Manchester United host Newcastle United in the Premier League this evening, with the home side desperate for three points as they look to rise from 14th in the table.
Ruben Amorim’s team has fallen to embarrassing defeats to Bournemouth and Wolves over the last two matches, and the Portuguese has just two wins in the league so far during his tenure. And United face a Newcastle side who have found form in recent weeks, with consecutive 4-0 wins followed by a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa last time out.
After a mixed start to the season, the Magpies find themselves in seventh ahead of kick-off, with the potential to move into fifth if they grab three points tonight. And with the recent form of both sides, Newcastle have rarely had a better chance to earn a first league win at Old Trafford since 2013. Follow all the latest updates from Old Trafford below:
Manchester United host Newcastle in the Premier League, with kick-off at 8pm | Live on Sky Sports
Manchester United XI: Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dalot; Diallo, Zirkzee, Hojlund.
Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
GOAL! 3’ – Isak heads in unmarked from six yards with the game’s first attack (0-1)
GOAL! 19’ – Joelinton doubles the lead with another powerful close-range header (0-2)
Isak thunders in another strike which is flagged offside, before Tonali hits the post
Zirkzee booed off by his own fans in substitution partway through first half
Manchester United FC 0 – 2 Newcastle United FC
20:49 , Karl Matchett
One late chance for United – Mainoo frees Casemiro in the box but his first-time shot is curled well wide. He had time there, not a great effort. Let-off for Newcastle after Schar gave the ball away – but the whistle goes and it’s 2-0 to the visitors at the interval.
Half time, Newcastle well in control. Another loud chorus of boos from the home fans as the whistle goes.
Richard Jolly’s latest: “A dreadful first half for Manchester United. The mixture of cheers and boos when Joshua Zirkzee was hauled off after half an hour are a sign of what the crowd think of him. It is hard to see how he can come back from that, or how United can come back in this game.”
20:46 , Karl Matchett
Two shots and two touches in the box for Man United in this first half. They simply haven’t been at it in the slightest.
Three minutes added on.
20:43 , Karl Matchett
Well the good news for Manchester United is that with five minutes to go until half time, they are 2-0 down.
And yes, that’s good news – it should be three at a minimum, it could easily be five, and they’ll soon have 15 minutes to sort things out a bit.
Ruben Amorim has a massive job on his hands to get them back in the game – Eddie Howe must want more of the same. They are swarming United at will, until about five minutes ago.
20:37 , Karl Matchett
Richard Jolly’s scathing and accurate assessment of the hosts:
“Utter dominance from Newcastle, utterly awful from Manchester United. Ruben Amorim’s team are being overrun in midfield – no surprise when it is Casemiro and Christian Eriksen against Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton – and their five defenders are struggling to defend. Neither goal reflected well on Lisandro Martinez, who isn’t exactly looking an inspired choice to captain the team in Bruno Fernandes’ absence. Newcastle could score six or seven here.”
20:35 , Karl Matchett
Joshua Zirkzee has just been given whatever the absolute rock bottom opposite is to a standing ovation – the most vicious, vociferous booing and jeering by his own supporters as he’s subbed off for Kobbie Mainoo.
This Man United team is “the absolute worst pound for pound football team in the country, bar none,” says Gary Neville.
Moments later Hojlund is played in for a first sight of goal at last and can only clip his shot past the far post.
20:33 , Karl Matchett
The ball’s in the net again – but the offside flag is up this time. We’ve seen this kind of thing before given: basically a Schar shot is deflected into his path by a United defender, so Isak – way offside in normal terms – plays on and absolutely blams it top corner. But the flag is up and the ref sides with his assistant.
One minute later and Newcastle are so close to a brilliant third, passing straight through United’s back three with some amazing one-touch football – Tonali gets past Onana but thunders a shot onto the post from close-range. Amorim isn’t waiting around, he’s making a sub soon.
United have been utterly woeful.
20:28 , Karl Matchett
The chances just keep coming and coming for the away team. Hall goes for goal forcing an Onana save, then Tonali’s strike is diverted wide by an outstretched defensive toe.
From the resulting corner Trippier sees Onana punch the ball behind at the near post – he’s conceded from two directly recently – then the next one goes far post and the goalkeeper clatters into his post. The ball goes behind though and United escape this time.
20:26 , Karl Matchett
Unsurprisingly the home support are sounding increasingly irate as a truly dismal first half of the campaign looks to be heading toward an even worse end. Newcastle absolutely deserve a two-goal lead right now.
Zirkzee gives the ball away in the final third and more groans sound out – they’re yet to have a shot and the front three of Zirkzee, Hojlund and Diallo have had seven, six and six touches respectively.
20:21 , Karl Matchett
Old Trafford silenced, Newcastle’s lead doubled! It’s played through midfield again, wide to Gordon, he checks inside and crosses and once more it’s a black and white shirt which wins the header, Joelinton this time powering in, beating Martinez once more and leaving Onana rooted to the spot.
