Man Utd vs Newcastle tips and predictions: Time for the Magpies to end Old Trafford curse

Manchester United state of play

It hasn't been plain sailing for Ruben Amorim at United. The Portuguese man has won just two of his Premier League games since taking over last month. Despite beating cross-town rivals Man City earlier this month, they've since lost three straight games and find themselves as low as 14th.

Their latest came at Wolves, who were sat inside the relegation zone before kick-off. They'll blame it on Bruno Fernandes' red in the second half, but if they're honest with themselves they never looked capable of winning at Molineux.

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The Red Devils have also blanked in their last two outings, with Amorim experimenting with both Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee up top to no avail. Most worryingly, neither strikers managed a single shot on target in the game they started. If only the United boss had an experienced forward with 87 Premier League goals to call upon...

Newcastle state of play

Newcastle, on the other hand, are bang in form with four straight Premier League wins without conceding. Two of those may have been against strugglers Leicester and Ipswich, but the third was a comfortable 3-0 thumping of Aston Villa.

Their impressive form actually stretches back to their last five, with the Magpies picking up a huge point against runaway league leaders Liverpool and might count themselves unlucky to not take all three. They couldn't follow it up with a win at Brentford but not many have left the Gtech smiling this year.

That run of games has moved them up to seventh place, just six points off the Champions League spots with a game in hand. 

Key talking point: Can Newcastle end 11-year wait for three points at Old Trafford?

Alan Pardew. Fabricio Coloccini. Shola Ameobi. Cheik Tiote. Tim Krul. Just a few names of players who previously won a league game for Newcastle at Old Trafford back in 2013. They managed a League Cup win there last year, but nada on the big stage.

But now's as good a time as any for Eddie Howe to end that run. The Magpies haven't been anything special on the road this season (W3 D3 L3), but it's been more a Theatre of Nightmares for United this season (W4 D1 L4). A couple of those defeats were very winnable in Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest.

Now, Newcastle haven't won their last Premier League game of the calendar year since 2014. But let’s not read too much into that. Everything points to an away win for Newcastle here.

FIRST’s top tip for Man Utd vs Newcastle

Newcastle to win at 7/5 (BetMGM).

Extra tips

Alexander Isak to score anytime at 27/20 (BetMGM)

It took a few games for Isak to hit form this season, but he hasn't stopped scoring since returning from injury in October. The big Swede has bagged 10 goals in his last 10 league games and looks good to keep that run going.

Under 9.5 total corners at 33/20 with (BetMGM)

United average the joint-lowest number of corners per game in the Premier League (9.67) and the second-lowest at home (9.44). Three of their last five at Old Trafford have finished under 9.5, so have three of Newcastle's last four away games.

Team news

Amorim faces a bit of a selection headache in the centre of the park with midfield pair Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte both suspended from the Boxing Day defeat. That could see Christian Eriksen, Casemiro or even out-of-favour Alejandro Garnacho return to the fold.

The United boss will also need to choose a new captain in Fernandes' absence, and all, but confirmed it would be former skipper Harry Maguire, calling him an 'example' to follow.

Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are already out with injuries.

Newcastle should have Tino Livramento fit after he missed the Boxing Day win over Aston Villa with a bout of illness. Fellow defender Sven Botman is close to a return but this game might come too soon for the Dutchman.

Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Nick Pope and Callum Wilson remain out of action.

Man Utd vs Newcastle predicted line-ups

Man Utd XI: Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Maguire; Dalot, Mainoo, Casemiro, Mazraoui; Eriksen, Amad; Hojlund (3-4-2-1)

Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Hall, Burn, Schar, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Gordon, Isak (4-3-3)

Form guide (all competitions)

Man Utd: DWWLLWWLLL

Newcastle: WWLDDLWWWW