Eddie Howe is raring for his Newcastle United gamers to maintain the feel-good issue alive by ending 2024 on a excessive away at Manchester United.
Newcastle have gained 4 video games in a row in all competitions, three of these within the Premier League to climb as much as fifth place.
That type is in stark distinction to Monday’s opponents Manchester United, who’ve misplaced three in a row and are down in 14th after 18 matches.
In what had been an up-and-down marketing campaign for Newcastle previous to this run, Howe now desires to see the wins carry on coming.
“We’re taking pictures for no matter we are able to shoot for,” he mentioned when requested if a top-four end was his purpose.
“We’ll take small steps, we’ll go game-by-game, however I’m actually heartened by how the workforce is taking part in.
“It’s an incredible factor for us that we’re ending the yr on a excessive. This sport is all about momentum and it’s all about confidence.
“It’s all concerning the gamers believing how good they are often. Hopefully, we go into the New Yr in a greater place with the squad.”
Murph x Alex Isak
Totally different sport. Identical hyperlink up. pic.twitter.com/OMhZf7dtKZ
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) December 27, 2024
Ruben Amorim has not loved a lot of a honeymoon interval since succeeding Erik ten Hag, dropping half of his 10 video games in cost up to now.
The Portuguese accepts he’s already below stress to show issues round, however is aware of that one other powerful sport awaits at Outdated Trafford.
“We now have to struggle towards every thing, as a result of our supporters are at all times there,” he mentioned. “However they’re bored with this second.
“We now have to count on that any play from Newcastle close to our field goes to make the stadium nervous and our gamers have to deal with that.
“It’s a very robust workforce, very quick, with quite a lot of tempo and quite a lot of time with the identical coach. We wish to be aggressive and attempt to win the sport.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United – Christian Eriksen
Captain Bruno Fernandes is suspended for this sport after being despatched off towards Wolves, so Eriksen – a second-half substitute in that almost all current loss – may come into the beginning line-up.
Eriksen has but to attain or help in 10 Premier League video games this season, whereas he has only one aim involvement towards Wolves in seven earlier conferences, so these are information that clearly wants bettering on.
Again at house for the ultimate time in 2024 #MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/pMXAG2A10p
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 28, 2024
Newcastle United – Anthony Gordon
Alexander Isak could be very a lot the person of the second for Newcastle, however Gordon has a aim involvement in every of his final 4 video games in all competitions.
The ahead additionally scored house and away towards Man United within the Premier League final season – no Newcastle participant has ever scored in three consecutive appearances towards them within the competitors.
MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW
Man United have misplaced 4 Premier League video games for the reason that begin of December – no workforce has misplaced extra, whereas they final tasted defeat in additional league matches in a calendar month in September 1962 (5).
Not since Could 2015, in the meantime, have United misplaced three straight league matches with out scoring since Could 2015.
That’s one thing Newcastle will look to benefit from, having themselves gained their previous three league matches by an combination scoreline of 11-0.
Nevertheless, Newcastle haven’t gained their closing league sport in any of the final seven calendar years since a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest within the Championship.
The Magpies have additionally gained simply considered one of their previous 39 away league video games towards Man United, with that solitary victory coming in December 2013.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Manchester United – 36.4%
Newcastle United – 38%
Draw – 25.6%