Man United and Newcastle have a lot riding on this game. After all, the Red Devils are on a winning streak, and Newcastle has had a difficult offensive season. With Cristiano Ronaldo set to make his second Manchester United appearance, this game is sure to be interesting.
Manchester United have won five of their eight Premier League games.
After beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at home in midweek, Manchester United have won five of their last eight Premier League games. However, the team will be a different proposition away from home this weekend, as they will face a much tougher challenge against a weakened Chelsea side. Despite that, United have been unbeaten in their last seven games, winning three against their neighbors.
After a difficult start to the 2022-23 season, Manchester United has been on a roll. The team has won six Premier League games, with wins over Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford, Manchester City, and Southampton. But there have been several missed opportunities, and many Manchester United fans are frustrated with their lack of progress. After all, United has not won a trophy since 2017.
The team has built confidence over recent weeks, keeping three clean sheets in a row and scoring in five of their last seven games. On Wednesday, they got a second league goal from Bruno Fernandes, who had been without a goal for two seasons.
Ronaldo will make his second debut for the Red Devils.
Ronaldo has returned to Old Trafford after missing Portugal’s World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan on Tuesday. The former Real Madrid striker has since been released by the Portuguese national team to play for Manchester United. He also agreed to miss a friendly against Qatar, but he has since been cleared to play against Newcastle on Saturday. He is expected to make his first Manchester United start against Newcastle on September 11.
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will not confirm whether Cristiano Ronaldo will start against Newcastle on Sunday. Nevertheless, the Portuguese forward has trained with his new teammates for the first time. The Portuguese forward last played for the club from 2003 to 2009 before leaving for Juventus. He returned to Old Trafford in late August after spending a season with Juventus.
The game against Newcastle is a tough test for United’s new manager. They lost 2-1 to Newcastle in the opening half of last season and only managed to draw with Everton and Fulham. Ronaldo has had a poor start to the season and is expected to make his United debut against Newcastle again.
Ronaldo’s return is a huge storyline for the Red Devils.
A huge storyline is emerging in the Manchester United fan base: Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly keen to leave Manchester United and play in the Champions League. The Portuguese star is frustrated at the lack of game time, and reports have emerged that his agent, Jorge Mendes, has met with Chelsea owner Todd Boehly to discuss a move to Stamford Bridge. Ronaldo has been out of the team for most of the season due to family commitments, and speculations are mounting that he may leave the club in the summer. Initially, Ronaldo did want to stay at Manchester United but has since become increasingly frustrated and has expressed an intention to leave.
United manager Erik ten Hag has reportedly been keen to keep Ronaldo at the club but has now confirmed that he will only sell the Brazilian in January. The Portuguese has barely played under Erik ten Hag’s regime and was surprisingly unused in the recent 6-3 loss to Manchester City. United have also reportedly sent scouts to watch Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, as the club is looking for a replacement for David de Gea.
In addition to being a huge storyline for the Red Devil’s fans, Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United is also a massive storyline for the club. The Portuguese forward scored 24 goals and provided three assists in 38 appearances for the Red Devils last season. Although United failed to qualify for the Champions League that season, the return of Ronaldo to Old Trafford has generated a feverish atmosphere in the Old Trafford. The fans greeted him with songs before kick-off, and he was subsequently sung to in warm-up and pre-game.
Man United are favorites to win.
Newcastle has a poor home record and is the current underdogs, but Manchester United is the bookmakers’ favorite for this match. The Red Devils won the last game between the two sides, so this is a must-watch game for Newcastle fans.
Manchester United need a win and has won two of their last three games in all competitions. They’re currently sixth in the Premier League table and are five points behind fourth-placed Arsenal with two games left to play. However, they are still looking for their first home Premier League clean sheet of the season, and the frequent changes to their center-back four haven’t helped. Raphael Varane is a possible game-time decision.
Manchester United is without suspended Scott McTominay and suspended midfielder Varane, but Newcastle is well-rested after beating Brentford 5-1 last weekend. In addition, Newcastle has won two of their last three matches and has only lost one in the Premier League.
Newcastle has been decent in the first half but has not been threatening. They’ve had a few good chances, including a late header from Sancho, but they’ve failed to capitalize.
Newcastle isn’t a team to be taken lightly.
In the last two transfer windows, Newcastle has made a huge investment in players aiming to challenge this season. While last year, they would have conceded three or four goals to the big four, they have only conceded eight league goals this season, and three of those have come in away games. That shows that Newcastle isn’t a team to take lightly against Manchester United.
Newcastle is a side to be considered for a strong win against Manchester United. They are unbeaten in their last five league games and have only lost once at Old Trafford. However, they have not beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford since December 2013.
Newcastle is likely to make changes to their starting eleven. Defenders Federico Fernandez and Jamal Lewis are not yet ready to face United at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Emil Krafth and Matt Targett are both recovering from hamstring injuries. In addition, goalkeeper David De Gea will likely be replaced by Tom Heaton. Newcastle’s midfield is likely to be bolstered by a strong defensive unit and the presence of Bruno Guimaraes, Willock, Guedozy, Almiron, and Saint-Maximin.
Newcastle fans are the most ardent in football and are a team that should not be taken lightly. Football fans have lionized the team’s supporters for many years, but they haven’t won a league title since 1927.
Teams to watch in the 2021-22 season
The 2021-22 season will see the two teams battle it out in the top flight of English football. The teams have met 173 times, and Manchester United has won 90 games. Newcastle United’s last win was at Old Trafford in December 2013, when Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice. Edinson Cavani leveled the game for Newcastle.
Manchester United will be looking to improve on their defense, which has allowed an average of 1.88 goals per match. Meanwhile, Newcastle conceded 11 goals in their last three games and needs to improve on this statistic to challenge the Premier League title.
Newcastle’s midfield is in flux with the suspension of Brazil international Fred. Nevertheless, Jacob Murphy and Donny van de Beek could be called upon for this match. However, neither team is certain to be fully fit in this match, and Manchester United have hinted that they could field a full squad. Meanwhile, Paul Pogba is out but is expected to return to training soon. If he is fit, Raphael Varane could replace Harry Maguire.
Manchester United have been in good form in recent weeks, but they must win their next two matches to stay in the top four. Manchester United have won 31 of their 53 head-to-head matches in the EPL, while Newcastle has won seven and drawn 14. This season will be their fifth together, and the game could be a big one for both teams.