Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Manchester United's trip to Newcastle United in the Premier League.
Having seen title rivals Chelsea, Manchester City and Arsenal all record victories yesterday, three points are essential for the Red Devils at the Sports Direct Arena.
Standing in their way is a Newcastle United side who have their own European ambitions this season.
When these sides last met in the North-East, the Magpies ran out 3-0 victors. Can they pull off another surprise today? Stay tuned to find out.
5.54pmFULL TIME: Newcastle 0-3 Man United
88 minUnited now in control and seeing all of the ball. They're cruising to victory at the moment.
83 minInjury problem for Newcastle as Cabaye goes down clutching his face following a collision with Van Persie. He's up now and not too impressed with the Dutchman.
79 minSUBSTITUTION: An impressive Rooney takes his leave as veteran Paul Scholes takes his place. Meanwhile, Bigirimana comes on for Tiote.
76 minBoth sides look like they've accepted this outcome now. Newcastle are still pushing, but there's an element of resignation about it.
71 minAnd that should be the game for United, albeit in fortunate circumstances. Cleverley gets his head up wide on the left and tries to pick out Van Persie. He overhits the cross but luckily for him and United, the ball flies into the top corner of the net. It's cruel on Newcastle, but they haven't taken their chances.
70 minGOAL! Newcastle 0-3 Man United (Cleverley)
67 minUnited now have an element of control on this match. That's not to say that Newcastle are not looking threatening, they certainly are. But the Red Devils are now looking equally likely.
65 minDISALLOWED GOAL! Rooney slips in Van Persie, who dinks the ball over Harper and into the net. The Dutchman was well offside though and the goal is chalked off.
63 minSUBSTITUTION: Double switch for the home side. Ferguson and Cisse come off, Anita and Shola Ameobi come on.
60 minSAVE! Rooney strides into the Newcastle box and drills low at goal. Harper gets down well though and turns away his effort.
56 minCHANCE! First sight of goal for Man United in this second half - since the 15th-minute to be precise! Welbeck cuts the ball for Cleverley, who fires well over the bar.
54 minNewcastle are well on top at the moment. They're swinging in a number of crosses but at the moment United are holding firm.
50 minOFF THE LINE! Newcastle think they have pulled one back as Cisse heads the ball goalwards. However, De Gea somehow gets back and claws the ball off the line. Great spot from linesman Darren Cann.
5.01pmMan United get the second half underway...
4.48pmWhat an interesting half that was. Newcastle started so poorly and could have been four or five goals behind. United only scored two though and the Magpies responded well without finding the net. Next goal is crucial.
4.46pmHALF-TIME: Newcastle 0-2 Man United
45 minThree minutes of stoppage time to be played...
45 minThree minutes of stoppage time to be played...
42 minBOOKING! Skipper Gutierrez goes into the book for a sliding challenge on Kagawa. He was so late there! Would be a surprise if both teams have 11 players on the pitch at the end at this rate.
41 minCHANCE! Cisse sends in a cross for strike partner Ba, who turns the ball over the bar from 12 yards out. Credit should go to Ferdinand, who put Ba under pressure there.
38 minA succession of Newcastle corners come to nothing. Alan Pardew is sure to be scratching his head and wondering why is side could not have started the match like this.
34 minCHANCE! Newcastle are beginning to cause problems. This time it's Cabaye who goes close from distance with a curled effort from 25 yards out. De Gea looked to have it covered though.
33 minBOOKING! Howard Webb is brandishing that card rather often at the moment. This time it's Tiote, who fouls Rooney than throws himself on the floor in disgust at the decision.
31 minBOOKING! It's all getting a little heated right now. Van Persie is cautioned for a sliding challenge. Newcastle players are not happy and let the Dutchman know in no uncertain terms.
29 minBOOKING! Second booking for Man United as Rio Ferdinand goes in late on Ba. It was needless from the centre-half in truth.
26 minBit of an injury concern for Man United as Evans goes down with a knee injury. The defender is up but he is moving extremely gingerly.
24 minCHANCE! Another sight of goal for the home side as Ba lashes a short corner over the bar.
21 minBOOKING! United's Kagawa has his name taken following a trip on Ben Arfa. It's the first foul that the Japanese international has committed but he can have little complaint.
18 minCHANCE! At last Newcastle have an attempt on goal. United can only clear Ben Arfa's cross as far as Jonas Gutierrez. The Argentine takes an instant strike which fizzes just beyond the post.
16 minAnother United corner and another United goal! This time Rooney swings in the ball and the pint-sized Patrice Evra rises above Demba Ba to convert past Steve Harper. Newcastle simply haven't started yet.
15 minGOAL! Newcastle 0-2 Man United (Evra)
14 minSAVE! Harper atones for his earlier error to turn away a free-kick from Rooney.
11 minHOW DID HE MISS THAT? Welbeck has had a nightmare start for United. He robs goalkeeper Harper of possession and with the goal at his mercy, he shoots well wide of the target. Awful miss.
10 minCHANCE! United are almost two goals to the good. Rafael breaks down the right and instead of crossing he drills a shot across Harper's goal. The Brazilian wasn't a million miles away there.
8 minA really good header from the United centre-back. Van Persie wins a corner, which he takes. Evans rises highest to power the ball beyond the reach of Harper in the Newcastle goal. It's a deserved goal for United, who have dominated this match so far.
7 minGOAL! Newcastle 0-1 Man United (Evans)
5 minCHANCE! Danny Welbeck really should do better with this chance. Jonny Evans flicks the ball to him in the area and the England striker scuffs the ball towards Steve Harper when he should have really been scoring. A let off for Newcastle.
3 minIt's been a frantic start to this one, with Man United having more of the ball. Neither keeper called into action as of yet.
4.00pmNewcastle get the match underway...
3.56pmHere they come to a big reception from the Geordie faithful. Handshakes coming up...
3.55pmThe players are in the tunnel. Almost game time...
3.52pmNot that this will be a one-sided encounter by any means. Hatem Ben Arfa has proved to be a nightmare for defences over the past six months or so. Ba has also found the goalscoring boots that eluded him during the second half of last season. Long story short, there should be plenty of goals today!
3.50pmLooking at that United team, it will be interesting to see how they start. Rooney playing slightly deeper perhaps? Or maybe Welbeck on the wing? Perhaps a mixture of the two! That's sure to keep the Newcastle defence busy.
3.47pmIt's a rather attacking lineup from Sir Alex. Rooney and RVP start for the first time in the Premier League, while Shinji Kagawa and Tom Cleverley are also included. David De Gea is preferred in goal.
3.45pmMan United X1: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra; Cleverley, Carrick, Welbeck, Rooney, Kagawa,; Van Persie
3.44pmSo, the Senegalese duo of Demba Ba and Papiss Cisse will be aiming to terrorise the Man United defence. Meanwhile, Steve Harper continues in goal in place of the injured Tim Krul.
3.43pmNewcastle X1: Harper; Santon, Perch, Williamson, Ferguson; Ben Arfa, Tiote, Cabaye, Gutierrez; Cisse, Ba
3.41pmWithout further ado, let's throw some team news your way...
3.40pmAfternoon everyone. This isn't a bad way to round of the Premier League weekend is it? Newcastle vs. Man United. These two have produced some classics down the years. Let's hope for another today.
Written by
Liam Apicella
Liam Apicella
