This Boxing Day, Premier League enthusiasts have a singular match to look forward to, as Manchester United takes on Newcastle United at the iconic Old Trafford.
Both teams have struggled with inconsistency in their recent performances, each managing two victories, two draws, and one loss in their last five league matches. However, recent encounters suggest that Newcastle holds the upper hand going into this exciting clash.
Remarkably, the Magpies have triumphed in five out of their last six meetings with Manchester United since their defeat in the 2023 Carabao Cup final, including a decisive 2–0 win at Old Trafford last December. The Red Devils will be eager to turn the tide and reclaim their pride.
In their most recent outing, Manchester United faced a challenging match against Aston Villa, succumbing to a 2–1 defeat that was influenced by a standout performance from Morgan Rogers. The game exposed some significant defensive vulnerabilities for United, and the absence of their captain, Bruno Fernandes—who is sidelined due to a soft tissue injury—compounded their woes, denying them the chance to climb into fifth place in the league standings.
On the other hand, Newcastle started their previous match against Chelsea strongly, taking a 2–0 lead after a dominant first half. Yet, they relinquished their advantage and ultimately settled for a 2–2 draw, leaving them sitting in 11th place as they head into this fixture.
As both teams grapple with a lack of confidence, the festive period could lead to a thrilling yet chaotic encounter in Manchester.
Recent Head-to-Head Record: Man Utd vs. Newcastle
Last Five Matches
- Aston Villa 2–1 Man Utd – December 21, 2025
- Newcastle 2–2 Chelsea – December 20, 2025
- Man Utd 4–4 Bournemouth – December 15, 2025
- Newcastle 2–1 Fulham – December 17, 2025
- Wolves 1–4 Man Utd – December 8, 2025
- Sunderland 1–0 Newcastle – December 14, 2025
- Man Utd 1–1 West Ham – December 4, 2025
- Bayer Leverkusen 2–2 Newcastle – December 10, 2025
- Crystal Palace 1–2 Man Utd – November 30, 2025
- Newcastle 2–1 Burnley – December 6, 2025
Viewership Information
For fans wanting to catch the action:
- United Kingdom: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Ultra HD, Sky GO, Sky GO Extra
- United States: USA Network, NBC Sports App, nbcsports.com
- Canada: DAZN Canada, fuboTV Canada
- Mexico: FOX One
Manchester United will notably miss their star player, Bruno Fernandes, who is expected to be out for an extended period due to his injury. Additionally, Kobbie Mainoo will also be unavailable, leaving United's midfield options limited. Fortunately, Casemiro returns from suspension just in time, providing much-needed support alongside Manuel Ugarte. However, injuries to Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire, combined with Noussair Mazraoui's international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, are likely to hinder United’s defensive strategies.
The absence of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo at AFCON further diminishes United's attacking options on the right side, but they still have talents like Benjamin Šeško, Matheus Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee, and Mason Mount ready to step up.
Predicted Lineup for Man Utd vs. Newcastle (3-4-2-1): Lammens; Yoro, Heaven, Shaw; Dalot, Casemiro, Ugarte, Dorgu; Cunha, Mount; Šeško.
Conversely, Newcastle faces its own set of challenges as they travel without several defenders, including Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier. This situation will likely see Lewis Miley once again fulfilling the right-back role, although he will need careful management due to a minor hamstring issue. They will also miss Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Sven Botman, and Jamaal Lascelles, while Nick Pope's availability remains uncertain; if he cannot play, Aaron Ramsdale is set to take over in goal.
In attack, Newcastle will be without William Osula due to injury, but Joelinton is nearing a return, having been an unused substitute in recent games. Anthony Elanga might make a surprising start against his former club, potentially replacing Jacob Murphy.
Predicted Lineup for Newcastle vs. Man Utd (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Miley, Thiaw, Schär, Hall; Guimarães, Tonali, Ramsey; Elanga, Woltemade, Gordon.
Predicting the outcome of this match is tricky, as both teams can either dazzle with their attacking flair or falter defensively. The absence of Fernandes significantly impacts Manchester United, who rely heavily on his creativity; however, Casemiro's return should help solidify their midfield presence. Cunha will need to emerge as a key playmaker in the attacking third.
Although Newcastle's away form has not been stellar, they find solace in their record against United and showed potential during their intense draw with Chelsea.
Ultimately, a thrilling draw seems to be on the horizon at Old Trafford.
Prediction: Man Utd 2–2 Newcastle
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