Manchester United vs Newcastle: Predicted line-ups and stats preview

David Moyes

7/12/2013

K/O: 12:45pm.

Venue: Old Trafford

Manchester United will be hoping that the second of their back to back home games ends better than the first, having suffered a first loss to Everton at Old Trafford for 21 years on Wednesday.

The wounded animal host a Newcastle United side that come into the game on the back of four wins from their last five fixtures. If United conspire to lose a second consecutive home fixture then they have allowed another side to break their Old Trafford hoodoo, as Newcastle have not won an away league game against the Red Devils since 1972.

Team News:

Manchester United:

Wayne Rooney is definitely missing for United through suspension, having picked up his fifth yellow card of the season against his old side in midweek. Fellow forward Robin Van Persie has missed the last three games with a groin injury and is a major doubt for tomorrow’s game, opening up an opportunity for Javier Hernandez or Danny Welbeck to start. Michael Carrick is out for the hosts, who may also be missing Shinji Kagawa, but Phil Jones is available for David Moyes having served a suspension.

Predicted Line-Up: De Gea, Rafael, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Jones, Fellaini, Valencia, Nani, Welbeck, Hernandez.

Newcastle United:

Alan Pardew named an unchanged side at Swansea during the week, but revealed that he has had unselected players knocking on his door asking to be selected. He must now decide whether to bow to such temptations, or to keep faith in the side that had done so well before their trip to Wales. Papiss Cisse faces a fitness test before the game, whilst Hatem Ben Arfa may return.

Predicted Line-Up: Krul, Debuchy. Colloccini. Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon. Tiote, Cabaye, Sissoko, Gouffran, Shola, Remy.

Recent Form:

Until their midweek loss to Swansea, Newcastle had confounded expectations by winning four games on the trot. Currently sitting seventh, the Magpies won’t be scared of a trip to Old Trafford in spite of their slip up at Swansea. Manchester United looked to have turned the corner when they won three in a row, but have dropped off since their much-hyped 1-0 win over Arsenal.

That game was meant to mark the beginning of a new dawn at the club, but the reality has been different. Back-to-back draws were followed by Wednesday’s defeat to Everton, and have seen the Champions drop to ninth in the Premier League table.

Players to Watch:

Manchester United – Javier Hernandez

Given that Manchester United have struggled for creativity and goals in recent weeks, it perhaps isn’t the best time for David Moyes to potentially be without both Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie. Rooney is definitely out with suspension, whilst Van Persie is facing a race against time to be fit.

Should he fail to recover, then perennial super sub Hernandez could get his chance. Even if Van Persie does recover, then their failure to breach Everton’s defence could Moyes may be tempted to play both of the pair. Hernandez scored 10 goals last season, despite only playing a full match on four occasions, averaging a goal every 95 minutes.

Hernandez Appearances 2013/14

He has scored one goal this season, but has yet to play a full game and has only started two games.

Newcastle United – Loic Remy

Newcastle’s eight-goal top scorer has proven the main difference between last season’s toothless mid-table offerings and the run of form that has taken the Magpies to the cusp of the European positions. The on-loan QPR player has been ruthless in front of goal, scoring with a clinical 27% of the shots that he has taken this season. He has scored 42% of Newcastle’s goals this season, proving that whilst they may not have invested in quantity of players over the summer they did sign quality.

Remy Goals

Prediction

With Manchester United in poor form and Newcastle United full of confidence of late, this is another difficult fixture for Manchester United on paper. Moyes’s side is struggling to break sides down at the minute, and Newcastle will fancy their chances of digging in and breaking through Remy.