Sports Mole previews Sunday's Premier League clash between Manchester United and Newcastle United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Manchester United will be looking to keep their slim Premier League title hopes alive when they welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford on Sunday evening.

The Red Devils have drawn three of their last four league games and are now 10 points adrift of leaders Manchester City, while Newcastle are six points above the relegation zone.

Match preview

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring their second goal in the Europa League on February 18, 2021 © Reuters

Last week's 1-1 draw at strugglers West Bromwich Albion was surely the final nail for United's title aspirations, particularly after City won their game in hand in midweek.

The 10-point gap Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have to make up on the leaders is fast becoming insurmountable, but United are not ready to throw in the towel just yet.

Solskjaer will certainly be hopeful that Thursday's 4-0 win over Real Sociedad in their Europa League last-32 first leg can provide a catalyst to push on in the league.

Bruno Fernandes maintained his incredible scoring rate with a double and Marcus Rashford was also on target in Turin, before Daniel James rounded off the scoring late on.

A place in the last 16 of the Europa League now all but guaranteed, and an FA Cup quarter-final with Leicester City to come next month, Solskjaer's focus is now on the league.

United's only win in their last six league matches was their record-equalling 9-0 thumping of Southampton - a performance in stark contrast to last week's draw with West Brom.

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce pictured in February 2021 © Reuters

Finding that consistency is now the aim for Solskjaer, and this weekend's visit of Newcastle provides a chance to get three more points on the board.

Newcastle have won just one of their last 35 away league games with Man United, losing 25 of those, including four of their last five visits to Old Trafford.

The Magpies have alternated between a win and defeat in their last five games, most recently following up a 3-2 win against Southampton with a 2-0 loss at Chelsea last Monday.

Steve Bruce was without Callum Wilson for that trip to Stamford Bridge and will have to make do without the striker for at least another six weeks.

That is worrying news for Newcastle, having lost all three Premier League games without scoring when Wilson has been absent this season.

With Fulham picking up another point in midweek, and the Cottagers facing bottom side Sheffield United next, Newcastle's six-point gap on the bottom three could shrink further with another loss on Sunday.

Manchester United Premier League form: WLDWDD
Manchester United form (all competitions): DWDWDW

Newcastle United Premier League form: LLWLWL
Newcastle United form (all competitions): LLWLWL

Team News

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba pictured on February 6, 2021 © Reuters

Paul Pogba remains sidelined for United, while Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani will be assessed after sitting out the Sociedad match with muscular problems.

Scott McTominay is another who is expected to miss out after aggravating a knock in midweek, but Solskjaer still has a few options to choose from in the holding midfield position.

After making his debut on Thursday, Amad Diallo will be pushing for a first Premier League appearance, though Mason Greenwood and Rashford are more likely to get the nod in the wide areas here.

Rashford has been involved in six goals in his six Premier League appearances against Newcastle (three goals, three assists), scoring one and assisting two in Man United's 4-1 win in the reverse fixture.

As for Newcastle, Wilson's absence will likely mean Dwight Gayle and Allan Saint-Maximin linking up in attack, with Miguel Almiron playing just off the pair.

Jamaal Lascelles made his return from injury against Chelsea last weekend, while Jeff Hendrick is back from suspension on Sunday, but this game will come too soon for Federico Fernandez.

Ryan Fraser, Sean Longstaff and Joelinton are among those pushing for recalls to the side.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Maguire, Shaw; Fred, Matic; Greenwood, Fernandes, Rashford; Cavani

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Krafth, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis; Willock, Hayden, Shelvey; Almiron, Gayle, Saint-Maximin

SM words green background

We say: Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United

Man United may not be in the best of form in the Premier League, but they showed against Real Sociedad on Thursday exactly what they are capable of on their day.

Newcastle have won just two of their last 13 games and, given their terrible record in this fixture - only against Liverpool (81) have they lost more Premier League fixtures than against Man Utd (80) - we can only see this game ending one way.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.

Video prediction

Watch the Sports Mole Football Shorts prediction for this game below:

Data Analysis

Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Manchester United win with a probability of 73.89%. A draw had a probability of 15.9% and a win for Newcastle United had a probability of 10.25%.

The most likely scoreline for a Manchester United win was 2-0 with a probability of 11.27%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 3-0 (9.39%) and 2-1 (9.28%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (7.43%), while for a Newcastle United win it was 1-2 (3.06%). The actual scoreline of 3-1 was predicted with a 7.7% likelihood. Our data analysis correctly predicted that Manchester United would win this match.