Newcastle vs Manchester United LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight
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Newcastle United welcome Manchester United to St James’ Park this evening as the visitors take to the pitch for the first time in over two weeks.
Covid-related disruptions to the Premier League’s calendar saw Man United’s fixtures against Brighton and Brentford postponed earlier this month, with the Red Devils’ Carrington training ground closed for a brief period thereafter. It remains to be seen whether the lack of action will help or hinder Ralf Rangnick’s seventh-placed team, who may be slightly short of match sharpness but who have had a bit more time to get used to their new interim coach’s style of play. A victory here would take them fifth.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s fortunes have not improved much in their relegation battle since Eddie Howe’s appointment as head coach, and an admittedly tough recent run of games has seen the Magpies beaten 4-0 by Man City, 3-1 by Liverpool and 4-0 by Leicester. Their last win came on 4 December as they edged past Burnley 1-0, and even a victory here would not haul 19th-placed Newcastle out of the relegation zone. As our own Tony Evans writes, the club must cut through their own barriers on and off the pitch as a kinder run of fixtures approaches after tonight.
Follow all the build-up, team news and live match updates from Newcastle vs Manchester United, below.
Newcastle vs Manchester United
Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Krafth, Schar, Lascelles, Manquillo, Shelvey, S Longstaff, Joelinton, Fraser, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
Man United XI: De Gea, Dalot, Maguire, Varane, Telles, McTominay, Fred, Fernandes, Rashford, Greenwood, Ronaldo
Lindelof misses out for Man United after testing positive for Covid on Sunday
7 mins: Newcastle open scoring through Saint-Maximin after Varane loses ball
70 mins: Cavani skews rebound into bottom corner to equalise for Man United
Newcastle 1 - 1 Man Utd
21:45 , Michael Jones
80 mins: 10 minutes to play at St. James’ Park. Manchester United are seeing more possession but Newcastle are seriously dangerous on the counter-attack.
Fernandes flicks the ball over the top for Sancho but he’s flagged offside and the attack dies down.
Allan Saint-Maximin has pulled up off the ball. The physios call over to the bench and tell Eddie Howe to make a change.
Newcastle 1 - 1 Man Utd
21:42 , Michael Jones
77 mins: Scott McTominay is taken off in Ralf Rangnick’s final change and on comes Nemanja Matic to replace him. The visitors look the more sharper team now. Matic passes to Cavani who gives it to Rashford. He plays the ball through the middle to Sancho who tries to thread the ball over to Telles but overhits it and puts the ball behind for a goal kick.
Newcastle 1 - 1 Man Utd
21:38 , Michael Jones
74 mins: Are we in for a dramatic finish at St James’ Park? Do Newcastle think they can still win this game? Will they go for it?
Miguel Almiron replaces Ryan Fraser for the Magpies, it’s a like-for-like change from Eddie Howe but Manchester United are on the attack.
This time it’s from the left after Rashford feeds it up to Telles on the overlap. He passes it to the back post where Cavani pops up. He’s put under pressure from Lascelles as he loops the ball over the goalkeeper but there’s no pace behind the effort and it’s cleared before it reaches the goal line.
GOAL! Newcastle 1 - 1 Man Utd (Cavani, 71’)⚽️
21:33 , Michael Jones
71 mins: They’ve got the equaliser! Maguire gives the ball to Fernandes in the middle of the pitch and he flicks a pass over to Dalot on the right wing. Dalot drives towards the box before cutting it back to Cavani. He has an initial shot blocked but the ball bounces back to him and he pokes it into the bottom right hand corner!
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:31 , Michael Jones
68 mins: The rough nature of the game is playing into Newcastle’s hands. Fraser goes down after a challenge from Varane and Saint-Maximin is clattered by Maguire who goes in the book. Every stoppage takes time out of the game and leaves Manchester United less time to find an equaliser.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:29 , Michael Jones
65 mins: The game has devolved into a scrappy affair. De Ge keeps out another shot from Saint-Maximin and then punches the rebound away from Fraser.
