Preview: United to fight for win against Magpies? Injured players returning? Youth players to make debuts? Ten Hag to accept his fate?

Manchester United -v- Newcastle United

Premier League

Old Trafford, Manchester

Wednesday 15 May 2024, KO 20:00 BST

Manchester United are back in Premier League action at Old Trafford on Wednesday evening as they welcome Newcastle United for the final match at the Theatre of Dreams this season. United lost 1-0 to Arsenal on Sunday which will give Erik ten Hag food for thought ahead of this clash.

United sit in eighth place and look set to endure their worst ever season in the Premier League unless they can beat both Newcastle and Brighton and Hove Albion in their final league matches this season. It could be that the Emirates FA Cup offers the only route into European football for United.

Newcastle sit in sixth place with it still possible for them to finish fifth in the league providing they beat United and Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur lose to both Manchester City and Sheffield United. United could also finish sixth but factors for that are against them. What a poor season.

United – Form, Goals Scored & Assists

Arsenal 1-0 L, Palace 4-0 L, Burnley 1-1 D, Sheffield 4-2 W, Coventry 3-3 (4-2 penalties) W, Bournemouth 2-2 D

Goals: 15 – Bruno Fernandes, 14 – Rasmus Hojlund, 10 – Scott McTominay, 9 – Alejandro Garnacho, 8 – Marcus Rashford, 5 – Casemiro, 4 – Harry Maguire, 3 – Kobbie Mainoo, 2 – Antony, Diogo Dalot, Anthony Martial, 1 – Amad Diallo, Christian Eriksen, Victor Lindelof, Hannibal Mejbri, Mason Mount, Raphael Varane

Assists: 11 – Bruno Fernandes, 5 – Diogo Dalot, Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford, 3 – Casemiro, Scott McTominay, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 2 – Antony, Christian Eriksen, Rasmus Hojlund, Harry Maguire, 1 – Jonny Evans, Omari Forson, Victor Lindelof, Kobbie Mainoo, Anthony Martial, Lisandro Martínez, Mason Mount, Facundo Pellistri, Luke Shaw

Newcastle – Form, Goals Scored & Assists

Brighton 1-1 D, Burnley 4-1 W, Sheffield 5-1 W, Palace 2-0 L, Spurs 4-0 W, Fulham 1-0 W

Goals: 24 – Alexander Isak, 11 – Anthony Gordon, 10 – Callum Wilson, 8 – Sean Longstaff, 6 – Bruno Guimarães, 5 – Miguel Almirón, Fabian Schär, 4 – Harvey Barnes, Dan Burn, 3 – Joelinton, 2 – Sven Botman, Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, 1 – Lewis Hall, Jamaal Lascelles, Tino Livramento, Lewis Miley, Matt Ritchie, Sandro Tonali, Kieran Trippier

Assists: 11 – Kieran Trippier, 10 – Anthony Gordon, 8 – Bruno Guimarães, 7 – Jacob Murphy, 4 – Lewis Miley, 3 – Miguel Almirón, Harvey Barnes, Joelinton, 2 – Elliot Anderson, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff, 1 – Alexander Isak, Tino Livramento, Fabian Schär, Callum Wilson

Previous Meetings & Connections

United and Newcastle have met 57 times in the Premier League. United have won 32 times, drawing 16 times and losing nine times. United have scored 113 goals in this fixture, winning three penalties, scoring two. Newcastle have scored 58 goals, winning three penalties, scoring all of them.

United have kept 20 clean sheets against Newcastle, who have 14 clean sheets against United. There have been discipline issues with United players receiving 95 yellow cards and three red cards with Newcastle players getting 93 yellow cards and three red cards. United must beat them.

Peter Beardsley, Keith Gillespie, Andy Cole, Ronny Johnsen, Nicky Butt, Guiseppe Rossi, Danny Simpson, Alan Smith, Louis Saha, Gabriel Obertan and Michael Owen have all played for both United and Newcastle. There are some great players that have played for both teams.

Team News

Manchester United: Ten Hag has endured a tough season regarding injuries. The majority of the defence has been out of action for large spells of the season. Added to that, the midfield and attacking positions have all been heavily depleted.

Ruled Out: Victor Lindelof (thigh), Harry Maguire (other), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Raphael Varane (other), Luke Shaw (thigh) and Mason Mount (other).

Doubts: Bruno Fernandes (wrist/hand), Anthony Martial (groin/hip/pelvic), Lisandro Martinez (calf/shin/heel), Marcus Rashford (ankle/foot).

Newcastle United: The Magpies have also suffered an injury-plagued season but for them, it has not been as much of an issue as it has for United. They have manager to persevere, getting some good results and pushing towards the top five during the latter stages of the season.

Ruled Out: Sven Botman (knee), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Lewis Miley (lower back), Matt Targett (calf/shin/heel), Joseph Willock (calf/shin/heel).

Suspended: Sandro Tonali (suspended until the end of August 2024)

Doubts: Fabian Schär (thigh), Callum Wilson (thigh)

Predicted United Starting XI – 4-2-3-1

Onana;

Wan-Bissaka, Kambwala, Evans, Dalot;

Mainoo, Amrabat;

Antony, McTominay, Garnacho;

Hojlund

Predicted Newcastle Starting XI – 4-3-3

Pope;

Livramento, Krafth, Burn, Hall;

Longstaff, Guimarães, Anderson;

Murphy, Isak, Gordon

Match Prediction

United’s season is effectively over. There is nothing to gain from the Premier League this season with United likely to finish eighth in the league – their worst ever finish in the Premier League era. Injuries and quality have cost United dearly this season and changes need to be made this summer.

Despite losing 4-0 at the hands of Palace, Arsenal were only able to score a single goal at Old Trafford, which still saw United not earn a single point for the second consecutive match, which could be something that continues with Newcastle and Brighton on the horizon.

United may need to cut their losses after this match and let some talented youth players make their debuts in the Premier League, which could give something to look forward to next season. Getting players fit for the FA Cup final is the main priority for United so they can stop City from winning.

Manchester United 1-3 Newcastle United

Written by Paul


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About editor 2213 Articles
I support Manchester United, the greatest English football team to have ever existed. Bruno Fernandes is the latest in a long line of players with great ability to play for the club. I idolised Bryan Robson, David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and Eric Cantona growing up.