Newcastle v Manchester United: Premier League – live

Evening everyone and welcome to the match of the day. It’s United v United. It’s the north-east v the north-west. It’s the third-best team of last season against the fourth. It’s this season’s sixth against this season’s seventh. And the similarities do not end there.

Both Newcastle and Man United had bruising assignments on the continent in midweek. Both emerged with a draw, reaching the same destination by quite different routes. In Paris Eddie Howe parked the bus and almost pinched a win. In Istanbul Erik ten Hag threw caution to the rain and twice lost his grip on a two-goal lead.

Both clubs have a busy treatment room. Man U are missing seven senior players, Newcastle nine. In fact, the injuries deserve a team sheet of their own.

Newcastle (3-2-3-1) Botman, Burn, Targett; Longstaff, Anderson; Willock, Murphy, Barnes; Wilson.

Man United (3-2-2-0) Martinez, Evans, Malacia; Casemiro, Eriksen; Amad, Mount.

Although they’re the more depleted of the two sides, Newcastle are hot favourites tonight. They have the Toon Army behind them. They’ve won their last five home games in the league, conceding only one goal and beating Arsenal, something no other club has managed. And they have the edge in the most vital department of all: playing as a team.

They have a centre-forward scoring goals for fun in the elegant Alexander Isak, whereas United’s Rasmus Hojlund is prolific only in the Champions League. Newcastle have outplayed Man United in both meetings since the big one at Wembley, winning 2-0 at St James’ Park in the spring and 3-0 at Old Trafford in last month’s League Cup rematch. They’ve also had one more day to recover from their midweek exertions.

Man U too are on a run – four away wins on the trot in the league – but all against clubs in the bottom half of the table. Erik ten Hag’s record in big away games is abominable. He lost at seven of United’s eight top-ranked opponents last season (while drawing at Spurs) and has added two more defeats since, to make a miserable tally of one point out of a possible 30. The 3-3 at Galatasaray, amateurish as it may have been, was actually one of his best results on the road, surpassed only by a 2-2 at Camp Nou.

Man U’s day started badly (for them) when their flight to Newcastle was cancelled because of the weather. Serves them right for not caring about their carbon footprint. They went by bus instead, as if they were mere rock stars.

They’ve shown some spirit this week on the first two of their three trips to fortresses masquerading as parks. So maybe they can surprise us by doing what only Darwin Nunez has done in the league this season at St James’ – pulling off an improbable heist.

Kick-off is at 8pm GMT, and I’ll be back soon with the teams.