Key events
Pre-match postbag. “It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad world when people are starting to talk about this version of Manchester United as the outsider making a late gallop on the outside of the title race. Yet if they want proof that a big lead can be blown at this time of the year, they only have to look at how their opponents today did that famous Devon Loch back in the late 90s. Not so sure how many people would ‘love it!’ if somehow Carrick’s mob actually prevailed, however” – Justin Kavanagh
“Just as the owners of Newcastle United have not lived up to expectations, nor has Eddie Howe … and for the same reason, they will not fire him” – Jeff Sax
“Because this is an 8.15pm kick off (7.15am here in Australia) it means I’m shaping up to be late to the work breakfast function. My boss’s final words at our last meeting were: ‘We can’t have a situation where people are turning up to meetings literally one minute before they start.’ The fact that she stared at me to punctuate the sentence suggests I shouldn’t bother with the excuses today. But if I do get sacked, at least there’s the usual Bacon and Egg roll on offer, and I can fully focus on our Champions League campaign” – Chris Paraskevas
Michael Carrick speaks to TNT. “It’s always a challenging game when we come here … and always a good game … the type of atmosphere and environment you want to be involved in … we have to be at our best tonight to get the win … the boys are looking forward to it … on a good run … in good shape … we know this place can throw up many things so we have to be ready for that … we have prepared … we will try to be ready … we’ve put ourselves in a good position … we want to try to capitalise it moving forward.”
A reminder of where both teams lie going into tonight’s five-match card. Manchester United are third and have a chance to consolidate their already-serious claim for Champions League football next season. Or … could they? … they couldn’t, could they? “You can’t rule anything out in football, but we’ve got to be realistic,” said Michael Carrick upon being asked whether a late surge for the title was a possibility. “We’ve just got to try and keep winning games and see.” Newcastle by contrast are simply hoping to nudge their way back into the top half of the table, though that’s not within reach tonight. One step at a time.
Eddie Howe speaks to TNT Sports. “It’s always a difficult decision with the goalkeepers … we have two outstanding players for that position … I’ve decided to make a change … hopefully [Aaron Ramsdale] comes in and does well … our home form for a long time has been really strong … [the recent bad form] is not a nice feeling … we want to make this place the fortress that it has been again … the crowd have been magnificent … this is on us as a team … we’ve made too many mistakes … we’re looking to put that right tonight … tonight and the game at the weekend [in the FA Cup against Manchester City] are so important … I think we can do it … football changes really quickly … results haven’t aligned with performances … we’re scoring goals which is a great thing … we just need to get tighter at the back … [Manchester United] have outstanding players … but we’ve got players who can hurt them … it could be quite open.”
Newcastle make two changes to their starting XI following their 3-2 home defeat to Everton. Nick Pope, an error or two in him of late, loses his place in goal to Aaron Ramsdale, while Harvey Barnes comes in for the ill Nick Woltemade.
Manchester United make just one change to their first XI after their 2-1 win over Crystal Palace. Noussair Mazraoui replaces Diogo Dalot, who drops to the bench.
The teams
Newcastle United: Ramsdale, Trippier, Thiaw, Burn, Hall, Ramsey, Tonali, Joelinton, Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
Subs: Pope, Botman, Wissa, Osula, Jacob Murphy, Willock, Alex Murphy, Shahar, Neave.
Manchester United: Lammens, Mazraoui, Yoro, Maguire, Shaw, Casemiro, Mainoo, Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha, Sesko.
Subs: Bayindir, Dalot, Zirkzee, Malacia, Diallo, Ugarte, Heaven, Tyler Fletcher, Kukonki.
Referee: Peter Bankes
VAR: Paul Tierney
Preamble
Newcastle United have lost their last three Premier League games at St James’ Park. The one before that required them to score two goals in stoppage time to turn defeat into victory. So things haven’t exactly been going smoothly for Eddie Howe’s side recently. But my goodness they’ve been good value. With their score first, here is their sequence of results starting with that amazing night against Leeds: 4-3, 3-3, 0-2, 0-0, 3-0, 0-2, 1-1, 1-4, 1-3, 2-3, 2-1, 3-1, 6-1, 1-2, 3-2, 2-3. Say what you will, the Toon give good bang for your buck.
Manchester United aren’t quite as scattergun. They’ve won six out of seven games under caretaker Michael Carrick, for a start, and you’d have to be a curmudgeon-and-a-half to take issue with that. But needs must for this preamble, and rustling up some tension ahead of tonight’s entertainment, so here we go: Carrick’s side were excellent against Manchester City and Arsenal, decent enough against Fulham and Spurs, but a tad stodgy against West Ham, Everton and Crystal Palace, when their bread fell jam side up more often than not. Tonight will be more revealing than the Palace comeback, put it that way. All of which adds up to a microscopic direction of travel that will give Newcastle a small splash of succour as they try to arrest a more alarming trend of their own.
And so here we are! Throw in the fact that Newcastle would still like to take a tilt towards European football next season; that Manchester United are hell-bent on a return to membership of the Champions League they once considered their birthright; that Newcastle have won the last three stagings of this fixture to the cumulative total of 7-1; that Benjamin Šeško is the hot player in the division right now; and that Newcastle and Manchester United is simply one of the great Premier League rivalries … love it, etc. … and this could be really good. Kick-off is at 8.15pm GMT. It’s on!
