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Newcastle United welcome Manchester United to St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon in the standout fixture of the Premier League weekend.
This classic duel has obvious implications in the race for the Champions League, although United are merley aiming to disrupt Newcastle’s charge.
The Magpies currently occupy the final Champions League place, with the top five qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition. Eddie Howe’s men have won three on the bounce on either side of their Carabao Cup final triumph over Liverpool, with back-to-back victories after the international break leaving them in a healthy position.
After playing out a dull stalemate in the Manchester Derby last Sunday, Ruben Amorim’s Red Devils were held to a 2-2 draw by Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.
The 13th-place visitors are playing for little domestically down the stretch.
Here is 90min’s guide to the game.
|
Newcastle |
Man Utd |
|---|---|
|
Leicester 0-3 Newcastle – 07/04/25 |
Lyon 2-2 Man Utd – 10/04/25 |
|
Newcastle 2-1 Brentford – 02/04/25 |
Man Utd 0-0 Man City – 06/04/25 |
|
Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle – 16/03/25 |
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Man Utd – 01/04/25 |
|
West Ham 0-1 Newcastle – 10/03/25 |
Leicester 0-3 Man Utd – 16/03/25 |
|
Newcastle 1-2 (AET) Brighton – 02/03/25 |
Man Utd 4-1 Real Sociedad – 13/03/25 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Ultra HD |
|
United States |
fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, Telemundo |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada |
Manager Eddie Howe was described as “really poorly” by assistant Jason Tindall, who assumed pre-match media duties on Friday. The boss should be on the sidelines on Sunday, however.
Alexander Isak and Kieran Trippier shook off knocks to feature at King Power on Monday, but Anthony Gordon missed out again due to the hip injury he sustained on international duty. Tindall said a late decision will be made as to whether Gordon makes the bench on Sunday.
Joe Willock is certainly unavailable due to a concussion, while Sven Botman, Lewis Hall, and Jamaal Lascelles are sidelined.
Newcastle predicted lineup vs Man Utd (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
Andre Onana’s disastrous showing on Thursday has sparked calls for Altay Bayindir to start at St James’ Park, which is exactly what Amorim is expected to do.
Kobbie Mainoo returned from injury off the bench against Lyon, and his cameo may have thrust him in contention for a start this weekend. Luke Shaw is also back in action, but the full-back isn’t yet ready for a start after failing to come off the bench in France.
Jonny Evans and Ayden Heaven miss out, as does Lisandro Martinez. Matthijs de Ligt has also sat out of United’s previous two games. Amad Diallo is targeting a return before the season draws to a close.
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Newcastle (3-4-2-1): Bayindir; Mazraoui, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Fernandes, Mainoo, Dorgu; Garnacho, Mount; Zirkzee.
It was a bloodbath in the opening 45 minutes of the reverse fixture, with Newcastle claiming a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford. Their midfield superiority won out against an ageing United engine room, and there’s scope for the hosts to dominate in a similar fashion on Sunday.
While we shouldn’t expect such distinct superiority from the hosts, they’re fresher and simply the superior side. United could turn this contest into a stodgy affair bereft of moments, but the Magpies typically find a way on the big occasion at St. James’ Park.