United go into the last of the festive fixtures after a run that has been more bah humbug than season’s greetings, unless you are an opposition forward.
The honeymoon is well and truly over for Ruben Amorim, and he is now firmly under the microscope, he has even said as much himself, and he is relishing the challenge. The problem is, the system the Portuguese has brought with him is unfamiliar to the squad, and aside from Amad there are very few players in any sort of form & even fewer that fit the profiles of his preferred shape. The suspension of Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte will only make things more difficult.
Over the last seven games United have scored 9 and conceded 16 goals and have lost 5 & won twice. Newcastle have scored 20 & conceded 9 losing once, drawing twice & winning 4 over the same number of matches.
United haven’t lost at home to Newcastle since December 2013 during David Moyes Ill fated tenure – United need a result almost as much as the manager does and he will be hoping to get through to the January window on a positive note.
Manchester United Team News
It will be a chance for Casemiro on Monday evening, as United will be without the suspended Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes
Victor Lindelof, Mason Mount and Luke Shaw remain on the sidelines with injuries.
It remains to be seen whether Marcus Rashford will be back in the squad. Ruben Amorim has repeatedly said the door is open for all players, and their inclusion is based on a number of factors; performance in training, attitude, how they conduct themselves around Carrington and further afield etc.
Newcastle Team News
Sven Botman is closing in on a first-team return but Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Nick Pope and Callum Wilson are still out. Five players are expected to miss out for the away side. Summer signings Luis Sinisterra and Julián Araujo are doubts alongside Alex Scott, Marcos Senesi and top assister Marcus Tavernier.
Newcastle right-back Tino Livramento missed the Boxing Day win over Aston Villa due to illness but he should be available again.
Predicted XI
Onana;
De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez;
Dalot, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mazraoui;
Amad, Garnacho;
Hojlund.
Form Guide
Manchester United All Competitions Form:
W W L L L
Manchester United Premier League Form:
L L W L L
Newcastle All Competitions Form:
L W W W W
Newcastle League Form:
D L W W W
Prediction
From a promising start with some bright moments, Ruben Amorim’s tenure at United has come unstuck in the last few days.
There is no pressure on the manager’s job, and even before he started he told us that this was a long-term rebuilding project that would inevitably come with setbacks, but either way, he will be desperate to beat a big rival at Old Trafford to close out the year.
United are without some key players and really will have to be much better than in their last two outings to get a result. If we play like we did against City, we can win, if we play like we did against Bournemouth and Wolves, we will almost certainly lose. Players like Isak, Joelinton, Murphy and others have real quality and will punish mistakes.
As always, we’re erring on the optimistic side, and basing our prediction on a performance more similar to the City game than the last two league outings.
Predicted score: Manchester United 2-1 Newcastle