Manchester United Vs Newcastle United Football Match Score 26 February 2023
Manchester United will aim to end their six-year trophy drought when Erik ten Hag’s resurgent side face Newcastle in the League Cup final, while the Magpies’ Saudi-funded revolution could produce the club’s first major prize since 1969. As underachieving members of English football’s aristocracy in recent years, Man Utd hope the showpiece at Wembley on Sunday can serve as a long-awaited rebirth.
However, revelling in their role as nouveau riche irritants to the Premier League’s established powers, Newcastle believe the final can serve as concrete proof they are now a force to be reckoned with. He is comfortable putting the ball into multiple areas, and with United often struggling to defend balls into the back post in particular, it is likely that Trippier will spend a fair amount of time aiming in that direction.
United usually place their fullbacks at the posts, likely predicting that less of a leap will be needed with the ball needing further to travel. That might be something worth looking at for this match, given that Newcastle have the quality to deliver accurate balls with good height to them, even at lengthier distances. It will be vital to defend the set plays that Newcastle are so happy to depend upon to avoid granting them what could prove to be their biggest strength. Newcastle’s right-hand side
Man United prefer the left, Newcastle favour the right – making it easy to guess where much of the game will be played. In the case of the Magpies, Trippier – their most important player in so many ways this season – often is ‘unlocked’ by lateral movements from Sean Longstaff and Bruno Guimares. Along with their top scorer Miguel Almiron, these trios often work triangles to create overloads. Those often lead to deliveries into the box, but the Paraguay winger is also a threat with his ability to beat players and get a shot off.
With the Geordies often so reliant on creating 3v2’s in that area of the pitch, Man United will have questions to answer on their own left flank. Fred may well be the better option in midfield, with the Brazilian a more effective ball-winner that Sabitzer, and thus more capable of protecting Luke Shaw at left back. What United are certain to possess over Newcastle on that flank is sheer pace. Fred, Shaw, and Marcus Rashford (should Wout Weghorst be preferred to Jadon Sancho to help with set plays) have the beating of Trippier, Longstaff, and Almiron when it comes to attacking at speed. Manchester United have been among the most effective sides in the Premier League when it comes to fast breaks. With Newcastle often needing to push their right-sided trio high up the pitch to create chances in open play, United will have plenty of space to attack quickly after turnovers.
On three occasions this season, Newcastle have been involved in matches in which the ball has been in play for slightly over 45 minutes. They rank above only Leeds United for average in-play time in the Premier League. There are a couple of ways in which Newcastle go about achieving this. As pointed out by Erik ten Hag in the build up to the game, Eddie Howe’s team look to “annoy.” As the manager says, “It’s up to us that we get speed in the game, but we are then dependent on the refereeing as well.”
Wout Weghorst has one goal in 11 starts for United and that went in on the rebound with the goalkeeper prone. The ‘keeper was also Wayne Hennessey.
That is a wretched record for any striker, never mind a United striker. Weghorst has been overplayed and overexposed, a consequence of Anthony Martial’s brittleness and United have sensibly listed the Frenchman among the players for sale. As contradictory as it may seem, starting Weghorst would still be logical. If United go with an extra winger then they are down to one dependable game-changer in Alejandro Garnacho when the availability of two was the difference in midweek. Newcastle have the best defensive record in the top flight and United need ample attacking options in reserve to potentially call upon. Particularly if Marcus Rashford is not fully fit.
Antony deserves to start today and the attacking quartet of Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford and Weghorst have lined up before.
Manchester United have not won a major trophy since the 2017 Europa League, a prize they claimed just weeks after beating Southampton in their most recent League Cup final appearance.
As if their longest trophy drought for 40 years was not bad enough, United also suffered the indignity of watching bitter rivals Manchester City surpass them as England’s pre-eminent football force.
United, who last won the title in 2013, finished a dismal sixth in the Premier League last term. But after a decade in the wilderness, they have been revived by ten Hag since his arrival from Ajax last year.
Ten Hag has tried to temper expectations in his first season but he knows victory this weekend would be a meaningful moment for a club climbing out of the doldrums. “It’s a great opportunity to get the silverware. The fans are really waiting for it and so we do everything we can to give them their honour,” ten Hag said.
Newcastle United’s biggest game for decades is here, and it’s fellow Premier League side Manchester United standing in the way of the club’s first domestic trophy since 1955. Eddie Howe will name his most important Magpies’ starting XI to date, and it’s far from a straightforward selection after being handed a number of selection dilemmas. While Loris Karius is expected to replace the suspended Nick Pope in goal, and Bruno Guimaraes almost certain to start as well, who forms the attack is giving Howe a welcome headache.
Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin started, and linked up well against Liverpool last Saturday, but Howe is hopeful Joe Willock can join Callum Wilson in returning from injury. A front three of Miguel Almiron, Wilson and Joelinton has served United well this campaign, but the pace and energy of Isak and Saint-Maximin are also an option. Here’s the Newcastle United starting XI we’re predicting Howe to name for the Carabao Cup final at Wme
