Newcastle look to extend unbeaten run against shaky Man Utd side | OneFootball

Newcastle vs Man Utd: Premier League Battle Between Two Sides on Diverging Paths

St James’ Park Braced for Clash of Form and Frustration

As Newcastle host Manchester United on Sunday afternoon, the atmosphere in the Premier League’s north-east cauldron will be defined as much by optimism as expectation. Eddie Howe’s Magpies are a club on the rise — structured, confident, and hungry. Manchester United, in contrast, arrive as a side still searching for identity under Ruben Amorim, oscillating between moments of promise and passages of puzzlement.

Newcastle’s ascent since lifting the League Cup in March — their first major silverware in seven decades — has been impressive, if not entirely unexpected. They are unbeaten since that historic afternoon and sit fifth in the Premier League table, just one point adrift of Chelsea with a game in hand. A win here could launch them into fourth, shifting the dynamics of the Champions League race once again.

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United’s campaign, meanwhile, continues to unfold in fits and starts. Their latest performance, a 2-2 draw in Lyon, encapsulated the season — glimpses of attacking flair undone by avoidable errors. On this occasion, those errors belonged to André Onana, whose pair of blunders cost United dearly. Rayan Cherki’s 95th-minute equaliser was the final blow, underlining the growing sense of vulnerability in the United ranks.

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Injury Management and Tactical Decisions Key on Tyneside

Newcastle’s success has been driven by a core group of consistent performers, with Alexander Isak at the heart of their attacking surge. The Swedish forward has scored 20 goals in 27 games this season and has become central to both their tactical structure and their hopes for a sustained European push. His growing stature has also attracted the attention of Liverpool and Arsenal, although Newcastle remain hopeful of tying him down to a new contract.

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Anthony Gordon remains a doubt, having not yet returned to full training since a groin injury on international duty. Joe Willock is ruled out under concussion protocols, but Howe’s XI is likely to mirror that which dispatched Leicester with efficiency last week.

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For United, there are glimmers of relief in the form of returning players. Kobbie Mainoo is back and featured off the bench in Lyon, while Ayden Heaven is approaching a full return.

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Toby Collyer is out, and Matthijs de Ligt and Amad Diallo remain sidelined. Amorim has publicly backed Onana to keep his place despite the errors, stating that “he will start both in Newcastle and for the return leg.” Joshua Zirkzee, who scored in Lyon, may start ahead of Rasmus Højlund.

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Momentum With Magpies as United Search for Stability

The Premier League remains unforgiving, particularly for clubs attempting to rebuild mid-season. Newcastle have shown consistency and cohesion in recent weeks, pulling off results against top-tier opponents while blending pragmatism with punch. Their 3-1 win over Liverpool in the League Cup final serves as a reminder of their capabilities on big occasions.

United, despite signs of progress under Amorim, still appear imbalanced. They oscillate between confident possession and defensive hesitancy. The draw in Lyon illustrated both sides of this dichotomy — Bruno Fernandes and Alejandro Garnacho were influential, yet the team’s structure crumbled under pressure late on.

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Prediction: Newcastle’s Form Likely to Prevail

United’s process under Amorim is still developing, and although there are signs of structure emerging, it may not be enough to contain a Newcastle side in full flow. At St James’ Park, backed by a fervent crowd and powered by an in-form Isak, the Magpies should have too much.

Prediction: Newcastle 3-1 Man Utd

Match Details📅 Date: Sunday, 13 April 2025⏰ Kick-off: 4.30pm BST🏟️ Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle📺 TV Coverage: Live on Sky Sports📱 Streaming: Sky Go app and website📺 Highlights: Match of the Day 2 on BBC One, 10:30pm BST

Head-to-Head RecordNewcastle wins: 40Draws: 40Man Utd wins: 79