Newcastle vs Manchester United » Prediction, Watch Live + Odds & Stats 02.04.2023

There’s a big top four clash on the cards this weekend as Newcastle United collide with Manchester United in the Premier League.

After starting off the season like a house on fire, which included a League Cup final appearance, Newcastle United have cooled off ever so slightly. They are still firmly in the hunt for a place in the Champions League next season, but they can’t afford to get too far ahead of themselves. Either way, Eddie Howe has built a great platform for himself with the future looking as bright as ever.

A questionable winless streak saw Newcastle draw with Bournemouth before losing to Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City. However, they have been able to bounce back in the form of victories over Wolves and Nottingham Forest.

The Erik ten Hag effect is in full swing at Old Trafford. The good times may not be 100% back in the way many desire, but this is still a club on the rise once again. Their triumph in the League Cup served as a nice confidence booster and from there, it’s all about seeing continued, steady progress. Between a top four race and the Europa League, the next few months are set to be chaotic for the Red Devils.

United are a strange team sometimes. On the one hand, they won four games in March across two competitions with West Ham, Real Betis (x2) and Fulham all falling. On the other, their only two Premier League games ended in a 0-0 draw with Southampton and a 7-0 battering at the hands of Liverpool.

Krafth, Fraser and Almiron are all listed as being absent here with Botman, Pope, Gordon and Saint-Maximin being fitness concerns.

Casemiro is continuing to serve his red card suspension with van de Beek, Garnacho and Eriksen still injured. Elsewhere, Martial, Rashford, Varane and Sabitzer face a race to be fit.

We saw how things played out in the League Cup final and, largely, we’re expecting to see something similar. Newcastle have been freezing a lot in big games recently and the opposite is true for the visitors, which is why we’re going to back a Manchester United victory.