Premier League action returns this weekend as Manchester United host Newcastle United in a match the Red Devils must win, if they are to stay in the title race. Having won only one of their last four league fixtures, United will definitely need to take all three from this contest. The good news for United is that they are extremely formidable at home.
United head into this clash unbeaten in 22 Premier League games (W12 D10 L0) at Old Trafford, having won the last six in a row without conceding a single goal.
The last time they won seven consecutive home league games without yielding a single score came way back in March of 2010.
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez has lost five times against Jose Mourinho in the Premier League, only versus Alex Ferguson (eight) has he suffered more setbacks. Arsene Wenger and Harry Redknapp have also vanquished him on five occasions.
For the most up to date United injury report, go to this link.
Without further ado here is The Sports Bank’s MUFC Starting XI Prediction (4-2-3-1):
Romelu Lukaku
Anthony Martial Marcus Rashford Marouane Fellaini
Nemanja Matic Ander Herrera
Matteo Darmian Eric Bailly Chris Smalling Antonio Valencia
David de Gea
United have 20 wins and seven draws from their last 29 meetings against the Magpies in all competitions, so naturally they are heavily favored in this one.
Match odds
Man Utd: 2/7
Draw: 4/1
Newcastle: 11/1
On the flip side, Benitez could become the first manager in Premier League history to win at Old Trafford with three different away clubs, should be pull of the upset Saturday. Rafa has won there while guiding Chelsea and Liverpool previously.
As always, feel free to post your own MUFC starting XI and score predictions in the comments sections below.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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