Manchester United will be looking to get back on track when they host Newcastle United at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Monday night, aiming to finish a tough year on a positive note.
The Red Devils, sitting 14th in the Premier League, come into this match following a 2-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Newcastle, in fifth, were 3-0 winners over Aston Villa in their last outing.
After the loss to Wolves on Boxing Day, Ruben Amorim acknowledged that his position as manager is not guaranteed, signaling that the pressure is mounting at Old Trafford. While there’s little chance of him being sacked unless something drastic happens, the fact that his future is being questioned highlights the ongoing turmoil at the club.
United have lost their last three matches—against Tottenham, Bournemouth, and Wolves—and have failed to build on their 2-1 victory over Manchester City earlier in the month. With just 22 points from 18 matches, they’ve slipped to 14th in the table, eight points clear of the relegation zone and 12 behind fourth-place Nottingham Forest.
Their only hope of securing Champions League football next season now lies in the Europa League, which will become even more critical if they fail to beat Arsenal in the FA Cup next month.
At home, United have earned just 13 points from nine league matches, while Newcastle have been inconsistent on their travels, winning three, drawing three, and losing three of their away fixtures.
Newcastle, however, are aiming for a top-four finish. Eddie Howe’s side, with 29 points from 18 matches, are just five points behind fourth-placed Forest. They've been in strong form, winning their last four matches in all competitions, including three consecutive league victories over Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Aston Villa, scoring 11 goals without conceding any.
While Newcastle aren’t involved in European football this season, they are in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, with the first leg of their tie against Arsenal set for January 7.
Newcastle have won two of their last three Premier League meetings with United, though they lost 3-2 at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture last season.
Historically, United have a strong home record against Newcastle, having lost just once in their last 39 home league matches against them, with 28 victories in that run. The only defeat came in December 2013 under David Moyes.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Manchester United will be missing both Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte for Monday’s match due to suspension. Fernandes was sent off against Wolves, while Ugarte picked up a crucial yellow card.
Mason Mount, Victor Lindelof, and Luke Shaw remain sidelined with injuries, but there were no new fitness concerns from the loss at Molineux, as all five changes made in that game were tactical decisions.
Harry Maguire is expected to captain the team in Fernandes’ absence, which could see Matthijs de Ligt remain on the bench as he continues his recovery from illness. With both Fernandes and Ugarte suspended, Casemiro and Alejandro Garnacho may have a chance to start.
Garnacho, who has yet to start despite being dropped from the squad for the Manchester derby, could be called up to the starting XI for this match against Newcastle.
Marcus Rashford was once again left out of the squad against Wolves, and it seems unlikely he’ll feature against Newcastle, with rumors of a January transfer growing.
For Newcastle, Callum Wilson, Jamaal Lascelles, Nick Pope, and Emil Krafth are still unavailable, while Sven Botman isn’t quite ready to make his return to the first team, although he’s making strong progress in recovering from a knee injury.
Tino Livramento missed the win over Villa due to illness but is expected to be available for the Old Trafford clash, meaning Kieran Trippier will likely drop to the bench.
Alexander Isak, who has netted 12 goals in 19 appearances this season, will once again lead the attack, with Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon also set to play key roles in the attacking third.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Mainoo, Dalot; Amad, Hojlund, Garnacho
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; J Murphy, Isak, Gordon
EXPERT PREDICTION
Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United
Manchester United can rely on their strong home record against Newcastle, so a win on Monday evening wouldn’t be surprising, especially as they're due for a solid performance. However, Newcastle are in excellent form, and we expect the Magpies to be good enough to secure at least a point in their final match of 2024.
