Newcastle United welcome Manchester United to St James’ Park on Sunday evening in what promises to be a pivotal Premier League showdown. With both teams chasing European football next season, the stakes are high as they prepare to battle it out under the lights.
The Magpies come into this fixture in buoyant mood after a convincing 3-0 victory over Leicester City. That win boosted their confidence and kept their hopes of a top-four finish alive. On the other hand, Manchester United are in the midst of a turbulent run, having played out a 0-0 draw with Manchester City in the league before a 2-2 result away to Lyon in their midweek European clash.
Eddie Howe’s side are determined to maintain momentum as they push for Champions League qualification. Newcastle’s attacking fluency has improved in recent weeks, and they will be eager to capitalise on home advantage against a Manchester United side that has lacked consistency this season.
However, Newcastle’s preparation has been hampered by several key injuries. Captain Jamaal Lascelles and defender Sven Botman have been ruled out for the rest of the season, while Joe Willock is also expected to miss this match. Lewis Hall is unavailable for the remainder of the campaign, and there are concerns about the fitness of Anthony Gordon, who returned to training but remains a doubt. Assistant manager Jason Tindall, stepping in for Eddie Howe who is recovering from illness, confirmed that Gordon will face a late fitness test. Howe’s presence on the touchline is uncertain, although he has remained in regular contact with the coaching staff throughout the week.
Manchester United are also struggling with a lengthy injury list. Key defenders Matthijs De Ligt and Ayden Heaven remain sidelined, along with Jonny Evans and Lisandro Martinez. United manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged the difficulties caused by the lack of squad depth and hinted that some players may not be fit enough to play the full 90 minutes. Despite this, he stressed the need for his team to remain competitive and push for all three points.
There could be a few changes to the United starting lineup, with Mason Mount likely to return after a long injury layoff. In goal, Altay Bayindir may be handed a chance to start following Andre Onana’s recent run of mistakes. Amorim is expected to rotate his options cautiously while maintaining the core of the team that performed well midweek.
Historically, Manchester United have had the upper hand in this fixture. Out of 180 meetings across all competitions, they have claimed 92 victories, with Newcastle winning 47 times and 41 matches ending in draws. However, recent encounters have been more balanced, and Newcastle will fancy their chances given their current form and home support.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 6:30 PM Kenyan time on Sunday and will be broadcast live on SuperSport TV.
Probable Lineups
Newcastle United XI:
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Barnes.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Dubravka, Krafth, Targett, Miley, Longstaff, Gordon, Osula, Wilson.
Manchester United XI:
Bayindir; Lindelof, Maguire, Yoro; Dalot, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mount, Hojlund, Zirkzee.
Substitutes: Onana, Mazraoui, Amass, Shaw, Eriksen, Casemiro, Mainoo, Garnacho, Obi.
With both teams desperate for a win to boost their European aspirations, this encounter is shaping up to be a thrilling affair.
