O Manchester United é o anfitrião de Newcastle no showdown do Boxing Day.
O Manchester United vs. Newcastle United começa às 20h00 [GMT] na sexta-feira, 26 de dezembro, em Old Trafford.
Enquanto o recorde histórico do ataque do United permanece claro, os encontros recentes flutuaram acentuadamente em favor do Newcastle. O Manchester United perdeu quatro de seus últimos cinco encontros de liga com o Newcastle, correspondendo ao número de derrotas sofridas nos 38 encontros anteriores combinados. A história do Boxing Day foi particularmente dolorosa para os Red Devils, no entanto, os Newcastle completaram um duplo de liga sobre eles, incluindo uma vitória de 2-0 em Old Trafford. Os Magpies não marcaram pelo menos três golos consecutivos no estádio desde 1935, mas outra vitória aqui sublinharia uma mudança genuína no equilíbrio competitivo. A história do Boxing Day, no entanto, favoreceu fortemente os anfitriões. O United ganhou todos os três dos seus confrontos do Premier League Boxing Day contra o
Newcastle, by contrast, have quietly improved their festive away record. They have won their last two away league matches played between Christmas and New Year, including a victory at Old Trafford last December. Prior to that, they had managed just two wins from 34 such fixtures. Meanwhile, the 11th-placed side remains winless in two games [WLWLD]. Putting an end to that winless run remains a motivating factor. Individual quality may again prove decisive. Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade has scored seven Premier League goals this season, placing him among the most productive German debutants in the competition’s history. His contribution has been central to Newcastle’s attacking threat, especially in tight games. With Boxing Day stripped down to a single fixture, the spotlight is unavoidable. Tradition favors Manchester United, recent form favors Newcastle, and both sides arrive knowing that another defeat would carry consequences far beyond the festive schedule. A 4—3—3 formation with Nick Woltemade, Murphy, and Anthony Gordon in attack is expected.