Newcastle United vs Manchester United verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets
- Seb Sternik
- 1 April 2023
Newcastle can take a huge step towards Champions League football when they welcome top-four rivals Manchester United to St James’ Park.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Premier League, Sunday, April 2, Kick-off 4.30pm, live on Sky Sports
Predicted score
Suggested bets
Newcastle to win
Newcastle to win and over 2.5 goals
Correct score - Newcastle 3-2 Manchester United
Key stats
Newcastle have won 10 of their last 13 games at home (all comps)
Liverpool are the only team to win a PL game at St James' Park this season
Man United have won just one of their last four away games in the PL
Team news
Newcastle's Anthony Gordon faces a late fitness test as he looks to return to action. Eddie Howe will also have Sven Botman, Nick Pope and Allan Saint-Maximin at his disposal for Sunday's game.
However, Miguel Almiron, Ryan Fraser and Emil Krafth have all been ruled out for the Magpies.
Manchester United have a number of key individuals who could come back into the fold. Marcus Rashford, Raphael Varane, Anthony Martial and Marcel Sabitzer are all being assessed ahead of potential returns.
Christian Eriksen is close to returning though the trip to Newcastle might come a little too early for the midfielder. Casemiro, on the other hand, misses out through suspension.
Verdict
In a weekend full of big games, there are few fixtures with bigger stakes than this.
Newcastle United's hopes of cracking the top four for the first time since 2003 rest on a strong end to the campaign - starting with a home clash against Manchester United.
Should the Magpies pick up points against teams around them in the standings, their hopes of a first Champions League appearance in two decades will be greatly enhanced.
Eddie Howe's men went into the international break having won back-to-back games against Nottingham Forest and Wolves. Those victories have left the Magpies just three points adrift of the Red Devils.
Speaking of Erik ten Hag's men, United have bounced back from their 7-0 demolition in Liverpool last month by winning three of their last four outings.
While that may sound good on paper, there are serious question marks over United's performances.
A goalless draw with Southampton and a controversial 3-1 win over Fulham - who had two players sent off - don't exactly fill us with confidence.
With Casemiro unavailable and Marcus Rashford potentially on the sidelines, this is the perfect time for Newcastle to muscle in on a top-four spot.
The Magpies have won 10 of their last 13 games at St James' Park, with Liverpool being the only side to manage a win in the North East.
With that in mind, we're backing the hosts to do the business in the outright market.
If you're looking for more value, you could back the hosts to win and over 2.5 goals.
