Premier League: Manchester United vs Newcastle - Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Manchester United take on Newcastle this Saturday morning New Zealand time in what feels like a weighty Premier League fixture for both sides at Old Trafford.

The visitors are trying to find some consistency mid-table, while the hosts are desperate to climb back into European contention. Bottom line, this clash has all the ingredients to be a classic. Will Manchester United bounce back from their defeat to Aston Villa, or can Newcastle arrest their slide under Eddie Howe?

I break down the key details in my Manchester United vs Newcastle preview. From team news to stats, I dig into all you need to know, including a juicy $3.60 play for those eager to get involved on football betting sites.

Manchester United

It’s been a frustrating season for the home side.

Old Trafford hasn’t quite been the fortress they need it to be, and their consistency is non-existent. They come into this match fresh off a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa which resulted in them slipping to seventh on the table. United’s attack has been firing— 31 goals this season already—but their defence is far too leaky.

Ruben Amorim needs an immediate response from his team. Historically, Manchester United enjoy playing Newcastle at home, but they can’t afford the same defensive lapses they exhibited against Villa and Bournemouth. If they can tighten up at the back and feed Bryan Mbeumo in the right areas, I reckon they can cause trouble here.

Team News: Bruno Fernandes is a major doubt after picking up a knock.

Predicted Lineup: Onana; Mazraoui, De Ligt, Martinez, Dalot; Ugarte, Mainoo; Mbeumo, Mount, Garnacho; Cunha.

Newcastle

Newcastle seem to be hitting a bit of a wall the past few weeks.

Sitting 11th on the table, they’ve struggled to string results together. A 2-2 draw with Chelsea most recently showed they still have plenty of stubbornness about them, but their 1-0 loss to Sunderland a week or so ago was a bitter pill to swallow. I reckon the loss of Alexander Isak to Liverpool is still evident, as they’re falling off a bit in the final third.

But my main concern is Newcastle’s injury list. With key defenders like Dan Burn and Sven Botman out, their backline is pretty makeshift. They love to press, but a leaky defence at Old Trafford is a massive risk. 

The latest markets on betting apps show just how NZ bookmakers rate their chances, with the odds against them keeping a clean sheet.

Team News: Nick Pope is pushing for a return in goal, which would be huge. But their defence is down to its bare bones with Livramento and Trippier also sidelined.

Predicted Lineup: Pope; Krafth, Schar, Kelly, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Gordon, Woltemade, Barnes.

• Manchester United have scored 31 goals in the league but conceded 28.
• Bryan Mbeumo is Manchester United’s top scorer this season.
• Newcastle have won three of the last five meetings between these two sides.
• Both teams have scored in 65% of Manchester United’s matches this season.

Both these sides have decent attacks but I’ve got major questions about their defending.

Manchester United are desperate to make up for their recent loss and will come out hard here. They can’t afford to sit back at home, which should open up the game early.

Newcastle, on the other hand, have the pace of Anthony Gordon to hurt the home side on the break. If United push too many men forward, their visitors will punish them. However, I don’t trust Newcastle’s depleted defence to hold out for 90 minutes against Mbeumo and Cunha.

I predict an entertaining battle. United have the edge at home, but neither side looks capable of keeping a clean sheet.

A 2-1 or 3-1 win for the home side wouldn’t surprise me. Backing the over 2.5 goals market feels like the smart move.

Manchester United to Win & Both Teams To Score @ $3.60

That’s right, I’m going for a value play here.

My bet is based on how each team plays. Manchester United’s games average over 3.0 goals this season. They score for fun but also let goals in. Newcastle are a different animal away from home and usually find the net, even when results don’t go their way.

Recent history suggests there will be chances, and with Newcastle's defensive crisis, I can see United outscoring them in a chaotic clash.

Bottom line, getting over $3.50 at Bet and Play for a home win where both teams find the net is simply too good to ignore.