As part of the traditional Boxing Day celebration in the Premier League, on December 26th, 2025, at 08:00 PM (UTC), Manchester United will face off against Newcastle United at the Theatre of Dreams (Old Trafford). The match comes at an important time for both clubs; there are European aspirations and bragging rights to play for along with the momentum that comes from getting a positive result. Manchester United's winning percentage is 38%, Newcastle United's is 36%, and the draw probability is at 26%. However, there is much more than just the numbers that make this matchup interesting.
Once again Old Trafford plays host to a classic match between two historic teams that are both on and off the field. With goal-scoring opportunities through the roof and a rivalry that has been fueled by an abundance of tactical intrigue, this game could very well become one of the most memorable matches in the history of the Premier League.
Match Details
- Competition: Premier League 2025-2026
- Date: Monday, 26th December 2025
- Time: 8.00 PM (UTC)
- Venue: Old Trafford, Stratford
Manchester United is under pressure to find a balanced combination under Amorim
United got into this match after losing to Aston Villa 2-1 last time out—a game in which they had nearly 57% of the possession and managed 15 shots. Once again Amorim's team was unable to take advantage of scoring opportunities when they had them in this match. After Matheus Cunha scored in the first half to make it 1-1, United was unable to cope with Villa's attack when Villa regained their lead shortly thereafter due to United's poor defense.
This loss has been indicative of the problems with United's season thus far, where even if United played well, they have struggled in being able to produce a strong defense with very few clean sheets. In the last six matches, United has given up 10 goals. United is currently ranked amongst the best in the league in terms of goal scoring; however, their inability to win games continues to hinder their overall success.
United's home record reveals that they have been able to maintain an unbeaten streak in their last two matches at Old Trafford but cannot seem to win any of their last three matches at the venue. The environment at Old Trafford is still very intimidating for all opponents; however, the recent poor results indicate that the iconic stadium has become less of a definitive advantage for the team.
Manchester United's Injury and Team News
Amorim's tactical approach has been made more difficult due to the number of players out injured or unavailable for selection. The loss of Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo leaves Manchester United lacking the creativity required to aid their attacking play and a degree of midfield control. Defensively, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire continue to be injury concerns, further disrupting any defensive setting Amorim may look to set up for this match.
Other players absent due to AFCON 2025 duty—Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui, and Amad Diallo—limit United's depth in wide areas, which means Amorim will need to depend on tactical discipline and the organization of the team as opposed to relying solely on the individual brilliance of one or two players.
Newcastle United's Strengths and Weaknesses
Newcastle United travel to Old Trafford having recently drawn 2–2 against Chelsea, a match that perfectly sums up Newcastle's season to date. The first half saw Nick Woltemade score twice and highlighted Newcastle's ability to create chances and score. After that, Newcastle became much more defensively suspected, allowing Chelsea to claw their way back.
Newcastle have now conceded goals in six consecutive matches, with nine goals conceded from those six matches. Eddie Howe's side is, for all the attacking qualities they possess, struggling to hold onto leads; this has cost Newcastle valuable points, and subsequently they are still in the lower part of the table but showing flashes of good football. Newcastle is facing severe concerns with their away form. The Magpies have only won 1 of their last 11 Premier League matches away from St. James' Park, which is an alarming statistic heading into their upcoming match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Compounding this issue are the defensive injuries that have hurt Newcastle's performance and placed them at a disadvantage against teams that feature elite attacking talent.
Injury Update for Newcastle United
The injury list for Newcastle United is large enough to make a serious impact. Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier, Jamaal Lascelles, Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Valentino Livramento, and William Osula are all out of action for Newcastle in their match against Manchester United. Furthermore, Nick Pope, their goalkeeper is also doubtful to play in this match, increasing the likelihood that Aaron Ramsdale will start the match as keeper for Newcastle.
As a direct result of these injuries, Newcastle United will be without many key players, which will weaken its defensive unit against a fast-acting Manchester United team that takes advantage of quick transitions and works from the flanks.
Head-to-Head Record & Recent Meetings
Historically, Manchester United has dominated the head-to-head matchup with Newcastle United, winning 92 of the 181 matches played to date. Newcastle has won only 48 of those matches and has also played to a draw 41 times. However, if we look back at the previous encounters between these two teams, the story looks different. In their last six meetings, Newcastle has defeated Manchester United five times, including a decisive 4-1 win in early 2018. The Magpies scored 14 goals to just four for United in those meetings, demonstrating a tremendous shift in the form of both teams.
Historically, Newcastle has found Old Trafford to be a challenging ground to play on. However, United has won seven of the last ten league matches played at home against Newcastle, so there may yet be hope for history to repeat itself for United!
Analysis of Tactics: Expected Systems of Each Team and Key Players Battling during Play
While Newcastle is likely to employ a 4-3-3 tactic in their approach, Manchester United is expected to implement a 3-4-2-1 system based upon using wingbacks to provide width down the flanks of the pitch and engage in high-pressure defending to win the ball back quickly after losing it. Diogo Dalot and Patrick Dorgu will be expected to stretch the pitch with their runs on the wings, with Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha playing behind leading striker Benjamin Šeško.
Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali are Newcastle's two best midfielders with excellent technical ability and control—they will be responsible for the majority of what happens in the match. Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy possess great pace and energy on the wings to provide separation from opposing defenders. Nick Woltemade will lead the attack; his size combined with his goal-scoring ability makes him a serious threat against the United backline. Ugarte vs. Guimarães could very well be the key matchup for determining both teams' ability to dictate and control the tempo and style of the game.
Players to Keep an Eye On
Matheus Cunha (Man Utd)
In the absence of Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha has taken over responsibility for creating scoring chances for Manchester United and, since joining the club, has become their best attacking threat due to his inventive movements, clever linking of play, and outstanding finishing ability.
Nick Woltemade (Newcastle Utd)
His recent two-goal performance against Chelsea, plus his strength and poise in front of the net, give him a volume of chances against a shaky Manchester United defense.
Match Preview and Betting Tips
Both teams are vulnerable defensively, and, therefore, expect many goals in this match. In almost all of the previous matches involving both teams, a majority of the matches have gone over 2.5 goals. This has been a popular betting trend. Newcastle has had very recent success in this fixture, but struggles during their travels, and having an extensive injury list will provide Manchester United with a small edge, especially when playing at Old Trafford.
Current Winning Odds (via Stake.com)
Final Prediction
The intensity of this match will be at an all-time high. Expect to see lots of attacking moments and tactical evaluations during the match. The urgency of Manchester United to "answer back," combined with their struggles while defending while travelling, could ultimately decide the outcome of this match.
- Prediction: Manchester United 2-1 Newcastle United
This match is sure to produce some exciting moments and may very well hold the key to a significant three-point win towards their goal of qualifying for Europe.
