Two sides coming off frustrating results in Europe, Newcastle United and Manchester United, square off in a hotly-anticipated Premier League showdown at St. James’ Park on Saturday night.
St. James’ Park serves as the setting for yet another Newcastle United vs Manchester United classic in the Premier League this weekend. The two teams are separated by just one place in the top-flight table, with the Magpies sitting in seventh spot, while the Red Devils are one position above in sixth place.
After losing 2-0 to Bournemouth before the international break, Newcastle United returned to the win column in style with a 4-1 hammering of Chelsea last Saturday.
However, Eddie Howe’s side suffered late heartbreak in the Champions League on Tuesday night. They must have felt like they had secured a huge result away from home in their bid to qualify for the knockout rounds before PSG pulled one back right before the final whistle.
The Magpies were outstanding and put everything into defending their lines. But a bizarre VAR penalty decision spoiled their party, and they only came away with a point from Parc des Princes. However, the hosts must now try to put difficult trips abroad behind them when they face off against Manchester United on Saturday night.
The visitors, though, could not blame the officials as they let a two-goal lead away to Galatasaray slip to put them on the cusp of being dumped out too, which could put a damper on their spirits ahead of this match.
The Red Devils have fared better in domestic matters lately. Erik ten Hag’s side can boast five wins in their last six league assignments, including a rare comfortable 3-0 victory against Everton. Yet this promises to be a far tougher test, given all of those victories came against sides in the bottom half.
Team News & Tactics
Newcastle United
It is well documented that Newcastle United are going through an injury crisis and are effectively down to the bare bones in terms of matchday squad selection, with a bench packed full of inexperienced teenagers, three goalkeepers, and an infirmary overflowing with top-class talent.
The long-term injuries remain the same, as Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Joe Willock (Achilles), Matt Targett (thigh), Javier Manquillo (groin), Harvey Barnes (foot), Sven Botman (knee), Elliot Anderson (back), Dan Burn (back), and Callum Wilson (thigh) are ruled out ahead of Manchester United’s visit to St. James’ Park.
Sean Longstaff faces a race against time to be fit and available for this match, with the English midfielder missing the last two matches. Sandro Tonali is still facing his ban for breaching betting rules during his time in Italy, so he won’t feature.
Nick Pope proved his worth on the big occasion in Paris with a string of brilliant saves and was ultimately unlucky to not come away with the clean sheet that his superb goalkeeping performance deserved. Fabian Schar will start alongside skipper Jamaal Lascelles at the heart of the backline, flanked by Kieran Trippier and Valentino Livramento at right-back and left-back, respectively.
In front of a raucous St. James’ Park, the midfield battle between these two sides is likely to be intense, and Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton are sure to be in the thick of the action. 17-year-old Lewis Miley has been thrown into the mix due to the fitness crisis and could feature in the starting XI again, having largely impressed in Paris and against Chelsea last weekend.
Howe would love to rotate his front-three, comprising Miguel Almiron, Alexander Isak, and Anthony Gordon, especially after the physical effort the trio put in the last two games. But with next to no options for change to play around with, Howe will likely call upon the same attacking stars from the Parc des Princes again to produce the goods here.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Lascelles, Livramento; Miley, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
Manchester United
While their injury problems are not as extensive as Newcastle’s, Manchester United still have some important players sidelined for the trip to St. James’ Park.
Lisandro Martinez (foot), Casemiro (thigh), Mason Mount (calf), Jonny Evans (thigh), Christian Eriksen (knee), Amad Diallo (knee), and Tyrell Malacia (knee) will all not be involved on Saturday night, while Jadon Sancho remains exiled from first-team training.
The Red Devils, though, have welcomed the return of influential defender Luke Shaw, who had been out for an extended period of time. His return has stabilised the left-back position after much of a crisis in the position, as both the Englishman and Tyrell Malacia have been out for long periods.
Ten Hag will also have Marcus Rashford back from a suspension in Europe. So Antony, who has just recovered from a knock, will make a return to the substitute bench.
It was yet another disappointing performance from Andre Onana in midweek, as he keeps costing his side big wins. But his composure on the ball could prove handy against Newcastle’s intent pressing. Harry Maguire is still keeping Raphael Varane on the bench and will slot alongside Victor Lindelof in central defence here.
Kobbie Mainoo was impressive last time out and is expected to be paired up with Scott McTominay in the middle of the park to provide more composure in possession at Sofyan Amrabat’s expense.
Rasmus Hojlund played just under an hour of the 3-3 draw with Galatasaray on his return to the starting XI, meaning he should be fully fit to lead the line at St. James’ Park this weekend. The Dane could be a menace to any team if he hits top form.
Alejandro Garnacho etched his name in Manchester United folklore with an overhead bicycle kick against Everton that was arguably better than Wayne Rooney’s against Manchester City, and the Argentine winger could be handed a third successive start on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, Maguire, Lindelof, Shaw; McTominay, Mainoo; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Key Stats
- After a run of six victories in seven matches against Newcastle United in the Premier League, Manchester United are winless in their last three games.
- Newcastle United have won each of their last two matches against Manchester United and are looking to secure three victories in a row against the Red Devils in all competitions for the first time since 1922.
- The Magpies won the corresponding fixture by a 2-0 margin last season and have not secured back-to-back league victories against Manchester United since 1972.
- Eddie Howe’s side have won six of their seven home league games so far this term.
Player to Watch
Alexander Isak
Since joining Newcastle United from Real Sociedad last year, the Swedish international has struggled with fitness. But he has always taken the responsibility to be the game-changer whenever fit and firing. Isak now has seven Premier League goals for the season despite playing less than half of the minutes available due to injury or rotation. Only Callum Wilson and Erling Haaland have a better minutes-per-xG average among forwards this season.
The Swede has returned from injury with a bang and was on the scoresheet against both Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. And the Magpies need him at his best again on Saturday for them to beat Manchester United at St. James’ Park.
Prediction
Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester United
Eddie Howe did not make any substitutions during his side’s 1-1 draw with PSG on Tuesday night, such is the state of injuries in his squad currently. Newcastle have dealt with the exhaustion and impact of the injuries to key players very well throughout the season, notably dumping Manchester United out of the Carabao Cup with a second-string side at the start of November.
Despite the recent improvement in the goalscoring department for Erik ten Hag’s side, they still display vulnerabilities in defence and are far too easy to cut open, something Newcastle should readily capitalise on come Saturday. Couple that with the hosts’ dominant record in the familiar surroundings of St. James’ Park, and another Toon Army triumph could be on the cards this weekend.