Bruno Fernandes is booked for arguing with the referee before Krafth pulls down Rashford to stop a counter-attack from developing.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:26 , Michael Jones
62 mins: Save! Manchester United can’t find a way through the solid Newcastle defence and the home side work the ball up to Joelinton. He flies up the pitch on the counter-attack and Newcastle create a three-on-two overload. Saint-Maximin on the left, Joelinton driving through the middle and Fraser arriving from the right. Fraser is given the ball and he shoots but De Gea covers the near post and keeps it out!
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:22 , Michael Jones
59 mins: Ronaldo is shown a yellow card for a wild swipe at Fraser in the middle of the pitch. He tries to get to a 50/50 ball first but the Newcastle man beats him there and Ronaldo hits him with his trailing leg.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:20 , Michael Jones
56 mins: Chance! Newcastle have been aggressive with their pressing and Man Utd look all at sea when the home side get it right. When Manchester United can get up the pitch they look more threatening in this half. Rashford lays the ball off to Fernandes who switches the play out to Sancho on th right wing. He brings the ball down and runs it into the box. Cavani is wide open as he receives the ball and his shot is goes wide of the near post!
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:14 , Michael Jones
53 mins: Telles swings a free kick into the box from the right side and picks out Maguire in the box. He heads the ball down but Newcastle’s clearance gives the ball to Ronaldo just outside the area. He chests it down and shoots but his effort is off target and sails well clear of the goal.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:12 , Michael Jones
50 mins: Rashford takes a swerving, dipping shot from range and forces Dubravka to push the ball over the crossbar and out for a Man Utd corner. Telles takes it but the home side deal with the set piece well enough.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:11 , Michael Jones
48 mins: SAVE! Huge save from David De Gea! Newcastle break on the counter with Saint-Maximin driving in from the left. He can’t get around Varane and McTominay gets back to send the ball out of play. The throw in comes to Krafth who shimmies away from two tackles and dribbles into the box before squaring it to Saint-Maximin. The ball just hits him but looks like it’s rolling over the line before De Gea dives across and keeps it out!
Second half: Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:08 , Michael Jones
Kick off: Ralf Rangnick makes two changes at half-time. Mason Greenwood and Fred are the two players hooked with Edinson Cavani and Jadon Sancho replacing them.
No further changes for Newcastle. Jacob Murphy came on for Callum Wilson at the end of the first half.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:05 , Michael Jones
Since joining prior to the 2019-20 campaign, Allan Saint-Maximin is the only Newcastle player in double figures for goals (10) and assists (11) in the Premier League.
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21:02 , Michael Jones
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Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
21:00 , Michael Jones
Newcastle have dropped 17 points after leading this season, the most in the Premier League.
Manchester United have won four of their last five Premier League matches against Newcastle when trailing at half-time
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:56 , Michael Jones
Allan Saint-Maximin’s goal is the difference between the teams at half-time. There’s work for Manchester United to do, they’ve been outplayed so far.
Half-time: Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:52 , Michael Jones
45+4 mins: Wilson hasn’t made it to half-time. He went down again rubbing his left calf and Eddie Howe doesn’t risk keeping him on any longer. Jacob Murphy comes on, jogs about a 10 metres and then the whistle goes for half-time.
Newcastle lead by one goal to nil at the break.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:49 , Michael Jones
45+2 mins: Wilson is back on his feet but he’s hobbling around the pitch. He might not come back on after half-time. Bruno Fernandes attempts a difficult diagonal ball into the box but there are no runners and he ends up kicking the ball out of play.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:48 , Michael Jones
45 mins: Ouch! Callum Wilson gets the ball in midfiled and spins away from Fred. He then seems to jar his knee as he looks to run away with the ball and goes down straight away clutching the back of his leg.
