Newcastle continue their push for a top-four finish against Manchester United at St James’ Park.
If Chelsea fail to win in mid-afternoon, Newcastle could start this match knowing that victory would lift them up to fourth in the table.
Man Utd will stay 13th with a win.
Team News
Joe Willock is unlikely to feature for Newcastle after he missed their 3-0 victory at Leicester due to a concussion.
Anthony Gordon (thigh) faces a late fitness check but Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles (both knee) and Lewis Hall (foot) remain absent.
Man Utd will be without Tobias Collyer after he missed their 2-2 draw at Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League Quarter-Final, due to a leg injury.
Jonny Evans (muscle), Matthijs De Ligt, Ayden Heaven (both ankle), Lisandro Martinez (knee) and Amad Diallo (ankle) are still sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Newcastle host Man Utd at St James’ Park on Sunday 13 April at 4:30pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have lost just one of their last five league meetings against Man Utd (W3, D2, L1).
- Man Utd have won one of their last five visits to Newcastle (W1, D1, L3).
- Gordon has scored in two of his last three appearances for Newcastle against Man Utd.
- Jacob Murphy has produced two goals and one assist in Newcastle’s last two matches (W2).
- Failure to score at St James’ Park would see Man Utd record three consecutive top-flight blanks for the third time this season.
Prediction
After a clinical first-half display at Leicester, Newcastle seemed to settle for a three-goal winning margin which surprised me as that was a huge opportunity to bank as many goals as possible in case the top-four scrap comes down to goal difference and they won’t have much easier opportunities coming up.
Man Utd meanwhile once again lacked a ruthless end product up front against Lyon in a see-saw battle yet somehow came away with a draw, amidst more poor goalkeeping from Andre Onana which will be a concern for the Red Devils but one that Newcastle will relish.
In fact if Newcastle turn up with the same first-half clinical intensity as we saw in the reverse fixture and at Leicester, I can see them cruising to victory if can pressure Utd’s unpredictable defence especially if Gordon returns and they will also be motivated by Eddie Howe’s absence.
Utd meanwhile really should focus their sights on the Europa League as that is their sole hope of European qualification for next season.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-0 Man Utd
