Manchester United will look to consolidate third place in the Premier League ahead of the final game of 2014, whilst Alan Pardew’s Newcastle will look to put their derby defeat behind them with a repeat of last season’s result.
To be played on Friday 26th December 2014 at 15:00. Venue: Old Trafford, Manchester
Odds: Man Utd 2/5, Draw 4/1, Newcastle 17/2
Manchester United are in excellent form at the moment but they will be facing a dangerous Newcastle United side who have taken the scalps of some of the bigger hitters in the Premier League this season.
They are the only side to have beaten league leaders Chelsea, and they have beaten Liverpool and Tottenham in the league this season, whilst also knocking Manchester City out of the League Cup – so if anyone thinks the home side will have it their own way in this fixture, then they will be very much mistaken.
Louis van Gaal’s side are slowly getting players back to fitness whilst Newcastle still have a horrid injury list, but are boosted by the return of Cheick Tiote from suspension. The home side will be looking to get back to winning ways after a draw against Aston Villa ended their run of six consecutive victories, and the visitors will be looking to put yet another derby disappointment behind them following their loss against Sunderland.
A win for the home side will see them retain their third position in the league, but if the visitors were to repeat last year’s result they could leapfrog Swansea City in eighth place.
“We want to build a fortress at Old Trafford, and we have made it that already because we have won a lot, and with great results. We have to continue, but there are no easy games in the Premier League.”
Louis Van Gaal
“We’ve done reasonably well there, and one of the reasons we have done well there is we’ve retained possession well and that’s something we’re going to have to do. You can’t turn possession over to Man United with the quality they’ve got up front. And they’re going well at the minute, they’re on a great run.”
Alan Pardew
Man Utd injury news
Marouane Fellaini ★★★ out illness
Ander Herrera ★★★ out knock
Marcos Rojo ★★★ out thigh
Chris Smalling ★★ questionable groin
Luke Shaw ★★★ out ankle
Daley Blind ★★★ out knee
Tom Thorpe ★★★ out ankle
Newcastle injury news
Steven Taylor ★ probable head
Robert Elliot ★★★ out thigh
Tim Krul ★★★ out ankle
Ryan Taylor ★★★ out knee
Gabriel Obertan ★★★ out thigh
Davide Santon ★★★ out knee
Mehdi Abeid ★★★ out ankle
Rolando Aarons ★★★ out hamstring
Siem de Jong ★★★ out thigh
Curtis Good ★★★ out groin
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