Manchester United simply can’t wait for this season to end, so will Newcastle United become the latest team to leave Old Trafford victorious?
Manchester United vs Newcastle United match preview
Will Manchester United’s miserable form continue?
On Sunday, the Red Devils were beaten again, this time 1-0 by league-leaders Arsenal, mustering just a solitary shot on target, with Casemiro completely at fault for the goal, playing everyone onside.
Man United have now lost nine home games in all competitions this season, equalling the club record set in 1920/21, 1930/31, 1933/34, 1962/63, and 1973/74, with this their final chance to break that record.
Having won only one of their last eight, only beating Everton and Sheffield United at home since 18 February, Erik ten Hag’s team are now eighth, on course for the club’s lowest finish since 1990.
As it stands, unless they beat Manchester City in the FA Cup Final, the Red Devils will not feature in UEFA competition next season, really needing to win both here and at Brighton on Sunday to climb back into the top seven.
Well, the way the home side are playing, Newcastle United will absolutely fancy their chances of a victory.
At the weekend, the Magpies were held to a somewhat frustrating 1-1 draw by Brighton at the Amex, with Sean Longstaff firing home an equaliser in first half stoppage time.
Eddie Howe’s side have now lost just one of their last eight, winning five of them, their sole defeat since 11 March coming at Selhurst Park, and Man United know only too well how good Palace have been of late!
This has seen the Magpies climb up to sixth, on course for back-to-back top six finishes for the first time in two decades, currently occupying a Europa League place, assuming Man City win the FA Cup next Saturday.
The Toon Army have already won at Old Trafford this season, claiming an emphatic 3-0 EFL Cup victory back on 1 November, so are now targeting back-to-back victories there for the first time since 1935.
Having also won both of their last two Premier League encounters, both coming at St James’ Park, a win for Newcastle would see the win four successive meetings with Man United for the first time since 1907, confirming they’ll finish above them, last achieving this in 1977.
Manchester United vs Newcastle United Tips
We are backing Newcastle United for the win here, despite the fact they’ve only won twice at Old Trafford since 1972.
The Magpies, put simplistically, look like a coherent football team, while the same cannot be said of their hosts.
Defeat would see Man United lose three successive Premier League games, within the same season, for the first time since Boxing Day 2015 under Louis van Gaal, an eventuality we are forecasting.
In terms of both teams to score, this actually has not been the case in any of the last five encounters between the pair, despite occurring in five successive meetings beforehand.
This season, both teams have scored in 17 of Man United’s 23 matches since Christmas, happening in 57.4% of fixtures this season.
Meantime, both teams have scored in each of Newcastle’s last three games, as well as 15 of their 22 of their fixtures since Christmas.
Alexander Isak continues to be the Magpies’ main man for goals this season, scoring 24 times in all competitions.
So, given that the Swede has bagged ten goals in his last ten Premier League appearances, we’re backing Isak to further improve that ratio.
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