Taking to the Old Trafford turf for the final time in the 2023-24 Premier League season, Manchester United pit their wits against fellow European hopefuls Newcastle United on Wednesday evening.
Erik ten Hag's men are reeling from a 1-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday night, prior to which the Magpies hit back against Brighton & Hove Albion to come away with a point in a 1-1 draw.
Match preview
© Reuters
Compared to their chastening 4-0 trouncing at the hands of Crystal Palace last Monday, Man United's defence was not quite as leaky as the Old Trafford roof in Sunday's main event with Arsenal, where the Red Devils were being cheered on by both sides of the city.
However, the hosts' toothless attacks were comfortably repelled by Mikel Arteta's defensive masters, and thanks to one lapse in concentration for Casemiro - who criminally kept Kai Havertz onside from a long ball over the top - the Gunners returned to the summit courtesy of a first-half Leandro Trossard finish.
By failing to give noisy neighbours Manchester City a helping hand, Ten Hag's dismal side remain in an unremarkable eighth place in the rankings, three points behind Newcastle and Chelsea with two games left to go, meaning that they could officially be eliminated from top-seven contention if midweek results do not go their way.
Of course, avenging last year's FA Cup final loss to Manchester City at Wembley would punch the Red Devils' ticket to the Europa League, but the 20-time English champions - who have supposedly cancelled their 2023-24 awards dinner amid their miserable predicament - will end the season with numerous unwanted records either way.
Indeed, 19 losses in all tournaments is their most since 1977-78, 82 goals shipped is their worst in 53 years, and they could suffer 10 losses in all competitions at Old Trafford for the first time in a single season on Wednesday; whether such unsightly statistics are considered sack-worthy by Sir Jim Ratcliffe remains to be seen.
© Reuters
On the other side of the coin, Newcastle's 2024-25 campaign may not feature any form of continental competition either if their final two results are dissatisfactory, but there should be no threat to Eddie Howe's seat in the St James' Park dugout for the time being.
The 46-year-old had masterminded emphatic successes over Championship-bound Burnley and Sheffield United before the visit of Brighton & Hove Albion to the North East on Saturday, where in a contest that will not live long in the memory, Joel Veltman and Sean Longstaff cancelled out one another with a pair of first-half strikes.
Nevertheless, a solitary point was enough to keep the sixth-placed Magpies mathematically in contention for fifth - at least until Tottenham Hotspur do battle with Manchester City on Tuesday evening - but only goal difference is keeping them clear of Chelsea following the Blues' beating of Nottingham Forest.
However, Howe's men would need to lose by a monumental 13 goals to be overtaken by Man United on Wednesday, where the Magpies shall endeavour to prolong their recent purple patch over the Red Devils, having emerged triumphant from each of their last three contests in all tournaments.
Two St James' Park Premier League wins and a dominant 3-0 EFL Cup success at Old Trafford have come Newcastle's way in that sequence, but they have not won a Premier League match at the Theatre of Dreams since December 2013, when David Moyes was in control of the Man United reins.
Team News
© Reuters
While all of Scott McTominay, Lisandro Martinez, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford were back in full training last week, only the former made his comeback in the loss to Arsenal; the latter two were late withdrawals, while Martinez is still getting back up to speed with the rest of his teammates but is looking good for a return here.
The Red Devils were handed another concern on Sunday as Amad Diallo - an effervescent force on his first Premier League start of the season - limped off in the second half with a knee problem, but he played down his concern after the match and should be fine for Wednesday.
That is more than can be said for Tyrell Malacia (knee), Victor Lindelof (thigh), Harry Maguire (muscle), Raphael Varane (muscle), Anthony Martial (groin), Mason Mount (unspecified) and Luke Shaw (thigh), while all of Fernandes, Rashford and Willy Kambwala - just out of the treatment room - require assessment before kickoff.
While Rasmus Hojlund's place up top is not up for debate, the Dane has experienced a sharp decline with just one goal in his last eight Premier League games, and eyebrow-raising reports emerged earlier this week that his teammates are unconvinced by his ability and are therefore reluctant to pass him the ball.
As for Newcastle, their own attacking talisman Alexander Isak was hampered by an illness in the draw with Brighton, in which first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope watched on as an unused substitute for the second straight match after his lengthy recovery from a shoulder injury. Kieran Trippier did make it off the bench, though, and is a candidate to start this one.
However, Callum Wilson sat out the weekend's stalemate with hamstring tightness and is touch-and-go for the trip to Old Trafford alongside Isak - who is in with a better chance of being available - while Fabian Schar (thigh) is making strong progress, but Howe has not guaranteed his availability.
Matt Targett (Achilles), Lewis Miley (back), Joe Willock (calf), Jamaal Lascelles (knee) and Sven Botman (knee) are still absent alongside the banned Sandro Tonali, but Howe is blessed with competent options for change up top, including Harvey Barnes, Miguel Almiron and the fit-again Joelinton.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Kambwala, Evans, Dalot; McTominay, Mainoo; Antony, Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Trippier, Krafth, Burn, Hall; Anderson, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Almiron, Isak, Gordon
We say: Manchester United 1-1 Newcastle United
Without a draw on their travels since October, Newcastle are an unpredictable and volatile force on the road - winning four and losing three of their last seven - but Howe's men should certainly trouble the permeable Man United backline.
There were some encouraging signs for Ten Hag and co against title-chasing Arsenal, though, and given the Magpies' own absentees at the back, we can envisage the Red Devils holding out for a respectable point as the Old Trafford curtain comes down on 2023-24.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
