- Lewis Hall scored in both of Newcastle’s trips to Utd last season, as the Magpies won 3-0 in the League Cup then lost 3-2 in the league.
- Matthijs de Ligt has won more aerial battles than any other Man Utd player this season in the top-flight (29).
- Alexander Isak has scored four goals in Newcastle’s last two away games (W1, L1).
Prediction
Without two midfield regulars in Fernandes and Ugarte, Utd certainly face an uphill task after another gutlessly passionless display at Wolves with no signs of where a spark in a turnaround can come from.
Newcastle will view this as their best chance of a win since December 2023 because they have confidence and momentum, yet they must turn up and dominate with the confidence and intensity which ripped Villa to pieces.
Old Trafford though isn’t Newcastle’s best away trip but I can’t see them letting this chance slip against Utd’s light midfield options, especially without Fernandes who has often been key to their attacking opportunities.
Prediction: Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle
Result: Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle