On Boxing Day, Manchester United will face Newcastle United at Old Trafford, marking the only match in the Premier League for that day.
Entering this match, United is aiming to recover from a recent 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa that highlighted continuing issues with their defense and creativity.
Currently, Manchester United occupies the 7th position in the Premier League, having played 17 games, where they have garnered a total of 26 points through 7 victories, 5 draws, and 5 defeats.
The match has been confirmed on Manchester United’s official X account;
In contrast, Newcastle United is positioned around 11th place, with 23 points accrued from 6 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses across their 17 matches, reflecting both their competitive nature and inconsistency.
In their latest Premier League fixture, Newcastle played out a 2-2 draw with Chelsea, having initially taken a two-goal lead, showcasing both their offensive capabilities and defensive weaknesses.
In the last six encounters between the two teams, Manchester United has secured one victory, while Newcastle has emerged victorious in five matches, illustrating Newcastle’s recent upper hand in this rivalry.
This trend underscores Newcastle’s stronger performance against Manchester United, despite United leading the overall historical matchup with 35 wins to Newcastle’s 12 out of 60 meetings.
In a pre-match conference featured on the club’s official YouTube channel, Reuben Amorim addressed the injuries affecting his squad and discussed plans to cope with these absences. He stated:
I’m confident that we can win any game. Of course, we have some problems but we need to, I believe in the team. Even without many players at this moment, I believe in the team and I believe we can win any game. Of course, it’s more difficult but we, again, I trust in my players and uh, if we are really focused in the game we can win.
To view the entire pre-match conference, see below;
Newcastle Manager, Eddie Howe also shared insights ahead of the match, which was posted on the club’s official X account;
Team News
Manchester United faces significant challenges with the absence of captain Bruno Fernandes, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, likely missing out on the match.
Kobbie Mainoo is also ruled out due to a calf issue sustained in training. Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt are both unavailable due to injuries.
Newcastle’s injury list includes Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, and Jamaal Lascelles. Goalkeeper Nick Pope may be fit enough to participate in the match.
Possible Lineups
Manchester United (3-4-2-1)
Senne Lammens; Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven, Luke Shaw; Diogo Dalot, Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, Patrick Dorgu; Mason Mount, Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko
Newcastle United (4-3-3)
Aaron Ramsdale; Lewis Miley, Malick Thiaw, Fabian Schär, Lewis Hall; Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Joelinton; Jacob Murphy, Nick Woltemade, Anthony Gordon
Given Manchester United’s status as favorites and Newcastle’s inconsistent form, Manchester United could secure a victory, potentially finishing 2-1.
