Man Utd won't have it easy in Newcastle

Manchester United interim boss Ralf Rangnick will defend his perfect Premier League record against Newcastle on Monday.

The German has achieved 1-0 victories over Crystal Palace and Newcastle, with a 1-1 Champions League draw against Young Boys sandwiched in between.

Man Utd may not be the finished article, but they are 1.49 favourites to overcome the Magpies at St James’ Park, with the hosts priced as 7.08 outsiders. A draw is on offer at 4.8.

This match may be tighter than many anticipate, though, and backing the Geordies with a +1 Asian handicap at 2.08 could be the best bet.

Newcastle aim to snap loss streak

Newcastle are a club eagerly awaiting the January transfer window. Three points off safety, big investment in the squad is expected following the recent takeover by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.

The evidence suggests it is needed. Even new manager Eddie Howe has struggled to stir the team into life, with just four points taken from the six matches he has overseen.

Newcastle approach this encounter after successive losses against Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester City, in which they have scored just a single goal and conceded 11.

Meanwhile, they have lost their last four against the Red Devils, leaking four goals in three of those fixtures and three in the other.

More solid, less spectacular

Man Utd, meanwhile, have not exactly sparkled since Rangnick took charge. They have, though, at least looked a good deal more structured and will travel to Newcastle having won three successive league games for just the second time this season.

Tight victories have been commonplace this season, with the Red Devils winning only four of 23 fixtures in all competitions by more than a solitary strike. Among these was a 4-1 success over Newcastle as Cristiano Ronaldo made a triumphant return the club.

Will Ronaldo bag another goal against Newcastle?

Those heady days and gone, and so too has previous manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

In has come the highly experienced Rangnick, but the fraught nature of the Premier League calendar over the festive period will provide a new test for him. Throw in a recent Covid outbreak at the club and suddenly this fixture does not look as straightforward as it may on paper.

Ronaldo’s fine Newcastle record

The chief strength of Man Utd has been scoring clutch goals late in games. In four of their five away victories in all competitions this season, they have netted the decisive goal after the 70th minute. 

Ronaldo has inevitably grabbed his share of these and has eight career goals against Newcastle in 12 previous outings. He is 1.65 to add to that tally at any time, though it is worth noting he has scored in only four of these matches. The Portuguese forward is priced at 3.75 to score first, as he did when the sides last met, and the same price on him is also available on him to strike last.

Recommended bet:

Asian Handicap: Newcastle to win +1 @ 2.08