Manchester United will welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford this evening, aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive loss in all competitions.
The Red Devils will have to make do without numerous first team options, especially in the midfield as both Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte are suspended for the match.
One issue United will have to deal with as a consequence of this is the lack of intensity in midfield.
Ruben Amorim has claimed that he wants his team to run like “mad dogs” but without Ugarte, this task seems significantly more complicated.
What’s more, Newcastle are one of the hardest working, highest pressing teams in the league, so there is a real danger that they will expose Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo’s lack of intensity on and off the ball.
Another obvious aspect United must pay significant attention to is set piece defending. Since Ruben Amorim has come into the club, the team’s record at defending free kicks and corner kicks has been nothing short of shambolic.
United have conceded goals from set pieces against Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, AFC Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanders, and this is only in the month of December.
Stopping Newcastle from taking advantage of this sizeable weakness will be one of the most important things United do if they are to end 2024 on a positive note.
The Magpies are also very dangerous in transition and will look to get in behind the United defence with the pace and power of Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt will be massively important in this match, especially Yoro’s pace to keep up with Newcastle’s rapid attackers.
Finally, United will need Amad Diallo to step up to the plate to replace the creative threat of Bruno Fernandes.
The Ivorian has arguably been the club’s player of the season, especially after the departure of Erik ten Hag, as he has scored five goals and provided seven assists all season.
Diallo impressed last season against the same opposition, scoring and assisting in a 3-2 victory last time out, so will know he has the tools to hurt the Geordies’ defence. Moreover, his links to Sunderland will also certainly give him a little extra motivation to damage the Magpies’ European aspirations.
If United are to get the result Old Trafford is desperate for, they will need to allow the 22 year old the creative keys to the match.
Featured image Nathan Stirk via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
