PREDICTION: A 3-1 home win
FANTASY PICK: Robin van Persie
KEY STAT: The Red Devils have won 17 of the last 18, been victorious in the last 10 in a row and won the last 10 on Boxing Day at Old Trafford.
- MANCHESTER UNITED
Defender Chris Smalling is making a good recovery from his groin injury and could play. Midfielders Ander Herrera (muscle injury), Marouane Fellaini (illness) and Daley Blind (knee) are out. Left-back Luke Shaw (ankle) is also unavailable and Marcos Rojo is a major doubt because of the thigh injury that has sidelined him for the last two matches.
- NEWCASTLE UNITED
Alan Pardew will be without midfield enforcer Cheick Tiote through suspension. Goalkeeper Tim Krul is a week ahead of schedule in his recovery from an ankle injury, but like number two Rob Elliot (thigh) still has some way to go. Striker Papiss Cisse continues to battle the after-effects of knee surgery and a virus, while midfielders Mehdi Abeid (toe) and Siem de Jong (thigh) are back in training but unavailable for the game at Old Trafford, and Rolando Aarons (hamstring), Gabriel Obertan (thigh) and Ryan Taylor (knee) remain on the sidelines. |