Match Preview: Newcastle UnitedManchester United - Possible line-ups, facts and predictions
Newcastle United host Manchester United for their Matchday 27 Premier League fixture on Sunday at St. James' Park.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will be looking to win the game against 17th-placed Newcastle United and try to maintain the distance between themselves and the other UEFA Champions League spot chasers.
Rafa Benitez has done an excellent job to guide the Magpies to 17th after 26 league matches. But, Newcastle still have a lot of work to do to avoid relegation and present themselves for the next term of Premier League.
Newcastle United vs Manchester United: Kickoff information
Date: 11th February 2018.
Kickoff: 14:15 (local time), 19:45 PM (IST)
Venue: St. James' Park, Newcastle.
Team News
Manchester United
Manchester United will be without their Belgian midfielder, Marouane Fellaini after he picked up an injury against the Huddersfield Town. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has returned to training for United but still remains sidelined for this fixture. Eric Bailly(ankle) and Daley Blind(muscle injury) will be still unavailable for this week's fixture.
Paul Pogba might return to the playing XI after he was benched against Huddersfield last weekend due to his poor display against the Spurs. Major changes in the line-up are not expected for the fixture against the Magpies. Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez are expected to lead the attack for the Red Devils.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Manchester United's league form guide: W-W-W-L-W
Manchester United possible starting XI:
David de Gea(GK); Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Marcos Rojo, Luke Shaw; Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba; Jesse Lingard, Alexis Sanchez, Anthony Martial; Romelu Lukaku
Newcastle United
Rafa Benitez has decided to take a late call on their new signing, Islam Slimani, who is nursing his thigh injury. Magpies' premier full-back, Jesus Gamez, still remains sidelined for this fixture.
Defender Ciaran Clark and midfielder Mohamed Diame are fit and ready to return into the playing XI.
Formation: 4-4-1-1
Newcastle United's league form guide: W-D-L-D-D
Newcastle United possible starting XI:
Karl Darlow(GK); Deandre Yedlin, Keiran Clark, Jamal Lascelles, Paul Dummett; Matt Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey, Mohammed Diame, Kenedy; Ayoze Perez; Joselu Mato Sanmartin
Key Facts
* Jose Mourinho has never won a Premier League match at St. James Park(P6, W0, D3, L3) and has managed more away league games without winning than at any other club in his career.
* Newcastle are the only Premier League side that Alexis Sanchez has faced more than twice without scoring against (four games), although he assisted twice against them in December 2014.
* Newcastle have conceded 92 Premier League goals against Manchester United, more than against any other club.
* Newcastle’s 200th Premier League game played on a Sunday – only Tottenham (79), Liverpool and Everton (72 each) have lost more than Newcastle on this day of the week (70).
Head-to-Head Statistics
Games played (All competitions): 164
Newcastle United wins: 41
Manchester United wins: 84
Draws/No Result: 39
Prediction:
According to me, A 2-0 victory for Manchester United may be on the cards when they face the Magpies at St. James Park.