The festive fixture bonanza begins tonight at Old Trafford as Manchester United host Newcastle United.
The 20:00 GMT kick-off not only gets Gameweek 18 of Fantasy Premier League (FPL) underway but also begins a run of 40 Premier League matches in 14 days.
TEAM NEWS
How will United get on without Bruno Fernandes? This is the first time he’s been absent from a league squad in almost exactly a year, with his last missed match ironically being Newcastle at home in December 2024. The Red Devils lost 2-0.
He’s injured and makes way from the line-up tonight but Casemiro returns from a one-match suspension to take his place.
Lisandro Martinez also comes in for his first United start in over 10 months. He replaces Leny Yoro in the only other alteration Ruben Amorim has made to the side beaten at Aston Villa.
Newcastle, meanwhile, are unchanged from the 2-2 draw with Chelsea last Saturday.
There’s no Anthony Elanga, who reportedly has an ankle injury.
Nick Pope does make his return after a month out with a groin issue but is only among the substitutes.
£4.4m FPL midfielder Lewis Miley continues at right-back.
LINE-UPS
Manchester United XI: Lammens, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw, Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu, Mount, Cunha, Sesko.
Subs: Bayindir, Zirkzee, Malacia, Yoro, Fredricson, J Fletcher, T Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato.
Newcastle United XI: Ramsdale, Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall, Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey, Jacob Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.
Subs: Pope, Joelinton, Wissa, Barnes, Willock, A Murphy, Shahar, Neave, Alabi.
