Newcastle vs Manchester United Prediction: Big Joe ready to joust with Red Devils again

Newcastle United are well on course to qualify for next season's Uefa Champions League, with Eddie Howe's side now fifth in the Premier League, just a point behind Chelsea (fourth) and one ahead of Manchester City (sixth), both of whom have played a game more than the Magpies.

Next up for the Toon is a Sunday afternoon clash with Manchester United (16:30, Sky Sports Main Event) at St James' Park. Build up to the action by checking out my Newcastle vs Manchester United predictions below, complete with all the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

A late call will be made over the availability of Newcastle and England winger Anthony Gordon, who missed Monday night's 3-0 win at Leicester City with a groin injury picked up on international duty last month.

Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles (both knee), Lewis Hall (foot) and Joe Willock (contusion) will be unavailable for selection again.

Football Odds

Howe's starting XI could be unchanged from that win at the King Power Stadium, where wingers Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy (x2) both got on the scoresheet.

Lisandro Martinez (knee), Amad Diallo, Ayden Heaven (both ankle) and Jonny Evans (back) all missed Thursday night's 2-2 draw with Lyon, and all four players are expected to miss Man United's weekend trip to St James'.

There was hope that Matthijs de Ligt would recover from an ankle injury in time for Lyon, but the Dutch defender wasn't in Ruben Amorim's squad and is a doubt for Sunday.

Kobbie Mainoo made his return from injury as a late substitute in France and will be looking for more minutes here, as will Mason Mount.

Joshua Zirkzee came off the bench to score what looked to be the winner at Groupama Stadium before Rayan Cherki equalised in the last seconds for Les Gones. The Dutchman could earn a start on Tyneside in place of Rasmus Hojlund.

Newcastle vs Manchester United Odds

Newcastle have won their last three league games and are 4/6 to make it four in a row on Sunday, implying a 60% probability, while Man United are 4/1, or a 20% chance, to triumph on Tyneside for the first time since October 2020.

The draw is priced at 16/5, both teams to score at 4/6, and over 2.5 total goals at 8/13.

Magpies striker Alexander Isak (4/5) heads the anytime goalscorer market, with Red Devils skipper Bruno Fernandes (11/4) first up for the visitors.

Player to Receive a Card - Joelinton (NEW) @ 12/5

Only six players have committed more fouls in the Premier League this season than Newcastle midfielder Joelinton (53), who averages 2.2 fouls per 90 minutes. The Brazilian has been booked nine times (0.4 p/90) for his indiscretions this term, and Man United are an opponent that he has roughed up several times before.

Joelinton has been carded in five of his 13 appearances against the Red Devils, the most recent of which came in last season's corresponding fixture, which the Magpies won 1-0.

The 28-year-old has been cautioned in two of his last three home outings in this fixture and is a solid price to make it three in four on Sunday.

The visitors have a few players in their ranks who can attract fouls, notably Patrick Dorgu, who is fouled, on average, 2.5 times per 90 in the Premier League.

Half-time/Full-time - Newcastle/Newcastle @ 6/4

Newcastle have won four of the last five head-to-heads, and I'm struggling to come up with many reasons why they won't make it five in six on Sunday.

The 2024/25 Carabao Cup champions are in terrific form, winning their last four games in all competitions, and they've emerged victorious in five of their last seven Premier League home matches.

Howe's side were comfortable 2-0 winners at Old Trafford in December, scoring both goals through Isak and Joelinton in the first 19 minutes, and while Man United have proven slightly tougher to beat in the last couple of months, losing just one of their last six games, it's difficult to see them living with the intensity of Newcastle at St James' this weekend.

The Red Devils were in action on Thursday, drawing with Lyon in France, and they face the Ligue 1 side again in Manchester four days after their trip to Tyneside. They've been handed three fewer days' rest than the Magpies, who will look to take the initiative from the first whistle, as they did at Old Trafford earlier this season.

Isak took just four minutes to get Newcastle in front on December 30, and while the first goal may not come quite so quickly this Sunday, I'm confident they'll be heading into the interval with a lead, as they have done - and gone on to win - in their last three matches.

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