Newcastle v Manchester United: Premier League – live

Liverpool have defeated West Ham 2-1, extending their lead to 13 points over Arsenal. They now require only two wins from their remaining six fixtures, or even a series of draws, to secure the title.

Chelsea and Ipswich concluded their match in a 2-2 draw, placing Chelsea fifth in the standings, sandwiched between Manchester City and Aston Villa. However, Newcastle has the opportunity to surpass all three with a victory today.

Wolves triumphed over Spurs with a 4-2 scoreline, marking Tottenham’s 17th defeat in 32 league games. Wolves ascend to 16th place, just above West Ham, highlighting Vitor Pereira’s impactful management. One might ponder if Jim Ratcliffe opted for the incorrect Portuguese manager.

Live Scores Update: West Ham briefly responded against Liverpool, but Liverpool quickly retaliated with another goal, now leading 2-1. The Premier League title race remains predictable. Wolves currently lead Spurs 4-2, both positioned just behind Manchester United, with Wolves appearing more likely to overtake them. In a surprising turn, Chelsea, after trailing 2-0 at home against Ipswich, have leveled the score at 2-2, with Jadon Sancho netting Chelsea’s second goal. Separately, in the Women’s FA Cup semi-final, Manchester United Women are ahead of Manchester City Women 2-0 at halftime. It remains to be seen if Jim Ratcliffe will attend the final.

Both Newcastle and Manchester United welcome back key players from injury, with Anthony Gordon and Ayden Heaven named on their respective benches.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim’s selection indicates a clear prioritization of the Europa League. In a notable move, he is handing Altay Bayindir his Premier League debut and also granting a first senior competitive start to the promising Harry Amass, touted as a potential successor to Luke Shaw. The experienced Luke Shaw is among the substitutes, joining Harry Maguire, Casemiro, Mason Mount, and Rasmus Hojlund. Amorim appears to be balancing the youthfulness of Bayindir and Amass by including seasoned players like Victor Lindelof and Christian Eriksen in the starting lineup.

Newcastle’s assistant manager, Jason Tindall, has announced a formidable starting XI for this Premier League clash against Manchester United. Alexander Isak has recovered fitness to spearhead the attack and demonstrate his striking prowess against Manchester United’s defense. The midfield trio of Tonali, Guimaraes, and Joelinton, who previously dominated the United midfield last year, are set to reprise their roles and control the center of the pitch once again.

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of this highly anticipated Premier League fixture between Newcastle United and Manchester United. This afternoon’s match promises to be a captivating contest, a true battle of giants. These two historic clubs, representing major northern cities with passionate supporters, face off amidst a backdrop of contrasting fortunes. A notable absence for Newcastle is manager Eddie Howe, who is currently hospitalized for tests after feeling unwell throughout the week. We extend our best wishes to him for a swift recovery.

Adding to the narrative is the stark contrast in their Premier League campaigns this season. Newcastle United, under Howe’s guidance, are performing as expected, firmly in contention for a Champions League spot. They are poised to ascend to third place in the league standings on Wednesday should they secure victories in their next two home games, starting with today’s match and followed by their game in hand against Crystal Palace. Conversely, Manchester United, managed by Ruben Amorim, find themselves languishing in 13th position, with little prospect of upward movement even with an unlikely win today.

Since Erik ten Hag’s dismissal in late October, the performance gap between these sides has widened significantly. Once separated by a single point, the divide now stands at 15 points. Newcastle have impressively secured 11 victories in their last 15 league outings, including a dominant 2-0 triumph at Old Trafford in December, a result that arguably understated their superiority. Their points per game ratio during this period (2.20) is second only to Liverpool (2.24). In stark comparison, Manchester United have managed just five league wins in their last 16 games, averaging a mere 1.19 points per game. Amorim has seemingly transformed them into a team geared for Europa League competition, yet paradoxically, their current league position jeopardizes any Europa League participation next season.

While all indicators suggest a Newcastle victory, football’s unpredictability remains. Alexander Isak, who scored early in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford, is carrying a minor doubt. Bruno Fernandes, absent from that previous match due to suspension, is confirmed to start. Joshua Zirkzee, substituted early in a prior game to some supporter disapproval but since embraced by the fanbase, will be eager to prove his worth. He stands as Manchester United’s leading forward in 2025 goalscoring charts (excluding injured or loaned players). This match scenario might suit Amorim’s defensive five-player system. While Manchester United might snatch a goal on a counter-attack, it’s difficult to foresee Newcastle scoring less than twice.

Team updates are imminent. A significant development is André Onana’s exclusion from the Manchester United squad following his calamitous performance in Lyon. Analysis of that match is available on United Writing. Manchester United fans with a masochistic inclination are encouraged to subscribe.