Fifth plays sixth as United face a tough test at home to Newcastle on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams come into the fixture in good form; United having won the last three in all competitions – Newcastle having won their last two league games 5-1 and 4-1.
A Critical Week
United are at the start of a pivotal period in their Premier League campaign. They they face – arguably – three fellow top-4 contenders in Newcastle, Spurs and Chelsea in the space of 6 days.
7 points or more here would cement our place as legitimate top-four contenders, but poor results could leave us in mid-table.
On paper, the Newcastle game is the easiest of the three, and it’s vital that United pick up a victory and build momentum ahead of Spurs and Chelsea.
The Outlook – Fairly Optimistic
United come into the match on the back of three strange victories; home and away over Omonoia and at Everton.
The Reds won each game by a margin of one goal, but the scorelines flattered the opposition in each. To put it simply: United have been dominating games and creating chances – they just need to take more of them.
As Stephen Howson recently commented for Stretford Paddock: “In football, you don’t always get what you deserve.”
Particularly in the most recent game at home to Omonoia, United looked like they were getting more comfortable with the Ten Hag system. There was good shape, some fast, positive passing in the final third, intelligent movement and moments of quality.
Yes, Omonoia are a few levels below Premier League opposition, but you can only beat the team in front of you, and there were encouraging signs in United’s forward play.
United’s injury woes appear to be easing as well. Antony Martial is a possibility whilst Rafael Varane is set to make a return.
Manchester United
This is another game in which United will be expected to dominate possession and take the initiative. There’s no McTominay available through suspension, and although Sancho played well on Thursday, we’re tipping Antony to get the nod on the right wing.
Anthony Martial could make the bench for this match, but we expect Cristiano Ronaldo to lead the line again.
Predicted XI: David de Gea; Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Raphael Varane, Diogo Dalot; Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes; Marcus Rashford, Cristiano Ronaldo, Antony
Newcastle
Newcastle come into this game in good form, although record signing Alexander Isak remains out injured. The Magpies will hope Bruno Guimaraes can be influential again, and will probably look for the pacey Allan Saint-Maximin to hit United on the counter
Predicted XI: Nick Pope; Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Fabian Schar, Kieran Trippier; Bruno Guimarães, Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock; Allan Saint-Maximin, Callum Wilson, Miguel Almiron
Plain Sailing Please
United have struggled to take chances recently and have made harder work of games then they need to.
There are no easy games in the Premier League, but United should be able to beat Newcastle comfortably. After the ups and downs of the past few weeks, it would be so nice to see a clean sheet, a good performance, chances created and taken, and a convincing result.
However, what we’d like and we’ll get are quite often two very different things.
Prediction
2-1 United.
We’re expecting United to make hard work of the game again, with a scoreline to match. Newcastle have pace and quality going forward, and whilst we’d like a clean sheet, we can see them scoring.
However, United should be able to overcome them, and a result it is vital going into a very important week in our Premier League season. We fancy Ronaldo to register tomorrow – he scored two in the 4-1 win over Newcastle last season on his second United debut, and it would be brilliant – and Ronaldoesque – if he kick-started his season on Sunday with a goal.