Eddie Howe is keen for his Newcastle United players to keep the feel-good factor alive by ending 2024 on a high at Manchester United.
Newcastle have won four games in a row in all competitions, including three in the Premier League, to move up to fifth place.
That form is in stark contrast to Monday's opponent Manchester United, who have lost three times in a row and are in fourteenth place after eighteen games.
In what had been an up and down campaign for Newcastle prior to this series, Howe will now want to see the wins keep coming.
“We're aiming for everything we can shoot for,” he said when asked if a top-four finish was his goal.
“We will take small steps, we will take it one game at a time, but I am really encouraged by the way the team is playing.
“It's great for us to end the year on a high. This match is all about momentum and it's all about confidence.
“It's about the players believing how good they can be. Hopefully we will enter the new year in a better place with the team.”
Murph x Alex Isak
Different game. Same link. pic.twitter.com/OMhZf7dtKZ
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) December 27, 2024
Ruben Amorim has not enjoyed much of a honeymoon period since succeeding Erik ten Hag, losing half of his ten games in charge.
The Portuguese acknowledges that he is already under pressure to turn the tide, but knows that another difficult match awaits at Old Trafford.
“We have to fight everything because our supporters are always there,” he said. “But they are tired of this moment.
“We have to expect that any Newcastle play near our penalty area will make the stadium nervous and our players have to deal with that.
“They are a very strong team, very fast, with a lot of pace and a lot of time with the same coach. We want to be competitive and try to win the match.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United – Christian Eriksen
Captain Bruno Fernandes is suspended for this game after being sent off against Wolves, which could see Eriksen – a second-half substitute in the most recent defeat – brought into the starting line-up.
Eriksen has yet to score or assist in 10 Premier League games this season, having scored just one goal against Wolves in seven previous meetings, so those are records that clearly need to be improved.
For the last time at home in 2024 #MUFC || #PL pic.twitter.com/pMXAG2A10p
– Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 28, 2024
Newcastle United – Anthony Gordon
Alexander Isak is the man of the moment for Newcastle, but Gordon has had a goal involvement in each of his last four games in all competitions.
The striker also scored home and away against Man United in the Premier League last season. No Newcastle player has ever scored against him in three consecutive games in the league.
MATCH PREDICTION: Draw
Man United have lost four Premier League games since the start of December – no team has lost more, while they last tasted defeat in more league matches in a calendar month (five) in September 1962.
United have not lost three league matches in a row without scoring since May 2015.
That's something Newcastle will look to take advantage of, having won their last three league matches by an aggregate score of 11-0.
However, Newcastle have not won their last league match in any of the last seven calendar years since a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest in the Championship.
The Magpies have also won just one of their past 39 away games against Man United, with that lone win coming in December 2013.
OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING
Manchester United – 36.4% Newcastle United – 38% draw – 25.6%
Comments