Manchester United will look to build on their win over Huddersfield Town last weekend when they travel to struggling Newcastle United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
The Red Devils have a five-point cushion over third-placed Liverpool in the table, and will fancy their chances of overcoming a Newcastle side that are without a win in their last four Premier League matches.
Newcastle
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Newcastle could well be in the relegation zone by the time that they take to the field against Jose Mourinho's side this weekend. As it stands, the Magpies are 16th in the table, but there is every chance that they could have dropped into the bottom three ahead of kickoff at St James' Park on Sunday afternoon.
Incredibly, just three points separate 19th-placed Huddersfield Town from 12th-placed West Ham United in the Premier League table. Even basement side West Bromwich Albion are only four points off 17th, which has created an incredible situation in England's top tier with just 12 matchdays left.
Newcastle are in a dogfight at this stage of the season, but in front of a vocal St James' Park, they will be confident of causing United problems this weekend. The Magpies are without a win in their last four in the league, however, with their last three points arriving away to Stoke City on New Year's Day.
Since then, they have drawn with Swansea City, Burnley and Crystal Palace, in addition to suffering a 3-1 defeat at Manchester City. It is far from disastrous form, but winning at home has been a big problem for Rafael Benitez's side during the 2017-18 campaign.
Indeed, the Championship winners have only been victorious in three of their 13 league games at St James' Park, and no team has collected fewer home points in the top flight this season. They have also only scored 11 times in front of their own supporters, which is a cause for concern.
It is a tough few weeks for Newcastle as they face United, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur in three of their next five Premier League matches, and Benitez will be extremely wary of what a poor run of form could mean.
There is a lot of history between Newcastle and United though, and the home supporters will be looking to crank up the atmosphere in a bid to drive their team to what would be three massive points on Sunday afternoon.
Recent form: DWDLDD
Recent form (all competitions): WDLLDD
Man United
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It has been a special week for Manchester United football club. On Tuesday, a service to mark 60 years since the Munich air disaster took place at Old Trafford. Thousands of fans turned out for the ceremony, and it proved to be a wonderful tribute to those that perished in the crash.
United's attentions will now switch to the Premier League as they look to build on last weekend's 2-0 win over Huddersfield. That result saw the team bounce back from their 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on January 31.
It proved to be a good weekend for United when considering that Liverpool and Chelsea both dropped points. Second-placed United now have a five-point gap over third-placed Liverpool, while Chelsea, who lost 4-1 at Watford on Monday night, are six points off the Red Devils as things stand.
The gap to league leaders City is still a hefty 13 points, and Mourinho all but conceded the title to the Citizens last week. Second appears to be the target for the 20-time English champions, and they will be looking for their eighth Premier League away win of the campaign this weekend.
It is a very important period in the season for United, considering that they will visit Huddersfield in the fifth round of the FA Cup next weekend before travelling to Sevilla for the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on February 21. Mourinho's side will then host champions Chelsea in their final match of the month.
The Premier League title might be gone, but United will be eyeing success in both the FA Cup and Champions League this term. It could yet be a brilliant season for the club, even if they have to watch neighbours City lift the title.
Recent form: DWWWLW
Recent form (all competitions): WWWWLW
Team News
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Benitez confirmed on Friday that January arrival Islam Slimani had trained with the club this week, but it remains to be seen whether the on-loan Leicester City forward can make his Magpies debut in this match.
On-loan Chelsea attacker Kenedy will again start in a wide position, but the game will come too soon for Spanish defender Jesus Gamez.
Benitez has a decision to make when it comes to which player operates behind the central striker, with Ayoze Perez believed to be at the head of the queue.
As for United, Daley Blind and Eric Bailly remain on the sidelines, but Mourinho has no fresh injury concerns from the win over Huddersfield last weekend.
Paul Pogba and Anthony Martial started on the bench last time out, but the pair should return to the XI here. Ashley Young and Phil Jones, meanwhile, are expected to return to the back four.
Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard will seemingly battle for the third attacking position behind Romelu Lukaku.
Newcastle possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Yedlin, Lascelles, Clark, Dummett; Ritchie, Diame, Shelvey, Kenedy; Perez; Gayle
Man United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Young; Pogba, Matic; Martial, Lingard, Sanchez; Lukaku
Head To Head
United recorded a 4-1 win over Newcastle when the two teams met at Old Trafford earlier this season. Martial, Chris Smalling, Pogba and Lukaku were all on the scoresheet for the Red Devils.
The last Premier League meeting at St James' Park, however, finished 3-3 in January 2016, with Paul Dummett scoring a late leveller for the hosts.
Newcastle have actually not beaten United in the Premier League since a 1-0 success at Old Trafford in December 2013, while United have not lost away to Newcastle in the top flight since January 2012.
Sunday will bring their 165th meeting in all competitions, and it is United that lead the head-to-head 84 wins to Newcastle's 41.
We say: Newcastle 0-2 Manchester United
Newcastle have really struggled on home soil this weekend, and they will not exactly enter the match in the best of form.
United, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from the defeat at Tottenham in their last Premier League away game. We fancy the visitors to record all three points courtesy of a fairly routine success.
Matt Law
