Manchester United will host Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Boxing Day in what is the only Premier League game scheduled for December 26th. Both teams are aiming to bounce back from recent setbacks, adding extra importance to this match.
The Red Devils are reeling from a 2-1 defeat away to Aston Villa, a match that saw them lose influential captain Bruno Fernandes to a hamstring injury. Newcastle, meanwhile, surrendered a two-goal lead in their recent draw with Chelsea.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim faces a selection headache, particularly in midfield. Bruno Fernandes is set to be sidelined for up to a month with a hamstring issue. Kobbie Mainoo is also unavailable due to a calf injury. Amorim has acknowledged the difficulty of replacing Fernandes, stating that it's "impossible to replace Bruno" and urging other players to step up. However, the return of Casemiro from suspension will provide a boost to the midfield. Defensively, United are also missing Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire, further compounding Amorim's selection issues. Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui are unavailable due to their participation in the African Cup of Nations.
Newcastle also have their own injury concerns to contend with. Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier are out, while Nick Pope is doubtful. Sven Botman is nearing a return but is not yet ready to feature. Dan Burn and Emil Krafth are also sidelined.
Despite their injury woes, Newcastle has had the upper hand in recent encounters with Manchester United, winning five of their last six meetings since losing the Carabao Cup final in 2023. This includes a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford last December.
Manchester United's predicted XI could see Lisandro Martinez come into midfield to replace Fernandes, with Casemiro also returning to the starting lineup. The defense may consist of Lammens, Yoro, Heaven and Shaw. Dalot and Dorgu could feature as wing-backs, with Mount, Cunha and Sesko potentially forming the attack.
Newcastle's predicted XI may see Pope in goal, with Miley, Thiaw, Schar and Hall in defense. Guimaraes, Tonali and Joelinton could form the midfield, with Murphy, Woltemade and Gordon in attack.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 8pm GMT and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK.
