Premier League preview: Manchester United looking to inflict fourth straight defeat on Newcastle Newcastle face a tough ask to avoid a fourth successive defeat in all competitions when they travel to Manchester United on Boxing Day. After a resurgence in November, Alan Pardew’s men have fared much worse in December, conceding four goals against both Arsenal and Tottenham in the league and Capital One Cup respectively, before being beaten at home by Sunderland in the Tyne-Wear derby on Sunday. Louis van Gaal’s side, meanwhile, haven’t lost since the Manchester derby back in early November, winning six league games in a row before their draw at Aston Villa on Saturday. Manchester United boast a superb record on Boxing Day and face tricky trips to Tottenham and Stoke over the festive period, so the Red Devils boss will be keen to take the spoils against the Magpies and keep in touch with the top two. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was delighted to see Jonas Guttierez back in action Team news Luke Shaw (ankle), Ander Herrera (muscle injury) and Marouane Fellaini (illness) are not expected to return for the clash. Louis van Gaal may choose to start Angel Di Maria after the winger made his return against Aston Villa, but Daley Blind (knee) remains out. Newcastle will be without midfielder Cheick Tiote through suspension, while goalkeepers Tim Krul (ankle) and Rob Elliot (thigh) are still sidelined. The visitors hope to have Steven Taylor available for the trip to Old Trafford after the defender suffered a nasty facial injury in the derby with Sunderland but Mehdi Abeid (toe), Siem de Jong (thigh), Rolando Aarons (hamstring), Gabriel Obertan (thigh) and Ryan Taylor (knee) remain on the sidelines. Jonas Gutierrez made a welcome return to football after featuring for the U21 side in his first game since recovering from cancer, but Alan Pardew may decide it is too soon to bring him back into the senior squad. Opta facts These two sides met on Boxing Day two years ago, with Manchester United running out 4-3 winners at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have won 17 of the last 18 games and been victorious in the last 10 in a row on Boxing Day at Old Trafford. After scoring nine goals in his first 10 Premier League games for Man Utd against Newcastle, Wayne Rooney has failed to net in the last five against the Magpies. Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says he plans to rotate his squad over Christmas Robin van Persie has scored six goals and assisted three more in his last eight Premier League starts against Newcastle. The Magpies are the only team in the Premier League yet to score in the opening 30 minutes of a game this season. Merson’s prediction United had a bad result against the 10 men of Villa. I’m not totally convinced by them yet, to be honest, but then again, Newcastle are not up to much either. They pulled up trees to win five on the bounce but they have come unstuck again now. United will be too strong. PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 09:02:30 +0000
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