Old Trafford is the venue as title-chasers Manchester United take on underperforming Newcastle United in a must-win Premier League showdown.
Saturday’s match-up could see Cristiano Ronaldo play his first game under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer following his return to United after 12 years.
Newcastle’s poor start to the season, coupled with their glaring defensive issues, suggests they could be in for another disappointing afternoon, and punters looking to bet on Newcastle this weekend would do better playing online slots at wetten.com (or another online gambling site of their choice) – the odds would be better.
Manchester United Preview
Although star duo Paul Pogba and Bruno Fernandes stole the spotlight in United’s 5-1 thrashing of Leeds United on the opening weekend, Mason Greenwood has soaked up the limelight as the Red Devils’ game-changer.
After salvaging a point in a 1-1 away draw with Southampton on Matchday 2, the 19-year-old forward pulled off late heroics to secure all three points against Wolverhampton at Molineux last time out.
Unfortunately for Greenwood, his blistering start to the season has been overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Old Trafford in the final days of August.
Backed by another impressive international window, the Portugal captain should make his second United debut this weekend.
After becoming the highest goalscorer in men’s international football, the 36-year-old superstar will be looking to translate that form in front of familiar faces.
Going into proceedings as odds-on favourites, Solskjaer’s men have found the net in 14 consecutive home Premier League fixtures, scoring a total of 40, on an average of 2.9 per game.
At the other end of the pitch, though, the Red Devils have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six top-flight outings at Old Trafford.
It will be up to Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane to help David de Gea halt that run.
Newcastle United Preview
A thoroughly disappointing start to the season has seen Newcastle pick up just one point from their inaugural three Premier League matches, as they hover one point clear of the drop zone.
After back-to-back losses to West Ham and Aston Villa – both of which came by a two-goal margin – the Magpies were held to a 2-2 home draw to Southampton last time out, courtesy of James Ward-Prowse’s 96th-minute equaliser.
Newcastle’s defensive woes have been brutally exposed in the early stage of the season, which could be concerning given the firepower they will have to tackle at Old Trafford.
Steve Bruce can find some comfort in his side’s decent away league form as they’ve won three of their last five Premier League trips (D1, L1), the 2020/21 season included.
Interestingly, each win in that five-game sequence witnessed Newcastle score 2+ goals, which has been the case in two of their opening three top-flight outings this term.
The visitors’ hopes of penetrating Man United’s backline will depend on Allan Saint-Maximin, who was on the scoresheet in his last visit to Old Trafford.
The lightning-fast winger also netted a late strike against Southampton on Matchday 3 and delivered an assist to Callum Wilson in Newcastle’s curtain-raiser against West Ham.
Manchester United vs Newcastle United Head-to-Head
Man United swept Newcastle aside in each of their last four home Premier League H2Hs, scoring at least three goals on each occasion.
Additionally, the Red Devils have suffered just one defeat across their last 36 top-flight meetings with the Magpies at Old Trafford (W26, D9), courtesy of a 1-0 reverse in December 2013 under David Moyes.
But since playing out a goalless draw in August 2015, United have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their subsequent four home league H2Hs.
Manchester United vs Newcastle United Predicted Line-ups
Manchester United (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw; Donny van de Beek, Paul Pogba; Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho; Cristiano Ronaldo.
Newcastle United (3-5-2): Freddie Woodman; Federico Fernandez, Jamaal Lascelles, Fabian Schar; Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff, Jeff Hendrick, Matt Ritchie; Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin.
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