A quick check for a handball is passed and it’s 2-0 to Newcastle!
20:19 , Karl Matchett
One end to the other. Eriksen tries to dribble into the box, doesn’t quite manage it and Guimaraes powers a 60-yard pass over to Isak, who has a simple run towards the penalty box himself – but then dinks a weird effort straight into Onana’s arms. Not quite the execution he was hoping for you suspect.
Casemiro and Eriksen are being run ragged so far by Newcastle’s trio.
20:15 , Karl Matchett
Richard Jolly:
“Newcastle don’t often come to Old Trafford as favourites but they have today. They have begun in that way, too, their early lead a reward for a positive start. If it is a meeting of a team who are out of form against one who is in it, very few are in better shape now than Alexander Isak, whose header was his ninth goal in his last six league games. Newcastle are finding space at will. They looked sharper, brighter and better. It could be a long night for Manchester United.”
20:14 , Karl Matchett
Isak cuts in off the left, beats two and shoots against Maguire – Man United can’t get close to Newcastle right now. They are by far the quicker, fitter and more organised side. Early on in the game but so far it’s more evidence of the lack of cohesion in this Red Devils side.
20:11 , Karl Matchett
United trying to sort themselves out a bit here. In the aftermath of the goal there were quick recriminations, Casemiro running back to berate Harry Maguire and Onana getting involved too. Looked like it was in fact Martinez who lost Isak, though.
Gordon now beats Mazraoui and the ball reaches Joelinton – he fires over the bar left-footed.
20:06 , Karl Matchett
A quick VAR check for offside against Hall – he’s fine, onside, the goal stands. Man United behind already!
20:05 , Karl Matchett
Well that didn’t take long! A move from the middle out to the left, Lewis Hall picksitup wide and his bending cross is perfect – right over Maguire, onto the unmarked forehead of Isak, six yards out, and he heads down and into the back of the net. So easy for Newcastle.
20:02 , Karl Matchett
We are underway! First time that Hojlund and Zirkzee have both started in the same lineup for United.
19:56 , Karl Matchett
Almost kick-off time and it’s such a big night for both teams you feel – not just the match and the history of it, but what kind of a platform it could set for each team heading into the January transfer window in 2025.
Newcastle know there’s a Champions League spot very much there to fight for; United might be resetting, but they still need to climb from the embarrassing position they’re in right now.
19:49 , Karl Matchett
We’re not far off kick-off now – the other two games in the Premier League tonight are underway and the Uniteds will be too in 10 minutes.
A home win will lift Man United up to 11th but they’ll begin the new year in the bottom half whatever the outcome tonight. One win and four defeats in five for them in the league recently.
19:43 , Karl Matchett
Where are tonight’s potential goals coming from then? Here’s the best numbers from tonight’s players…
xG/90 minutes: Isak 0.77, Zirkzee 0.41
Big chances created: Fernandes 5 (suspended), Isak 7, Murphy 6, Guimaraes 6, Diallo 5
Big chances missed: Garnacho 9, Isak 8, Fernandes 8
Chances created: Fernandes 39, Gordon 38, Isak 28, Diallo 26
Shots on target per 90: Isak 1.6, Garnacho 1.6, Barnes 1.2, Zirkzee 1.1
19:36 , Karl Matchett
Let’s look at Newcastle for a moment then. They are seventh heading into the match but can rise to fifth ahead of Bournemouth and Man City tonight if they take the three points – away from home this season they’ve won three, drawn three and lost three. Man United’s home form is won four, drawn one, lost four, so certainly looks open from that respect which way tonight might go.
The Magpies have won their last three in the Premier League, one of only three teams in the top flight to have a run of nine points from nine right now. Forest and Liverpool are the others.
19:30 , Karl Matchett
Richard Jolly is our man at Old Trafford tonight – here’s his thoughts ahead of the match:
“Marcus Rashford returns to the Manchester United squad, albeit on the bench. In an intriguing selection, Ruben Amorim returns to the youthful double act of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in midfield, even if it is partly because Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte are suspended. Joshua Zirkzee is one of the No 10s, which scarcely feels ideal.”
19:25 , Karl Matchett
Neville continues on Amorim’s 3-4-3 setup and on the prospect of altering that somewhat if he continues to suffer defeats:
“If you remember Louis van Gaal, it felt he signed several players to play wing-back but it changed very quickly. If the results continue as they are for Amorim, he might have to change something. Man United can’t go any lower than they are.”
A bit of a laugh in-studio then as it’s pointed out Man Unitedcan in fact go somewhat lower…! Not that Neville and co want to even consider that prospect!
19:20 , Karl Matchett
On Sky Sports, Jamie Carragher has been discussing the lack of final-third ability from Man United’s wing-backs and now Gary Neville suggests Newcastle wouldn’t take too many players from their opponents.