The medics come on and see to him. There’s going to be four minutes of added time to play.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:43 , Michael Jones
42 mins: Bruno Fernandes flicks a free kick over the Newcastle line as Ronaldo and Greenwood make runs into the box. Greenwood gets there first but he’s charged down by Dubravka and can’t poke the ball past the Newcastle goalkeeper who keeps it out with a body save.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:40 , Michael Jones
39 mins: Callum Wilson scores for Newcastle but he’s offside. It came after another good run from Allan Saint-Maximin who drove into the box with the ball. The Manchester United defenders just dropped away from him allowing Saint-Maximin to slip the ball into Wilson who shrugs off Maguire and turns the ball into the back of the net. Then the offside flag goes up and it’s a godd decision from the assistant referee.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:37 , Michael Jones
36 mins: Varane gives the ball away again with a terrible pass and Newcastle break on the counter-attack. Joelinton is almost played into the left side of the box but Maguire is across well to cover. He boots the ball away but Newcastle win it back quickly and comes again. Callum Wilson receives the ball and shifts it away from Maguire just as the centre-back commits to the tackle and wins a free kick.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:36 , Alex Pattle
Victor Lindelof misses Man United’s Newcastle trip after testing positive for Covid
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:34 , Michael Jones
33 mins: Rashford dinks the ball into the box and Fernandes collects it. He chips a cross towards the back post where Emil Krafth heads the ball straight into the air. It drops for Ronaldo who goes to shoot from a narrow angle but misses the ball and it bounces up, hits him in the chest and deflects behind for a goal kick.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:32 , Michael Jones
30 mins: A cross from Rashford is headed out to McTominay. He gives it to Fred who sets up Greenwood for a shot from the outside the box. Greenwood drills it hard but Lascelles gets in the way and blocks the effort.
Still no attempts on target for Manchester United with half an hour played.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:30 , Michael Jones
27 mins: Newcastle fire a free kick into the box from the inside right and it’s won deep in the box by Joelinton. He lays it off to Saint-Maximin who breezes around Dalot and takes the ball into the area. McTominay hits him with a heavy challenge but he manages to get the ball back to Joelinton whose low cross into the six-yard box is cleared by Varane.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:26 , Michael Jones
24 mins: Jonjo Shelvey blasts one from range and forces David De Gea into a leaping save to his left to palm the ball wide of goal. A long throw in is sent into the Manchester United area but Jamaal Lascelles is penalised for a bit of shoving in the box.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:24 , Michael Jones
21 mins: There’s a breakdown in communication between Scott McTominay and Mason Greenwood. Rashford threads a forward ball to Greenwood who turns it towards goal as McTominay starts a run into the box. Greenwood sends the ball in but McTominay stops in his tracks and the ball rolls safely through to Martin Dubravka.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:21 , Michael Jones
19 mins: Joelinton takes a knock and gets a check up by the medics but he’s okay to play on. Marcus Rashford has been bright on for Man Utd making runs down the right and winning them a couple of corners.
Alex Telles swings in the most recent one but it gets headed away at the near post.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:18 , Michael Jones
16 mins: Close! Man Utd work the ball down the left wing before it’s sent inside to the Greenwood. He spins towards goal and chips the ball into the box as Ronaldo makes a run from deep. He sticks out a leg to reach the dropping ball but it just evades him and bounces behind for a goal kick.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:16 , Michael Jones
13 mins: Manchester United seem to have kicked into gear. There’s more intensity to their pressing now and they’re winning the ball in dangerous areas. Fabian Schar heads a cross from Bruno Fernandes out of the box but the visitors switch the ball over to Dalot on the right. He sends a low pass into the area towards Ronaldo but there’s another defender in the way and Newcastle clear the lines.
Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd
20:13 , Michael Jones
10 mins: Manchester United haven’t created that many chances from open play since Ralf Rangnick took over as interim boss but they have been keeping clean sheets. That can’t happen now and Newcastle have something to hold on to.
There’s a deafening noise inside of St. James’ Park as Newcastle continue to attacl. The ball comes to Joelinton just outside the box and his effort at goal is sent just inches wide of the right-hand post.
GOAL! Newcastle 1 - 0 Man Utd (Saint-Maximin, 7’)⚽️
20:08 , Michael Jones
7 mins: There’s the opener! Raphael Varane is caught on the ball in his own half by Ryan Fraser and it leaves Manchester United with gaps in their back line. Fraser sends the ball across to Allan Sanit-Maximin who carries it into the box, shifts to the right and then curls a lovely finish into the top corner!
