The pressure is on for both teams in this match, with the temperature of Manchester United manager Louis Van Gaal’s seat rising by the day, and things going even worse for Newcastle United boss Steve McClaren. With Manchester sliding down the table and Newcastle sitting in the relegation zone, everything is on the line in this match -- and that kind of desperation can yield some pretty fun football.
Manchester United vs. Newcastle 2016 live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
Can Newcastle pull off the upset and pull out of the relegation zone?
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Manchester just won their first match in the league in far too long, and followed it up with a miserable performance in a last-gasp win in the FA Cup over a League One team. Newcastle have fared no better in the league, losing three straight and dropping their own FA Cup match, though at least they fell to a decent Premier League team in Watford. If they can somehow pull off an upset and take down Manchester, they’d have a shot at coming out of the relegation zone -- Swansea are just two points ahead, so a loss to Sunderland would see Newcastle pass them in the standings.
With how Newcastle have played of late, though, an upset seems like a tall order, even against a Manchester United side that’s been awfully unimpressive in recent weeks. Still, with so much on the line in this game, anything can happen -- and this season in the EPL, anything often does happen.
Key player -- Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle)
The Dutch winger has tended to run hot and cold this season for the Magpies since joining last summer, but when Wijnaldum gets hot, very few defenders can keep him in check. With the issues Manchester have had out wide in defense thanks to injuries, we could see the temperature rise significantly, and if he gets free in this match it could be game over for the Red Devils in a hurry.
Key matchup -- Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle) vs. Matteo Darmian (Manchester United)
Darmian has now been at his best since being forced by injuries to move to the left side of the pitch, but Manchester need him to pick up his game. He’ll be facing off with Newcastle’s best attacking player in Sissoko, a creative force who will run Darmian ragged. If he can’t at least slow Sissoko down, Manchester’s already-beleaguered defense could crack under the pressure that the Frenchman will create.
Newcastle United injuries and suspensions
Out: Vurnon Anita, Papiss Cisse, Mike Williamson, Massadio Haidara, Rolando Aarons, Tim Krul, Steven Taylor, Emmanuel Riviere, Curtis Good
Manchester United injuries and suspensions
Out: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Phil Jones, Nick Powell, Marcos Rojo, Antonio Valencia, Luke Shaw
Match Date/Time: Tuesday, 2:45 p.m. ET, 7:45 p.m. local
Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle, England
TV: NBCSN (U.S.), TSN 1, 4 (Canada), ST Sport 1 (U.K.)
Online: NBC Sports Live Extra (U.S.)
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