Manchester United vs Newcastle United: Red Devils have been ruthless on Boxing Day
Manchester United: European football spots within reach for the Red Devils
After a catastrophic bottom-six finish in the previous Premier League season, Manchester United are back with a bang and now find themselves challenging for the European football spots in the current campaign. There have been signs of slips in form along the way, such as dropping all three points against Everton to sharing the spoils against Nottingham - teams that were originally meant to beat as predicted by the best online betting sites.
The Red Devils enter this clash seeking to get back to winning ways after failing to win their last two matches. A recent 2-1 away defeat to Aston Villa marked their first league defeat in five games. Truth be told, their performance has not been inspiring, with just two wins in their last eight outings.
Ruben Amorim knows how important a win could be for his side. Three points here and results elsewhere going their way is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see them break their way into the top five before facing struggling Wolverhampton Wanderers in the final league game of the year to cement their position.
Their opponents are not going to be pushovers, that's for sure. Indeed, they have the upper hand in past meetings with this opponent, but two league defeats in a row paint a worrying picture. Can the Red Devils stop the rot and return to winning ways? Find out what our experts have to say in our Manchester United vs Newcastle prediction.
Man United will need to tighten up defensively and find more creativity in the final third if they are to capitalize on this fixture. With their star player, Bryan Mbeumo, unavailable as he represents his country, Cameroon, in the 2025 African Cup of Nations, that leaves Matheus Cunha to impress in the right wing position.
Newcastle United: Can the Magpies exorcise demons from their past?
Newcastle United are six points behind the European football spots, having accumulated 23 points from 17 games. They've lost six of those outings, and some defeats could have been averted if it weren't for mistakes and a shaky backline.
Despite their inconsistencies this season, the Magpies have shown some signs of improvement, such as losing just one of their last six games (W4, D1). Lack of concentration and defensive frailties were on full display in their recent league outing against Chelsea. From storming to a two-goal lead in the first half to conceding two second-half goals, they had to be content with a point in a thrilling 2-2 draw.
In light of that result, their winless run in the Premier League extended to two games. Yes, they've won their last two matches against Man United in the league, but there's doubt about their chances of overcoming the Red Devils this time around.
Eddie Howe's men have had a bit of trouble when facing this opponent, especially on Boxing Day. Their last win dates back as far as 1987. So far, they've lost four of their last five meetings. This shouldn't come as a surprise, considering they've recorded the most Boxing Day losses (47) and are up against a United side that has won the most (54).
How Newcastle United have fared in their last five Premier League games against Man United:
- 13 April 2025: Newcastle 4:1 Man United
- 20 December 2024: Man United 0:2 Newcastle
- 15 May 2024: Man United 3:2 Newcastle
- 02 December 2023: Newcastle 1:0 Man United
- 02 April 2023: Newcastle 2:0 Man United
