Man Utd (A) – Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible XI and prediction

Merry Christmas to all celebrating. We hope you all have a lovely day!

Away from the gift-giving, family time and all the festive trimmings, Newcastle are back in action on Boxing Day as we travel to Old Trafford in Friday's 8pm kick-off.

A rare gap between games and one Eddie Howe probably welcomed after such a hectic schedule, allowing us to recover and reflect on the good and bad from last weekend's 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

In many ways, Eddie Howe and the player delivered what could and should have been a comfortable home win and massive three points against a 'big six' rival, with Woltemade scoring twice, Gordon electric, Hall and Miley superb at full-back and our first half display worthy of three or four goals.

However, two second half slips (quite literally from Thiaw), a VAR howler and some missed chances meant we dropped points again, adding to the importance of our Boxing Day clash with Man Utd as we look to get back into the top half and boost our hopes of getting back into the top five picture.

We are not far off - win at Man Utd and we'll be level with them, three behind Chelsea and above Crystal Palace - but we must get moving soon and see our away form improve, with our last three away trips summing up our inconsistencies thanks to a stinker at Sunderland, mixed bag at Bayer Leverkusen and brilliant 4-1 win at Everton.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdnfpQ9REig

Team news

Based on Howe's press conference on Tuesday morning, it sounds like Tino Livramento (knee) could be back relatively soon, with Sven Botman (back) also getting 'closer', but this one will come too soon.

Nick Pope (groin) has a chance of returning once again and Joelinton (groin) may now be in a position to feature after a number of unused substitute 'appearances', but we will definitely be without Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles and Will Osula.

For Man Utd, captain and key man Bruno Fernandes  is out with a hamstring issue along with Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui (all at AFCON), while Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs De Ligt and Harry Maguire will also be missing.

Predicted XI

(4-3-3): Ramsdale – Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Ramsey – Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.

Put very simply, I think we'll see the same side who started in last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

That 11 were outstanding in the first 45, blowing away the Blues in every department, and there has been a six-day gap between that match and our trip to Old Trafford.

So, I think Howe will trust the same side to go again, knowing there is Wissa, Barnes, Elanga, Joelinton and Willokc in reserve the changes things in the second half if needed.

Match prediction

The very definition of patchy and unpredictable would be this Newcastle side over 2025/26 and Amorim's Man Utd, who often score goals but rarely string together a consistent run of good results despite signs of improvements.

A draw feels very possible, but I'm edging towards a big away win for Howe's Mags. We've beaten Man Utd in five of our last six meetings, I liked what I saw from much of last Saturday's game (despite the dropped points) and I think this could be the ideal time to play them with Fernandes and Mbeumo missing.

Prediction: Man Utd 1-2 Newcastle

Howay the lads!