Newcastle 0 - 0 Man Utd
20:07 , Michael Jones
6 mins: Rashford links up with Diogo Dalot deep in Newcastle’s half. Joelinton gets back and shoulders Dalot off the ball before winning and free kick from the Man Utd right-back. Good defending from the Newcastle number nine.
Mason Greenwood tracks back to nick the ball off Jonjo Shelvey who holds on to it too long in the middle of the pitch. Greenwood turns towards the Newcastle goal and looks to break but Shelvey fouls him and Man Utd win a free kick of their own.
Newcastle 0 - 0 Man Utd
20:04 , Michael Jones
3 mins: Sloppy from Harry Maguire! A simple ball up the pitch from Newcastle comes to the Man Utd captain and he miscontrols the ball allowing Ryan Fraser to chase it into the box. He keeps the ball in play just before the byline and flicks it towards the centre of the penalty area where Raphael Varane clears the danger for the visitors.
Newcastle 0 - 0 Man Utd
20:02 , Michael Jones
Kick off: Manchester United get the ball rolling at St. James’ Park with Bruno Fernandes sending the ball to Harry Maguire. He boots it over to the right wing where Marcus Rashford makes a run into the Newcastle half but can’t stop the ball going out of play.
Newcastle vs Manchester United
19:58 , Michael Jones
Here come the teams. Cristiano Ronaldo scored two goals against Newcastle on his return to Manchester United earlier this year. Will he get on the scoresheet again tonight?
Newcastle vs Manchester United
19:55 , Michael Jones
Marcus Rashford has been directly involved in a career-best seven goals against Newcastle, scoring four and assisting three in seven Premier League games.
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Ralf Rangnick claims scrapping Premier League festive fixtures would be like ‘abolishing the Queen’
19:52 , Michael Jones
Manchester United’s interim manager Ralf Rangnick says scrapping the Premier League’s festive matches would be like “abolishing the Queen”.
There has been some criticism of the busy schedule over the Christmas period with injuries and Covid cases making team selection difficult for clubs. England’s top-flight has long been the only European league to continue through the winter without a break.
Rangnick claims scrapping festive fixtures would be like ‘abolishing the Queen’
Newcastle vs Manchester United
19:48 , Michael Jones
Newcastle have lost 21 Premier League games in 2021, a joint-league high alongside Southampton prior to Boxing Day. Another loss would equal the club top-flight record in a calendar year.
Newcastle vs Manchester United
19:45 , Michael Jones
Cristiano Ronaldo has scored seven Premier League goals against Newcastle, all coming in his last four league appearances against them.
Newcastle vs Manchester United
19:41 , Michael Jones
Manchester United are the only club not to have scored in the opening 15 minutes of a Premier League match this season and the Red Devils have not scored a set-piece goal (excluding penalties) since 18th April.
Newcastle vs Manchester United
19:38 , Michael Jones
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe spoke about his counterpart this evening and called Ralf Rangnick a ‘pioneer of the game’. Howe said:
I know he’s had a huge influence on some Premier League managers who are currently active and successful in the league, and he’s one of the culture change managers, really, who has brought in a lot of new ideas that a lot of people have followed," he said.
"He’s a definite pioneer of the game. He’s someone I’ve had a couple of conversations with over the years, and someone I highly respect and admire.
"I think with anyone who has his reputation in the game and some of the things that he’s achieved at different clubs, it shows that his methodology works wherever he goes, so I’ve got no doubt he will make very instant changes to Manchester United.
"He’ll bring in his own way of playing – I’ve already seen that in the two games they’ve had – and they’ve started to mirror him and his personality, so we expect a very tough game. I’ve got a lot of respect for Ralf and his work."
Newcastle vs Manchester United
19:35 , Michael Jones
Newcastle have let in 41 goals this season, their most after 18 games since 1960 when they went on to be relegated from the top flight.
They have dropped a league-high 17 points from winning positions this season and have lost all 10 Premier League matches this campaign against teams in the top half of the table, in contrast to eight games unbeaten versus clubs in the bottom half.
