Manchester United v Newcastle United... Bell Rings at 8pm Boxing Day

This is the first Boxing Day in Premier League history to see just one game played but it promises to be a Christmas cracker when we take on Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Just three points separate the teams and both go into the match with weakened squads - Newcastle through major defensive injuries and Man U with Mbuemo and Diallo away at the Afcom and Bruno Fernandes crocked.

In truth, Man U are the more affected and this is a real opportunity for the Lads to add another victory to our five wins in our previous six matches against the Mancs.

Key stats for Manchester United vs Newcastle

♦ Newcastle have won five of their last six meetings with Manchester United

♦ The Magpies have won only one of their eight away matches in the league this term

♦ Both teams have scored in nine of Manchester United's last ten games

♦ Both teams have scored in nine of Newcastle's last ten fixtures

♦ Man U have failed to win any of their seven Premier League games since the 2022-23 campaign without Bruno Fernandes

Neither team is yet to hit a consistent run of form and both teams are currently struggling to keep a clean sheet.

Man U's last home game was the 4-4 draw with Bournemouth which highlighted their attacking threat (they are 2nd top scorers in the Prem) and also their defensive frailties.

I'm expecting this to be an open attacking game and the three players we need to watch out for are the in form Mason Mount, Mattheus Cunha and our bogey man Casemiro who is back from suspension.

Casemiro. although not the tallest, is a real threat in the air and we have to put one of our big lads on him from dead balls. I'll be well brassed off if he gets a headed goal or assist.

More early crosses and more shots...

I've been banging on about this on the blog and shouting myself hoarse at matches.

IMO we are overplaying passes, especially down the wings, constantly trying to 'one two' our way into the box instead of mixing it up with an early cross.

That type of 'tippy tappy' build up just allows the oppo to get behind the ball and set up the low block we have struggled against.

But guess what... against Chelsea we got those early crosses in - and early in the game - and Big Nick was on the end of them to score two and could have had four in the first half.

And... not one of them a header. Who says Big Nick is never in the box?

I also want to see more shots from the edge or outside of the area.

We regularly get into good shooting positions only to play the ball square or out wide.

Barnes especially and Gordon will often have a dig, but I want to see more shots from central positions from the likes of Bruno, Tonali and whoever else is in midfield.

No sh*t Sherlock... you can't score if you don't shoot... so let's give it more welly.

It's not often this season that I've had a good feeling about winning a game but I've got that feeling about this one.

A repeat of that first half performance against Chelsea and a dash more luck in front of goal and I can see Man U conceding four goals for the second home game in a row.

So... my usual fiver is going on a thumping 4-0 win to the Toon.

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