Newcastle United and Manchester United will aim to further their objectives in the top-four race when they clash at St. James’ Park on Sunday.
Gameweek 29 of the 2022/23 Premier League season will continue on Sunday, with two matches on show. The action will kick off in the capital, with West Ham United hosting Southampton at the London Stadium. But the main event will feature Newcastle United and Manchester United, with the teams embroiled in the top-four battle.
Newcastle United seemed to be slipping up in February, dropping a lot of points in the month. The Magpies were also on the losing end in the Carabao Cup final, where they lost to Manchester United. But Eddie Howe’s men picked up form heading into the international break, with the most recent result being a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.
That result has left Newcastle United just three points behind Manchester United, with both teams playing the same number of games. And with the Red Devils failing to win their last two Premier League games, the hosts will fancy their chances. But Erik ten Hag’s charges also went into the international break on a high, beating Fulham to reach the FA Cup semi-finals.
The reverse fixture was a drab goalless draw, with Manchester United and Newcastle United managing only four shots on target between them. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Newcastle United
Eddie Howe on Sven Botman:
"Sven suffered a nasty bout of food poisoning. I don't think he was alone in the Netherlands' camp so he left early to get himself back up to speed. He's trained with us since he's returned so he should be fine." pic.twitter.com/3QZaWhGdcr
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) March 31, 2023
Eddie Howe has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Manchester United on Sunday, the Newcastle United manager will be bereft of the services of three first-team players.
The good news is that Nick Pope is available after recovering from a thigh injury. In addition, Joelinton is back after serving a suspension. Howe has also seen Allan Saint-Maximin and Sven Botman recover from their issues.
But Miguel Almiron will be unavailable for the foreseeable future after sustaining a thigh injury ahead of the international break. Emil Krafth (knee) and Ryan Fraser (knock) are also on the sidelines. In addition, Howe is sweating over the fitness of Anthony Gordon (ankle), who has only completed light training.
Gordon will unlikely be fit enough to start against Manchester United. So Saint-Maximin should start on the right flank, with Joelinton taking his spot on the left wing. Meanwhile, the in-form Alexander Isak will spearhead the Newcastle United attack ahead of Callum Wilson.
The midfield trifecta picks itself, especially with Joelinton moving into the final third. But the Brazilian will often drop deep to create overloads in the middle of the park and strangle the Manchester United build-ups. However, Sean Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joe Willock will primarily be the three midfielders for the hosts.
Meanwhile, with Botman fit and available, the Dutchman will join Fabian Schar in the central defensive unit. Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn also pick themselves to complete the defensive unit. And there is no looking past Pope between the sticks.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Saint-Maximin, Isak, Joelinton
Manchester United
Like his counterpart in the Newcastle United dugout, Erik ten Hag has greeted a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of the trip to St. James’ Park. The Manchester United boss will be without five first-team players on Sunday.
Tom Heaton picked up an ankle injury in training and will be unavailable for the foreseeable future. But that is not a major concern, as David de Gea is the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper for Manchester United.
Casemiro is the most notable absentee due to a four-match suspension. Donny van de Beek (knee) and Alejandro Garnacho (ankle) accompany the Brazilian on the sidelines. But the good news is that several players have resumed training in time for Sunday’s game.
Anthony Martial ✅
Erik ten Hag says the forward is fit and available for selection this weekend. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/46dZclQjzB
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 31, 2023
Marcus Rashford, Raphael Varane, and Marcel Sabitzer have all shaken off minor injuries. In addition, ten Hag greeted the returns of Christian Eriksen and Anthony Martial this week. But the duo will unlikely be fit enough to start.
So with Martial not starting, Wout Weghorst will be the central striker again for Manchester United. The Dutch international will join Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Antony in the final third against Newcastle United. Meanwhile, Sabitzer should be fit enough to pair up with the in-form Scott McTominay in the double pivot.
The Scottish international was on fire during the international break and will look to continue his goalscoring streak this weekend. As for the defensive unit, Aaron Wan-Bissaka might pip Diogo Dalot to the right-back berth. But Varane, Lisandro Martinez, and Luke Shaw pick themselves in the backline.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Sabitzer, McTominay; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst
Key Stats
- Newcastle United are winless in six Premier League games against Manchester United (D2 L4). But the last two meetings have been stalemates. They have not gone three league games without defeat against the Red Devils since January 2012 (W1 D2).
- Manchester United have won more Premier League away games against Newcastle United than any other side (14). However, they have lost two of their last five outings at St. James’ Park (W2 D1), having lost just one of their previous 13.
- Following a run of just one win in eight Premier League games (D5 L2), Newcastle United have won their last two. The Magpies’ last three league victories have seen them score the winner in the 89th, 79th and 90th minute, respectively.
- Manchester United have failed to score in their most recent two Premier League games, as many times as in their first 24 matches this season. The Red Devils last went three league games without a goal in February 2020 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
- Coming into this weekend’s fixtures, only Bournemouth (38), Nottingham Forest (32) and Leicester City (30) have conceded more away goals in the Premier League this season than Manchester United (27). Only in four different Premier League campaigns have the Red Devils conceded more on the road – 1999/00 (29), 2001/02 (28), 2018/19 (29) and 2021/22 (35).
Player to Watch
Marcus Rashford
Recovery mode 💪🏾 pic.twitter.com/zVzI17CwHJ
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) March 27, 2023
Marcus Rashford started 2023 with a bang and was arguably the best player in the world in those two months. But his form tapered off slightly in March, especially when Manchester United struggled in the last two Premier League games. But Rashford has had a hand in seven goals in his eight Premier League starts against Newcastle United (four goals, three assists).
Meanwhile, no player has scored more winning goals in the PL this term than Rashford, with nine of his 14 strikes being the winners. The English international will be raring to improve those numbers this weekend. And after earning a well-deserved rest due to a minor injury, he will be chomping at the bit on Sunday.
Prediction
Newcastle United 1-2 Manchester United
The two teams come into the game fairly evenly-matched. But Newcastle United will reckon they can beat Manchester United for the first time this season amid the visitors’ recent struggles. And with Alexander Isak picking up form, the Magpies are in contention to clinch the three points.
But the Red Devils have made a habit out of embarking on resurgent runs when their backs are against the wall. And a similar pattern should ensue this weekend, kicking off another memorable streak. The Hard Tackle thus predicts an evenly-contested affair between Newcastle United and Manchester United, with Erik ten Hag’s charges picking up a 2-1 win.
