Manchester United are seventh in the Premier League after losing at Aston Villa
Newcastle remain in the bottom half after drawing with Chelsea at home
Recommended bet: Draw and both teams to score
Manchester United host Newcastle on Boxing Day looking for a first win at Old Trafford since October.
The Red Devils had drawn their last two home games before losing at Aston Villa but a victory on Friday night will see the team climb to fifth in the table.
The Magpies, meanwhile, responded to last week's derby defeat by Sunderland by racing into a two-goal lead against Chelsea but had to settle for a draw at St James' Park on Saturday.
The latest Manchester United vs Newcastle odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Manchester United are without Bruno Fernandes after the talisman picked up a hamstring issue against Aston Villa, while Kobbie Mainoo has also been sidelined with a calf problem.
Centre-backs Harry Maguire and Matthijs De Ligt could feature having not played in December due to injury.
Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are away at the Africa Cup of Nations, but Casemiro should return to the starting XI, having been suspended for the trip to Villa Park.
As for Newcastle, goalkeeper Nick Pope remains a doubt with a knock and so Aaron Ramsdale will keep his place between the sticks. Defenders Tino Livramento and Dan Burn are out with respective knee and rib injuries, while Kieran Trippier is absent due to a hamstring problem.
Sven Botman is also unavailable through a back issue.
The stats
Manchester United have kept just one clean sheet in the Premier League this season
Newcastle have dropped 13 points from winning positions this season, more than any other team
The Red Devils have scored nine goals in their last three matches, conceding seven
Newcastle have failed to score just once since the last week of September, drawing a blank in the derby defeat by Sunderland.
The Magpies claimed a 2-0 victory at Old Trafford last season, their first away win over Manchester United in the Premier League since December 2013.
The latest Manchester United vs Newcastle odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Manchester United are striving to find consistency after seasons of setbacks and failure and have certainly made improvements this season under Ruben Amorim.
However, the Red Devils have not won successive matches since October and have tasted victory just twice in the last eight league games.
Those triumphs came on the road with United losing one and drawing two in their last three matches at Old Trafford.
Amorim will be eager to see an improvement at home and on Boxing Day and his team hosts a Newcastle side also struggling to go on a run.
The Magpies remain in the bottom half of the Premier League table having won just once in their last four matches.
With both sides possessing great quality but failing to build any real momentum, it could be that the teams cancel each other out on Friday night and have to settle for a share of the spoils.
Backing both teams to score could prove a smart bet with United keeping just one clean sheet this season and Newcastle only failing to find the net just once since September.
Back the draw and both teams to score to at 2.75/1 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Manchester United vs Newcastle odds are available on LiveScore Bet
