Source: SKY_Sports
Newcastle v Man Utd live!
Darren Arbuckle reckons it will be a good night for Manchester United and has a few stats to back up his opinion: I think United will be too strong for the Toon Army tonight, St James Park is normally a good place for United. United have scored 23 goals at St James Park in their last 7 league and cup games, they hit 5 there last season, I don't think the score line will be the same tonight but I predicting a 2-0 United win with Rooney scoring 1st.
Thanks to Matt Kearns from Derby, who is expecting a few goals on Tyneside tonight: A great match in prospect, at least 4 goals in this game, but i dont think man u will have it all their own way. 2-2 or 2-3 to man utd.
Jack MacDonald disagrees with me about how big Toon are these days: First of all I wouldn't call Newcastle a Premier League Giant David; Newcastle fans have to stop thinking they have a divine right to win medals because it will not happen for a long time. This once big club has been ruined by bad management. Having said that, I hope they win tonight because I'm a Liverpool fan! come on the toon.
Sir Kaneo says on the email: I am a Manchester United fan and i am worried that they will suffer a Carling Cup hangover so im going for a 1-1 draw tonight. With Martins scoring for Newcastle and Fletcher scoring for Man Utd!
Thanks to Marvin, who has emailed in from Indonesia. He says: I am a Newcastle fan but Man U is too good for any team. A draw will be a good game for Newcastle.
The betting from Sky Bet before kick-off sees the visitors red-hot favourites at 4/9 with the hosts 15/2 and a draw 3/1. Those of you who fancy a punt on the first goalscorer can back Ronaldo at 4/1 with Rooney and Berbatov both 5/1 chances.
Any thoughts pre-match as these two Premier League giants battle it out in the north east - drop me a line at david.john@bskyb.com!
Here is the Manchester United line-up: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Carrick, Park, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Foster, Anderson, Giggs, Scholes, Evans, Tevez, Eckersley. Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
Here is the Newcastle line-up: Newcastle: Harper, Steven Taylor, Coloccini, Bassong, Jose Enrique, Lovenkrands, Ryan Taylor, Geremi, Gutierrez, Martins, Smith. Subs: Krul, Cacapa, Butt, Ameobi, Edgar, LuaLua, Carroll. Referee: Steve Bennett (Kent)
Caretaker Newcastle boss Chris Hughton drafts in one former United midfielder for another as Alan Smith replaces Nicky Butt, who is named among the substitutes after injuring a knee at Bolton, while Geremi comes in for Shola Ameobi.
Sir Alex Ferguson wheels out his big guns once again tonight as Manchester United looked to re-establish their seven-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League. Ferguson makes seven changes from the side which defeated Tottenham on penalties in Sunday's Carling Cup final -with Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Park Ji-Sung, Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney all returning. Van der Sar resumed, having not conceded a Premier League goal in 1,302 minutes of football dating back to November 8.