How far have they fallen?
“There’s no doubt he’s sick of conceding goals at set pieces. When you look at Newcastle and Manchester United, how many players would Newcastle take? There wouldn’t be many.
“An in-form Onana over Dubravka, Amad over Murphy and maybe the form Maguire has been in, but then I’m struggling. Not sure Eddie Howe would be taking too many from the red shirts.”
19:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
So a return to the squad for Marcus Rashford, which means he has managed to impress Ruben Amorim sufficiently after some pointed comments from the Manchester United manager last week:
Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim drops fresh hint over Marcus Rashford’s future
19:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Keeper Martin Dubravka will renew acquaintances with Manchester United this evening having come in from the cold to play his part in Newcastle’s December revival.
The 35-year-old Slovakia international has conceded just one goal in four games and none in three Premier League outings since taking over from the injured Nick Pope earlier this month, and he will head for Old Trafford, where he had a loan spell during the 2022-23 campaign, looking for a fifth successive win.
Dubravka’s form, and in particular his distribution, has helped provide a solid foundation for the Magpies, and head coach Eddie Howe has been hugely impressed with the way a man who had made just one appearance for the club since May has slotted into the team.
Howe said: “I’m very pleased with Martin. It’s never easy to come in for a goalkeeper in any situation when you haven’t played for a while because it’s about rhythm and it’s about confidence, but Martin has picked it up from minute one.
“He’s distributed the ball really, really well – that’s been a huge thing in his game that’s always been there.
“Against Aston Villa (on Boxing Day), I think back to a number of aerial claims, catches that he’s taken under pressure – he’s dealt with that aspect really well too, so I’m really pleased with Martin.”
18:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Tino Livramento makes the bench for Newcastle after recovering from illness, with Eddie Howe’s starting line-up unchanged from the win over Aston Villa.
Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
18:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Marcus Rashford is back on the bench for Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim plumping for a midfield combination of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen. Lisandro Martinez captains in the absence of Bruno Fernandes while both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund start.
Manchester United XI: Onana; De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Casemiro, Eriksen, Dalot; Diallo, Zirkzee, Hojlund.
18:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Just a matter of minutes now before the line-ups are out at Old Trafford. How will Manchester United assemble themselves without the suspended Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte? And could Tino Livramento make his return from illness in the Newcastle backline?
18:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Amad Diallo “wants to make history” with Manchester United as he aims to help Ruben Amorim turn around the club’s fortunes.
These remain troubled times for United, who have taken only seven points from Amorim’s first seven Premier League games in charge going into tonight.
But Diallo has offered some cause for optimism with his recent form, highlighted by his dramatic late winner in the Manchester derby as United scored two late goals to win 2-1 at City earlier this month.
Amad Diallo keen to ‘make history’ with Manchester United
18:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ruben Amorim said he cannot be comfortable in his position as Manchester United head coach but likes the danger as his side’s slump continues.
United suffered their third consecutive defeat when they lost 2-0 at Wolves on Boxing Day to leave Amorim with five losses in his last seven games.
And he believes that his transfer fee – United paid Sporting CP €11m (£9.1m) to meet his buyout clause and bring him to Old Trafford early – will not protect him from the sack.
Ruben Amorim explains why he’s enjoying Man Utd ‘danger’ amid dismal form
18:10 , Chris Wilson
Man Utd XI: Onana; Mazraoui, Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Mainoo, Casemiro; Garnacho, Diallo; Hojlund.
Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Gordon, Murphy, Isak.
18:00 , Chris Wilson
Bruno Fernandes is suspended after his red card against Wolves, as is Manuel Ugarte after reaching the five yellow card threshold. Victor Lindelof, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount remain absent.
Tino Livramento could return after illness for Newcastle but Sven Botman, Emil Krafth, Nick Pope, Jamaal Lascelles and Callum Wilson remain unavailable for Eddie Howe.
17:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Some early, major team news from Old Trafford – Marcus Rashford appears to be back in the Manchester United squad.
17:50 , Chris Wilson
When is Man Utd vs Newcastle?
Man Utd vs Newcastle is due to kick off at 8pm GMT on Monday 30 December at Old Trafford.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
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17:40 , Chris Wilson
Manchester United see out 2024 with a home clash against Newcastle United at Old Trafford this evening.
Ruben Amorim’s side slumped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Wolves on Boxing Day, leaving the Red Devils scrambling in 14th place in the Premier League table.
However, Newcastle thrashed Aston Villa 3-0 in a game which saw Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Joelinton all get on the scoresheet.
Heading into this contest, Newcastle are seven points clear of Man Utd as the Magpies look to extend their winning run to five games.
17:28 , Chris Wilson
Good evening and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal.
United are desperately hunting three points to take them up from 14th, while a win for Newcastle would take them into fifth ahead of the new year.
And we’ll have all the latest news, updates and team news here.
