Man Utd Clash with Newcastle: Bold Predictions and Starting XI Revealed
Premier League supporters have just one Boxing Day fixture to enjoy this season as Manchester United host Newcastle United at Old Trafford.
Both teams have struggled for consistency in recent matches, each recording two victories, two draws, and one defeat in their last five Premier League encounters, though Newcastle holds the psychological advantage going into Friday's clash.
The Magpies have triumphed in five of their six encounters with Man Utd since their Carabao Cup final defeat in 2023, including a commanding 2–0 victory at Old Trafford last December. The Red Devils are determined to reverse this trend.
United showed resilience in their narrow 2–1 loss to Morgan Rogers-led Aston Villa last weekend, though their defensive vulnerabilities were exposed once again. Bruno Fernandes's injury in the Midlands added to their woes as they missed an opportunity to climb to fifth in the Premier League standings.
Newcastle started brilliantly against Chelsea, establishing a two-goal lead through an impressive first-half performance, but Eddie Howe's team relinquished their advantage and had to settle for a draw, finishing the weekend in 11th position.
Both clubs are lacking confidence at present, and holiday fixture congestion could result in an unpredictable encounter in Manchester.
Here is Sports Illustrated's preview of the Old Trafford showdown.
What Time Does Man Utd vs. Newcastle Kick-Off?
Man Utd vs. Newcastle Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Man Utd | Newcastle |
|---|---|
Aston Villa 2–1 Man Utd - 21/12/25 | Newcastle 2–2 Chelsea - 20/12/25 |
Man Utd 4–4 Bournemouth - 15/12/25 | Newcastle 2–1 Fulham - 17/12/25 |
Wolves 1–4 Man Utd - 08/12/25 | Sunderland 1–0 Newcastle - 14/12/25 |
Man Utd 1–1 West Ham - 04/12/25 | Bayer Leverkusen 2–2 Newcastle - 10/12/25 |
Crystal Palace 1–2 Man Utd - 30/11/25 | Newcastle 2–1 Burnley - 06/12/25 |
How to Watch Man Utd vs. Newcastle on TV
Country | TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Ultra HD, Sky GO, Sky GO Extra |
United States | USA Network, NBC Sports App, nbcsports.com |
Canada | DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada |
Mexico | FOX One |
Man Utd Team News
Fernandes represents the most significant absence for Man Utd before Newcastle's arrival, with Ruben Amorim confirming that a muscle injury will sideline the captain for "an extended period." With Kobbie Mainoo also unavailable due to injury, Man Utd face limited midfield options.
Casemiro's return from suspension comes at a crucial time as he prepares to link up with Manuel Ugarte, though defensive injuries restrict Amorim's choices. Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire remain injured, while Noussair Mazraoui is representing his country at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The absence of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo at AFCON reduces Man Utd's attacking options on the right wing, though Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount remain available in attack.
Man Utd Predicted Lineup vs. Newcastle
Man Utd predicted lineup vs. Newcastle (3-4-2-1): Lammens; Yoro, Heaven, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Cunha, Mount; Šeško.
Newcastle Team News
Newcastle must persist without several defenders for their journey west, as Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier remain unavailable at right-back. This ensures another appearance for Lewis Miley in that position, with the young player requiring careful management according to Howe due to a minor hamstring issue.
Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are all sidelined as well, while Nick Pope's return between the posts remains uncertain. Aaron Ramsdale will continue if his fellow goalkeeper isn't considered ready to play.
William Osula is ruled out in attack through injury, but Joelinton is "progressing well" toward involvement having been an unused substitute in the previous three fixtures.
Anthony Elanga might feature against his former team instead of Jacob Murphy.
Newcastle Predicted Lineup vs. Man Utd
Newcastle predicted lineup vs. Man Utd (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Miley, Thiaw, Schär, Hall; Guimarães, Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.
Man Utd vs. Newcastle Score Prediction
Forecasting which iteration of these teams will appear on Friday evening proves challenging. When performing well, both possess significant attacking capabilities, but defensive weaknesses and injuries will complicate matters at Old Trafford.
Fernandes's unavailability represents a massive blow for Man Utd, who depend heavily on his creative influence, though Casemiro's return does provide midfield stability. Cunha must shoulder the burden of creating opportunities in the attacking third.
Newcastle's away form has been disappointing and their current shape is far from ideal, but they relish this matchup and displayed promising elements during their entertaining 2–2 stalemate with Chelsea.
We're predicting an entertaining stalemate at Old Trafford.