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Lindelof tests positive for Covid-19
19:32 , Michael Jones
Ralf Rangnick spoke to Sky Sports before kick off to explain his team selection for tonight’s match against Newcastle. The Manchester United boss confirmed that Victor Lindelof misses out due to testing positive for coronavirus and Mason Greenwood starts up top. He said:
We resumed for training last Tuesday and on Thursday had almost the whole team apart from Paul Pogba in training. Unfortunately, Victor Lindelof tested positive with Covid yesterday so he cannot play. But Raphael Varane is available again and is in the starting line-up. In the last three or four days we had some good training sessions.
“He [Mason Greenwood] is definitely playing up front, but in what position you will see. He deserves to play. He did extremely well in the last two or three weeks in training and when he came on against Young Boys.
“It was about decision making against Norwich. In some parts of the game we did not take the right decisions and I did not like the body language in some parts. This was a topic in preparation for this game, an away game in front of 65,000. We need to take the next step and be aggressive and prepared for a difficulty, intense game.
“We had two clean sheets in the last two games and so no need for me to change anything I do not have to. It is about taking steps and development. With our team, we are always able to score goals so it is about having a clean sheet and playing defensively with all the players. It starts up front with the strikers.”
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Clubs will think twice before signing unvaccinated players
19:28 , Michael Jones
Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick has echoed Jurgen Klopp’s concern over signing players not vaccinated against coronavirus.
Liverpool manager Klopp has been outspoken, insisting players should get jabbed amid the rise of Premier League coronavirus cases caused by the Omicron variant.
Klopp has said he would think twice about signing unvaccinated players and fellow German Rangnick has now reiterated those worries and its potential impact on any United dealings during the January transfer window.
Ralf Rangnick: Clubs will think twice before signing unvaccinated players
Newcastle vs Manchester United
19:25 , Michael Jones
In the build up to this game Eddie Howe spoke how he admired Newcastle’s unforgettable victories over Man Utd under the Kevin Keegan and Sir Bobby Robson back in the 1990s and early 2000s.
But, he admits it will take some time for the Magpies to "transition" into a similarly exciting team. Howe said:
There’s a lot of memories that spring to mind of those games – Newcastle tended, at that period of time, to have memorable games against most teams, to be honest. I think there are stand-out moments you think back to, and I can picture some of the goals and the scenes in my mind.
“It’s up to us to try and recreate those times – the attacking verve, the swagger that that team had, the flair the individual players possessed, but then the team took that identity over and it’s certainly something we’re desperate to do.
“But we’re going to need a little bit of time to see that in full creation. At the moment, we’re still progressing, and we have to obviously get the defensive side of our game right before we transition into the team we all want to be.”
Newcastle vs Manchester United
19:21 , Michael Jones
Manchester United have won 1-0 in their two league games so far under manager Ralf Rangnick. He can become the first United boss to keep a clean sheet in his opening three league fixtures.
United are one short of becoming the first club to record 300 Premier League away victories.
Newcastle vs Manchester United
19:19 , Michael Jones
This is the first time Newcastle have spent Christmas Day in the relegation zone. They have won just one of their seven games under head coach Eddie Howe, losing the last three in a row.
Newcastle have conceded 79 league goals in 2021 - the joint most of any Premier League team in a calendar year, along with Ipswich Town in 1994.
The last top-flight team to concede more over the course of a year was West Bromwich Albion, who let in 87 goals in 1985.
Newcastle vs Manchester United: De Gea on training under Rangnick
19:13 , Michael Jones
David De Gea spoke about the change in Manchester United’s training sessions following the appointment of interim boss Ralf Rangnick. He says United have been training with pace and energy since being hit with rising Covid cases and he wants the team to show that same intensity on the pitch. De Gea said:
It’s great. It’s good to have the whole team back to train properly altogether and then of course see they are all safe. They are back, they are all training, they are fine so it’s great to be together again.
