Newcastle United v Manchester United – Match Preview: English Premier League
Newcastle United will look to gain a favourable result against Manchester United in the English Premier League on Tuesday, 19th of April 2011 as both the teams’ face-off in a crucial clash at Saint James’s Park. Let’s take a look at how Sir Alex
Ferguson and Alan Pardew will set out their teams on Tuesday night at Tyneside.
Newcastle United
After losing to Aston Villa on the weekend, Newcastle United are now 10th in the English Premier League with 39 points from 32 matches.
One might point out that the mid-table Magpies now have nothing to play for till the end of the table but they will do well to realize that even a minor blip in form will propel into the abyss that is the relegation zone near the bottom end of the English
Premier League table.
Out of their last five competitive fixtures, Newcastle United have won one, lost three and drawn one. This woeful run of form has seen Alan Padrew’s team lose to Everton and Stoke. Their last loss at Saint James’ Park came against Everton but with Manchester
United visiting, there is a possibility that the Red Devils will come away with all three points from Newcastle’s home stadium.
An earlier clash between both the teams in the English Premier League ended up in a Manchester United win by three goals to two.
Manchester United
Manchester United’s hopes of repeating the treble of 1999 ended on the weekend after Manchester City defeated the Red Devils in their F.A Cup semi-final clash at Wembley stadium.
However, Arsenal’s draw against Liverpool at the Emirates stadium now means that United just need to win four out of their remaining six matches in the English Premier League.
With a six point lead over the Gunners, Sir Alex Ferguson will field his strongest team against Newcastle United to wrap up the title race before his team resumes their UEFA Champions League commitments later on in the month of April.
Additionally, Manchester United have won four and lost once in their last five competitive fixtures. This run has seen them cement their place at the summit of the Premier League table.
Team News
Newcastle United have several injury concerns heading into their encounter against Manchester United. Leon Best is already out for the rest of the season alongside the likes of Alan Smith. Both the players are struggling with their respective fitness issues.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Stephen-Ireland-c34149 also remains a doubt due to his thigh strain but he might recover in time to face the Red Devils.
Expected Newcastle United line up: Stephen Harper, Jose Enrique, Steven Taylor, Mike Williamson, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jonas-c18967 Gutierrez, Danny Guthrie, Fabricio Coloccini, Joey Barton, Peter Løvenkrands, Shefki Kuqi
Manchester United will be without their suspended midfielder, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Paul-Scholes-c29394, who saw a red card in their one nil defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup on the weekend.
However, Wayne Rooney is expected to make a comeback to the starting line up following his two match ban. United have a fully fit squad apart from the injury troubles of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Owen-Hargreaves-c28918.
Expected Manchester United line up: Edwin Van der Sar, Rafael da Silva, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wayne-Rooney-c36736, Javier Hernandez
Key Players
Newcastle United will bank on Jonas Gutierrez to give them some width and creativity down the left hand side. The Argentinean winger has been Newcastle’s best player of the season after Andy Carroll’s exit in the January transfer window.
Gutierrez is already a transfer target for the likes of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Liverpool-c39809 but his form for Newcastle United will make the difference when they face-off against Manchester United.
Alternatively, Wayne Rooney will take up the goal scoring responsibilities once again when Newcastle United host Manchester United at Saint James’ Park. The Englishman has been in an impressive run of form as he netted a hat-trick in his last Premier League
appearance for the Red Devils. Coming off the back of a two match ban, expect Rooney to add to his goal scoring tally against the Magpies.
Prediction
Manchester United’s away form has been patchy in the English Premier League but Ferguson’s men are at their most dangerous when they enter the final few games of the season. They are indeed the outright favourites to win this tie in question.
Prediction: 1-3 to Manchester United.
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