Premier League: Manchester United vs Newcastle United Odds, Analysis, & Picks

Premier League matchday 18 begins on Boxing Day with an intriguing affair at Old Trafford as Manchester United welcomes Newcastle United to town. The kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET. The Red Devils are coming off a gut-wrenching 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, but they still remain in reach of a Champions League spot before the turn of the year. The Magpies meanwhile, blew a 2-0 lead against Chelsea on matchday 17, ultimately settling for a point. Both sides will be motivated to respond here. Read on for the Manchester United vs Newcastle United picks.

Odds courtesy of TonyBet.

Manchester United vs Newcastle United Odds

There’s no clear favorite here. United have +154 odds at soccer betting sites. Newcastle returns at plus odds as well, sitting as +170 on the moneyline. A draw is priced +265.

The Magpies have gotten the better of the Red Devils in recent memory, winning five of the last six meetings across all competitions.

Manchester United vs Newcastle United Analysis 

The Red Devils may not be a title contender once again, but they’re definitely improving a ton compared to last season, when the club was not far off relegation. Ruben Amorim’s men are sitting in seventh place – just three points behind Chelsea, who are in fourth spot. Making a return to the Champions League continues to be a reality for United, and there’s tons of time left in the campaign to work their way up the table. That being said, games like Friday are crucial.

Amorim’s group hasn’t beaten Newcastle since May of 2024, but that did happen at Old Trafford. The Red Devils’ form at home has been impressive, compiling a 4-2-2 record compared to a 3-3-3 mark on the road. United has just one defeat in their last five games, but only two of those were victories. The Red Devils also settled for draws against Bournemouth and West Ham – two teams they should’ve beaten.

Newcastle’s rise to a Champions League side over the last few years has been inspiring, and they’re holding their own in this year’s competition. However, Eddie Howe’s men aren’t exactly in a prime position to make it back to the UCL next term. The Magpies are in 11th place with a 6-5-6 record, grabbing 23 points from 17 matches.

Saturday’s stalemate with the Blues perfectly summed up Newcastle’s season so far. After taking an early 2-0 lead on home soil, the hosts proceeded to allow Chelsea to score twice and in the process, salvage a point. The Magpies have had trouble putting away opponents this season, but their record against Man United is a positive sign ahead of Friday’s affair. Plus, they’re only six points out of fourth. The table is that tight right now. A consistent run of results can change everything for the visitors.

Manchester United vs Newcastle United Injury News

United is dealing with its fair share of absences. Matthijs de Ligt (back) and Harry Maguire (thigh) are sidelined for the hosts, while Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are at the Africa Cup of Nations. Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes are also injured. Newcastle’s backline is also dealing with a plethora of absences as Dan Burn (abdominal), Tino Livramento (knee), Kieran Trippier (thigh), Emil Krafth (knee), Sven Botman (back), and Jamaal Lascelles (fitness) remain absent.

Manchester United vs Newcastle United Picks

Newcastle’s brilliance against the Red Devils is hard to ignore, and the hosts are missing several very key players in their squad. I’ll take the Magpies to grab three points here.

Pick: Newcastle United +170/TonyBet