Manchester United will return to Old Trafford on Sunday evening against Newcastle United after being on the road for the last two games. United who is currently second in the Premier League table on goal difference is looking to retain hope in being title contenders this season. We have drawn the last three out of four games that leave us 10 points behind league leaders Manchester City.
Our 1-1 draw against relegation strugglers West Brom last weekend may have been the game that slowly evaporated our title aspirations. Even more so when our rivals and neighbours won their game in hand over us midweek. Whilst the gap is looking like a huge obstacle to overcome, Solskjær and the players are not ready to give up without a fight.
The Red Devils come into this game following our 4-0 victory against Real Sociedad in the Europa League on Thursday evening. We will be hoping this good performance can spur the players to push on in the league. Bruno Fernandes who continues to deliver yet again scored twice, with Marcus Rashford and Daniel James also on the scoresheet.
With a place in the last 16 of the Europa League all but secured and an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Leicester City next month, United focus, for now, will be on the league. The last league win for us was the 9-0 demolition of Southampton, a performance that looked miles away from the one against West Brom.
For Solskjær and the players, it is now about finding consistency and we can start by getting all three points on Sunday evening against Newcastle United.
Opposition Preview
Newcastle United is six points above the relegation zone. They have only won one of their last 35 games away to Manchester United, losing 25 of those, and have lost four out of the last five at Old Trafford. In the last five games in the league, they have alternated between a win and defeat.
The Magpies beat Southampton 3-2 before losing 2-0 to Chelsea. Manager Steve Bruce will be without Callum Wilson who currently sidelined with an injury. They have lost all three league games without scoring when Wilson has not been in the side.
Manchester United vs Newcastle United Match Details
Teams: Manchester United vs Newcastle United
Date: February 21st, 2020 (Sunday)
KO Time: 19:00 GMT
Competition: Premier League
Stadium: Old Trafford
Referee: Paul Tierney
Managers: Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Steve Bruce
Manchester United Team News
Edinson Cavani and Donny Van De Beek did not travel for the game against Real Sociedad are expected to be available. Scott McTominay may miss out against Newcastle after picking up a knock on Thursday evening.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær told MUTV’s Stewart Gardner, “We think, or hope, both of them [Donny and Edinson will be fit] but we’re not sure. Maybe one, maybe two, maybe none. It’s one of those tight ones where you’ve got to make a call, probably after training on Saturday.”
Paul Pogba still remains out. Amad Diallo who made his first-team debut on Thursday evening will be pushing for another starting spot. Solskjær was asked if Dean Henderson may start ahead of De Gea on Sunday. He said, “Of course Dean is in with a shout,” he replied. “We pick a team on Thursday and Dean was very solid, good kicking and he could or should have had an assist for Marcus, which is another thing we worked on. He was clean in his handling, clean in his short passes and it was a good performance.”
Manchester United vs Newcastle United Pre-Match Press Conference
During the pre-match press conference, Ole was asked is it City’s title to lose or can they be stopped? He said, “Well, I don’t think anyone would say they are not going to go for it. We’re going to go for a win in every single game we play. Of course, we are. Whatever other teams do – City, Liverpool, Leicester, Chelsea, Tottenham, West Ham – we can’t control. We have just got to control ourselves. We are going to have to get a good run together if we’re to put pressure on City and it should start on Sunday, of course.”
Ole asked by a member of the media, you talk about having the X-factor and magic – how do you make sure you bottle that and use it game-by-game rather than just spark for 10 minutes? He said, “You know, every game creates opportunities, it creates problems. Teams give you spaces and it’s just a natural thing because the pitch is as big as it is. There are 11 players on each team and some teams give you space behind, some give you it in between, sometimes teams try to press high or press low. We have to learn to adapt to every single game, it’s about learning from every game. So, in the last [Premier League] game, for example, West Brom defended deep and it wasn’t good enough from us. We knew about the spaces on Thursday so we have to play the game correctly and it’s also about quality, when you create chances to take that last pass or last cross. It’s about getting better and improving all the time.”
Newcastle United Team News
For our opponents, they are without Callum Wilson which means that Dwight Gayle and Allan Saint-Maximin will be heading the Newcastle attack. Jeff Hendrick will be back in the side after serving his suspension against Chelsea. Ryan Fraser, Sean Longstaff and Joelinton are looking to be in the starting eleven on Sunday.
Form Guide
Manchester United Premier League form: WLDWDD
Manchester United form (all competitions): DWDWDW
Newcastle United Premier League form: LLWLWL
Newcastle United form (all competitions): LLWLWL
Interesting Facts
- Manchester United have won four of their last five Premier League games against Newcastle (L1), winning the last two by a 4-1 scoreline. (source: Opta)
- Manchester United have won more Premier League points (529) and games (154) on Sundays than any other side in the competition’s history. (source: Opta)
- Luke Shaw has provided five assists for Man Utd in the Premier League this season; his best return in a single season in the competition, with the left-back assisting in each of his last three PL appearances (4 in total). (source: Opta)
- Marcus Rashford has been involved in six goals in his six Premier League appearances against Newcastle (3 goals, 3 assists), scoring one and assisting two in Man Utd’s 4-1 win in the reverse fixture at St James’ Park this season. (source: Opta)
- Manchester United have not lost a home game against Newcastle since their most recent promotion in 2017. In fact, they have a 100% home win record against Newcastle since 2015.
- Manchester United have conceded the first goal against Newcastle in six of their last seven games.
- Edinson Cavani could make his 25th appearance in Red.
Manchester United vs Newcastle United Predicted Lineup
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford, and Cavani.
Prediction
Manchester United’s league form recently has not been best. However, our performance against Real Sociedad on Thursday shows exactly what this team is capable of doing. Newcastle’s record against us at Old Trafford is not good and with our strong lineup, I expect us to overcome the Magpies on Sunday evening.
Predicted Score
Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United