“We’ve been training hard, of course. It’s very intense, every training session, every moment with him [Rangnick] is intense,
“You have to give 100 per cent every time in training and in the games. Let’s see. It’s just the beginning, it’s been a couple of weeks, so let’s see in the future.
“The team is training with energy, with pace, and now we have to show that in big games.”
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Newcastle must cut through their own barriers on and off the pitch as defining period approaches
19:08 , Michael Jones
Newcastle United finish a run of difficult fixtures when they host Manchester United in the Premier League tonight. The Tyneside club are about to enter a crucial phase of the season.
The next five weeks offer a series of winnable matches for Eddie Howe’s team and the transfer window opens in five days.
It is hard to see a side that has conceded 11 goals in the past three matches against top-half clubs getting anything against United tonight. These are strange times, though.
Ralf Rangnick’s team has not played for 16 days. The German is still getting to grips with life at Old Trafford. Still, Rangnick has plenty of talent available to him and clear ideas about how he wants United to play.
Newcastle face Man United as final test before defining period of the season
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Team changes
19:05 , Michael Jones
Eddie Howe makes six changes to the Newcastle team that lost 4-0 to Manchester City in their last outing. Jamaal Lascelles in joined in defence by Javier Manquillo, Emil Krafth and Fabian Schar. Jacob Murphy, Matt Ritchie and Ciaran Clark drop out of the starting XI.
Allan Saint-Maximin returns taking the place of Miguel Almiron and in midfield, Jonjo Shelvey and Sean Longstaff start with Isaac Hayden suspended and Joe Willock absent from the matchday squad.
Just two changes for Ralf Rangnick’s Manchester United. Raphael Varane comes in to partner Harry Maguire at centre-back and Mason Greenwood replaces Jadon Sancho.
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Line-ups
19:00 , Michael Jones
Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Schar, Lascelles, Krafth, Manquillo, Shelvey, Fraser, S. Longstaff, Joelinton, Wilson, Saint-Maximin
🚨 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈-𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 🚨
HWTL! ⚫️⚪️#NEWMUN pic.twitter.com/lg3LMB3lfu— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) December 27, 2021
Man Utd XI: De Gea, Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Telles, Fred, McTominay, Fernandes, Rashford, Greenwood, Ronaldo
📋 The team news you've all been waiting for...#MUFC | #NEWMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 27, 2021
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Head-to-head
18:54 , Michael Jones
This is the 150th top-flight meeting between the two teams. Manchester United are seeking to match their club record of five successive league wins against Newcastle.
The Magpies have won just three of the last 17 Premier League encounters, all by a 1-0 scoreline. They have lost 10 Premier League games against Manchester United after scoring the opening goal, equalling the competition record against a single opponent.
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Anthony Martial wants to ‘go somewhere else’, Manchester United coach Ralf Rangnick confirms
18:49 , Michael Jones
Anthony Martial has told Manchester United he wants to leave.
The France forward has become a fringe figure at Old Trafford, making just two Premier League starts this season and only four in all competitions.
“We spoke at length on Wednesday,” said interim United manager Ralf Rangnick, revealing the 26-year-old’s desire to quit Old Trafford.
Anthony Martial wants to ‘go somewhere else’, Man United coach Ralf Rangnick confirms
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Standings and recent results
18:46 , Michael Jones
Newcastle have suffered three bruising results since their 1-0 victory over Burnley at the start of December. The have lost 4-0, 3-1, 4-0 to Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester City respectively in that time. That win over the Clarets is Newcastle only victory of the season so far and Eddie Howe will be desperately hoping for a turnaround in form. If the Magpies defeat Manchester United tonight they will leapfrog Burnley and move level on points with Watford (17th).
Man Utd meanwhile are unbeaten in four Premier League games and have seemingly stopped their poor run of form that led to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking. Still, they haven’t featured in the league for 16 days but could finish the day as high as fifth if they pick up all three points tonight. Last time out Cristiano Ronaldo netted a 75th minute penalty as the Red Devils saw off Norwich 1-0 away from home.
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Howe on Lewis’ injury
18:39 , Michael Jones
Newcastle will be without the services of Jamal Lewis this evening after he suffered a hamstring injury during last week’s defeat to Liverpool.
