Manchester United are looking to recover from last weekend's surprising defeat when they host Newcastle United at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Boxing Day. The reverse fixture was not good at all for the Red Devils, they lost it 1-0 in October as Matthew Longstaff scored for the Magpies in the second half. Last season Manchester United defeated Newcastle 3-2 at home and 2-0 away and the Red Devils have won three of the last six direct matches.
Manchester United had their six-game unbeaten streak in all competitions snapped last weekend in the unlikeliest of places, they lost 2-0 at last-placed Watford and the result left them in eighth place in the league table. Their away form has been quite poor this season, with just two league wins in eight games, but at home the Red Devils have lost just one out of nine and won four. Eric Bailly and Timothy Fosu-Mensah remain sidelined, but Paul Pogba is now ready to for first-team football after a substitute appearance at the weekend, he will most likely be in the first eleven this time. Marcos Rojo and Diogo Dalot are also close to their returns but this match might come too soon for them.
Newcastle have won three of their last four Premier League matches, including last week's 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace, and they are tied on 25 points with Manchester United. Thursday's match can show the Magpies which way they could go this season, either fight for a top-six finish if they can leave Old Trafford unbeaten, or settle for a quiet mid-table finish if they lose. Manager Steve Bruce will have to do without four injured first-team players, Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie, Allan Saint-Maximin and Ciaran Clark are all out of contention.
Probable line-ups:
Man United: De Gea - Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Young - Pogba, McTominay, Fred - Greenwood, Martial, Rashford
Newcastle: Dubravka - Schar, Fernandez, Lejeune - Manquillo, Hayden, Shelvey, Almiron, Willems - Carroll, Joelinton
My prediction:
This will be a very tough match for Manchester United, Newcastle are in good form and might even win this match. However, I think the Red Devils will be able to grab a 1-1 draw.
Here are the odds for the match at NetBet:
Man United win - 1.35
Draw - 5.25
Newcastle win - 9.25
