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With Manchester United in potential turmoil 12 points adrift off leaders Arsenal, Saturday presents a viable opportunity to begin laying the foundations for a possible title challenge as they host Newcastle United at Old Trafford. David Moyes will be looking to improve a dismal home record, the champions winning only 3 out of 7 at Old Trafford.
United go in with a depleted strike force missing Wayne Rooney through suspension and Robin Van Persie doubtful to start due to persistent groin and toe injuries. Michael Carrick misses out yet again through injury piling up the pressure on the United midfield which has been on the receiving end of some scathing criticism by fans and the media.
Newcastle who have enjoyed a great November, travel to Manchester after a demoralizing 3-0 defeat to Swansea but can take pleasure in the form of two of their French recruits, Loic Remy and Yoan Gouffran.
Remy, their leading goal scorer tied with Rooney on 8 goals has failed to score in his three appearances against United and will look tom bury the hatchet.
United recent home record-WLDWWL
Hatem Ben Arfa remains doubtful with illness and Pappi Cisse is not expected to recover from a heel injury forcing manager Alan Pardew to reel in the services of Shola Ameobi.
The Toons go in to this crunch fixture in a rich vein of goal scoring form scoring 2 goals each against Aston Villa, Cardiff City and Everton, Gouffran and Remy key to their revival. United’s fragile defense will be tested yet again with 24% of Newcastle’s goals coming in the final ten minutes of a game, a period in which United ironically have lost the plot lately.
Manchester United are almost a month without a victory, their last win coming against Arsenal on November 10th. They have kept only 3 clean sheets this season, an encouraging statistic for the visiting Geordies. United’s patchy form combined with the absence of Rooney and RVP poses a precarious situation, one that could see United slip up to within 15 points off leaders Arsenal, a catastrophic outcome to say the least.
David Moyes surely has his work cut out. The Toon army will not make it any easier.
