Chris Sutton makes Man Utd and Newcastle claim ahead of Boxing Day clash

Chris Sutton has revealed his prediction for Manchester United’s Boxing Day clash against Newcastle United.

Eddie Howe takes his Newcastle team to Old Trafford on Friday night for the only Boxing Day Premier League game of the year.

While Newcastle are in the bottom-half of the table in 11th – four places behind seventh-placed United – just three points separates the two sides.

Both teams have picked up just a point from their last two games, with Ruben Amorim’s side losing at Aston Villa last time out following a frenetic 4-4 draw with Bournemouth.

Newcastle, meanwhile, suffered a painful derby defeat to Sunderland before blowing a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea at the weekend.

Sutton expects Newcastle to get back to winning ways at Old Trafford, partly due to Manchester United ‘missing a few players’ to the Africa Cup of Nations but also as they have ‘the better squad’.

‘Manchester United got a bit of praise for their performance against Aston Villa, even though they were beaten,’ Sutton told BBC Sport.

‘The key to how this game goes is what they do without Bruno Fernandes, and how they are going to cope without him.

‘You look around Ruben Amorim’s squad and he does not seem to have a lot of leaders in there.

‘It will be interesting to see if Amorim plays centre-back Lisandro Martinez in that holding midfield role, the same job he did when he came on for Fernandes against Villa, because he could provide that leadership they will need.

‘Newcastle United will be absolutely sick that they let a two-goal lead slip against Chelsea last week, while their away record has a lot of room for improvement – they have won only one of their eight away league games so far.

‘Manchester United are three points and four places above them in the table, but they are missing a few players at the Africa Cup of Nations and, in my mind, Newcastle United have the better squad anyway.

‘Because of that, I am going to back Eddie Howe’s side here. There won’t be many goals, though, and they may only need to score one to win it.’

Ahead of the Boxing Day clash, Newcastle legend and Betfair ambassador Alan Shearer named just two Manchester United players in a combined XI.

‘Manchester United are missing some big players due to AFCON, but they’re also missing Bruno Fernandes, which will be a big thing for them,’ Shearer said.

‘Newcastle have defensive problems. Lewis Miley was brilliant at right-back, and in that first half against Chelsea, Newcastle were much more like themselves.

‘The second half wasn’t as good. It’s a really tough one to predict. It could go either way, so I’d probably sit on the fence and say draw.

‘There are so many things like, “What happens if this happens?” That is why I’m going to go for a draw. It’s a massive game for both clubs.

‘The night time kick-off should make it a cracking atmosphere. I think it will be a score draw, and everyone will be watching that game.’

Newcastle beat Manchester United 2-0 in this fixture last season, while they thumped Amorim’s side 4-1 in the game at St James’ Park.

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