The full-back is likely to miss the rest of Newcastle’s fixtures in 2021, but manager Eddie Howe is optimistic that the defender may be fit to return as early as January. Howe said:
I don’t think it will be too long. It’s not a major injury, but I think it will be enough to keep him out of the festive period and some games into early January,
"Usually with a hamstring strain you’re looking at minimum of three to four weeks, and that’s probably where he’ll be."
Newcastle vs Manchester United
18:36 , Michael Jones
Manchester United had two Premier League games - against Brighton and Brentford - postponed due to a steep rise in coronavirus cases amongst the squad and staff. It got so bad that the Carrington training ground was closed for four days and players had to train in their own gardens to keep up with manager Ralf Rangnick’s proposed fitness regime.
United last played on the 11th of December and the manager says that the club are almost back to full strength. He said:
“Apart from Paul Pogba we had all the players available at training which is a massive improvement within one week to have 17 players more available.
“Everyone has looked in good shape and good health and if everything stays like it is right now and we don’t get any further cases, and I’m optimistic and positive about that, then it will be difficult for me to decide not only on the starting XI, but on the eight [outfield] players sitting on the bench.
“For me it didn’t come as such a big, big surprise, of course I would have wished that it wouldn’t have happened, but I think for everybody it’s about making the best out of it and making sure we are being protected in the future and we don’t have any further cases in the next six months.
“I know that there is no guarantee for that, but we can still make sure we do everything we possibly can within our club that it doesn’t happen again.”
Newcastle vs Manchester United: Injuries and absentees
18:29 , Michael Jones
Newcastle have Emil Krafth and Javier Manquillo back in contention following illnesses but Isaac Hayden is suspended and Federico Fernandez, Paul Dummett and Jamal Lewis remain out.
Ralf Rangnick confirmed that Manchester United have an almost full squad to select from after a fresh round of Covid-19 testing. Paul Pogba is only absentee as he misses through injury.
Raphael Varane and Edinson Cavani are fit again and could be in contention to start tonight.
Newcastle vs Manchester United
18:20 , Tony Evans
Newcastle United finish a run of difficult fixtures when they host Manchester United in the Premier League tonight. The Tyneside club are about to enter a crucial phase of the season. The next five weeks offer a series of winnable matches for Eddie Howe’s team and the transfer window opens in five days.
It is hard to see a side that has conceded 11 goals in the past three matches against top-half clubs getting anything against United tonight. These are strange times, though. Ralf Rangnick’s team has not played for 16 days. The German is still getting to grips with life at Old Trafford. Still, Rangnick has plenty of talent available to him and clear ideas about how he wants United to play.
There has been less clarity at St James’ Park since the Amanda Staveley-led, Saudi Arabian-backed consortium’s takeover was rubber-stamped in October. The past three months have been a harsh learning process for the new owners. More difficult lessons lie ahead.
Full piece here:
Newcastle face Man United as final test before defining period of the season
Newcastle vs Manchester United
17:57 , Alex Pattle
Hello, and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Newcastle United vs Manchester United in the Premier League.
Tonight’s top-flight game marks the visitors’ first time stepping onto the pitch in over two weeks. Covid-related disruptions to the Premier League’s calendar saw Man United’s fixtures against Brighton and Brentford postponed earlier this month, with the Red Devils’ Carrington training ground closed for a brief period thereafter.
It remains to be seen whether the lack of action will help or hinder Ralf Rangnick’s team, who may be slightly short of match sharpness but who have had a bit more time to get used to their new interim coach’s style of play.
Meanwhile, Newcastle’s fortunes have not improved much in their relegation battle since Eddie Howe’s appointment as head coach, and an admittedly tough recent run of games has seen the Magpies beaten 4-0 by Man City, 3-1 by Liverpool and 4-0 by Leicester.
Their last win came on 4 December as they edged past Burnley 1-0, and even a victory here would not haul 19th-placed Newcastle out of the relegation zone. That said, it could give them some momentum as they approach a kinder run of matches.
