Boxing Day setting at Old TraffordManchester United welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford on Boxing Day in a fixture that carries familiar weight in the prem calendar, yet comes wrapped in uncertainty for...
Boxing Day setting at Old Trafford
Manchester United welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford on Boxing Day in a fixture that carries familiar weight in the prem calendar, yet comes wrapped in uncertainty for both clubs. Momentum has been elusive, injuries have bitten hard, and the table remains finely poised as the festive programme begins to shape the season’s narrative.
United start the evening four places and three points clear of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, sitting seventh but with an opportunity to climb rapidly. Victory would draw them level with Liverpool and Chelsea above, tightening a congested middle section of the prem and sharpening the sense that this contest could carry significance beyond the day itself.
Manchester United vs Newcastle kicks off at 8pm GMT on Friday December 26, 2025, under the lights at Old Trafford. Boxing Day fixtures have long carried a sense of theatre in the prem, and this meeting fits that tradition, two historic clubs seeking traction at a demanding point of the season.
The atmosphere is likely to reflect the tension of that context. Supporters arrive aware that dropped points now tend to echo loudly later in the campaign, particularly for sides harbouring European ambitions.
Photo: IMAGO
How to watch United vs Newcastle live
In the UK, the match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. Coverage begins at 7pm GMT on Sky Sports Premier League and 7.30pm on Sky Sports Main Event. Subscribers can also follow the action via the Sky Go app, while live updates will be available through Standard Sport’s matchday blog.
United’s preparations have been disrupted by a growing injury list. Harry Maguire is sidelined with a thigh problem and is not expected back until early January, while Matthijs de Ligt is nursing a back issue and will also miss out. Bruno Fernandes remains unavailable, depriving United of their captain and creative heartbeat.
Kobbie Mainoo had been pushing for increased involvement in Fernandes’ absence, but a minor calf injury is likely to rule him out for the remainder of 2025. Casemiro returns following suspension, although Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are away at the Africa Cup of Nations, further limiting options.
Newcastle’s situation is arguably more acute, particularly in defence. Nick Pope could return, and Sven Botman is edging closer, yet Dan Burn, Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier are all ruled out. Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles and William Osula also remain sidelined, leaving Howe to patch together a back line under pressure.
United vs Newcastle prediction and outlook
Form offers little comfort to either side, yet recent history leans towards Newcastle, who have won five of the last six meetings with United. The absence of Fernandes weakens Ruben Amorim’s side significantly, removing a source of control and leadership in key moments.
Even so, Newcastle’s defensive absences suggest United should find opportunities, particularly at Old Trafford where attacking intent tends to rise with the crowd. Both teams may carry a figurative post Christmas fatigue, and that could temper the tempo and precision.
A tight, scrappy contest feels likely, shaped as much by who is unavailable as by who takes the field. A share of the points would surprise few in the prem landscape.
Category: General Sports
