JUMP TO:
Hoping for a boost in the crowded and imperfect race for European places, Manchester United and Newcastle meet at Old Trafford for 2025’s only Boxing Day match in the Premier League on Friday.
Both clubs have trekked through the first half of the season below expectations, with Man United in seventh while Newcastle are back in 11th.
The recent form hasn’t exactly indicated an uptick in future results either, as both clubs have won just two of their last five league games. Thus, today’s match between the two banged up squads could provide a lift upon which any potential winner to press forward into the new year.
The two clubs are both suffering from key injuries and absences, with Man United missing captain Bruno Fernandes plus a few AFCON participants, while Newcastle sport a long list of missing players due to various injuries.
The Sporting News is following the Man United vs. Newcastle match live, providing score updates, commentary, and analysis.
Man United vs. Newcastle score
| Score (1H) | Goal scorers | |
| Man United | 1 | Dorgu (24′) |
| Newcastle | 0 | – |
Location: Old Trafford (Manchester, England)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Keep track of every game and every goal via SN’s live Premier League scoreboard
Starting lineups:
Man United (3-4-2-1, right to left): 31. Lammens (GK) — 6. L. Martinez, 26. Heaven, 23. Shaw — 2. Dalot, 25. Ugarte, 18. Casemiro, 13. Dorgu — 7. Mount, 10. Cunha — 30. Sesko.
Newcastle (4-3-3, right to left): 32. Ramsdale (GK) — 67. Miley, 12. Thiaw, 5. Schar, 3. Hall — 39. Guimaraes, 8. Tonali, 41. Ramsey — 23. Murphy, 27. Woltemade, 10. Gordon.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Man United vs. Newcastle live updates, highlights from Premier League match
24th min: GOAL! MAN UNITED! PATRICK DORGU OPENS THE SCORING! THAT’S TOP CLASS!
Manchester United force a save from Aaron Ramsdale at the near post, and on the ensuing throw-in the Red Devils take it long, and with the ball headed up in the air, Dorgu rips it on the volley and deposits a beautiful finish past the goalkeeper at the near post!
The goal survives a quick VAR check for offside, but Benjamin Sesko isn’t interfering with play, so the goal stands! It’s the first of Dorgu’s Man United career!
12th min: Chance, Man United! Benjamin Sesko misses the target with a chance near the penalty spot! He receives a lateral ball with his back to goal, and knowing he would be closed down imminently, decides to shoot while doing a pirouette, but can’t hit the target.
9th min: There’s an early problem for Newcastle as Aaron Ramsdale is down on his knees holding the back of his left hamstring and requiring treatment. The broadcasters indicate that they quietly heard the Magpies’ goalkeeper wasn’t feeling 100% before the match, and he may have to come off early on.
Nick Pope, who himself just came back from a knock, is warming up on the touchline. Surely Ramsdale can’t continue like this, right? Seems it would be a misstep from Eddie Howe not to concede his goalkeeper is less than fully fit…
2nd min: Ruben Amorim, who once famously said not even the Pope could convince him to change his tactics, appears to have instituted a back four, with Diogo Dalot on the right and Luke Shaw on the left. The broadcast immediately indicates United have trained a back four all week. A wrinkle!
Kickoff: They’re under way at Old Trafford! The only Boxing Day fixture on the 2025/26 Premier League calendar is now in play!
Man United vs. Newcastle: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more
15 mins to kickoff: Manchester United have been, unquestionably, horrific without Bruno Fernandes. Since the 2020/21 season when Fernandes first became a regular in the United squad, he has been absent from the starting lineup seven times — the club has lost six of those games, drawing the other and failing to win any of them.
Lately, however, the numbers are even worse. They have lost each of their last five Premier League games without Fernandes in the starting XI, outscored 15-4 against Aston Villa, Crystal Palace, Arsenal, Newcastle, and Wolves, shut out in three of those matches.
30 mins to kickoff: One surprise absentee for Newcastle is Anthony Elanga, who has been left out of the squad entirely after picking up a knock against Chelsea last time out.
Eddie Howe backed Elanga’s recent poor form, saying “you’d see a showreel of a player who has some unbelievable attributes” if fans would look at his positive moments in a Newcastle shirt, instead of focusing on the negative. Unfortunately, it won’t be today where he gets his next shot to showcase those abilities.
45 mins to kickoff: Lisandro Martinez makes his first start since February 2, when he started against Crystal Palace and tore his ACL in the 82nd minute.
He also wears the captain’s armband with Bruno Fernandes out injured. Martinez last wore the armband in a December 30 match last season against — Newcastle! He played 65 minutes in a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford. Foreshadowing?
1 hour to kickoff: Ruben Amorim in the Manchester United programme says that the Red Devils “were unfortunate to lose at Villa Park,” last time out. ‘We had control, played well and were the better team for long periods of the game.”
This is quite simply untrue. While Man United had 57% possession, football is about far more than that. They lost the expected goals battle 1.54 – 1.33, had the same amount of corners, and just three more shots than Aston Villa. United will have to be better than that to beat Newcastle today at home, end of!
🚨🗣️ Ruben Amorim in the match day programme:
“Good evening and welcome back to Old Trafford. I hope you all had a great Christmas Day and enjoyed
the time with your loved ones.This is always a special time of the year to play football, and tonight, as we welcome Eddie Howe… pic.twitter.com/lVW88UvT9Z
— UtdXclusive (@UtdXclusive) December 26, 2025
1 hour 15 mins to kick: Lineups are in! Newcastle name an unchanged side from last time out, with Aaron Ramsdale still in goal while Joelinton remains on the bench.
For Manchester United, the only surprise is the presence of Lisandro Martinez in the starting lineup, as he replaces Bruno Fernandes as the captain while making his first start for the club in 327 days. He plays along the back in place of Lenny Yoro, who is on the bench.
1 hour 30 mins to kick: Newcastle striker Nick Woltemade is excited to be involved in the only Boxing Day match in the Premier League this year. He says his entire family is traveling to England to watch him play at Old Trafford!
“I always watched it when I was in Germany,” Woltemade said. The Premier League’s festive fixtures are a hit even with players in other countries!
“My full family is coming to England!”
Nick Woltemade is looking forward to being involved in Boxing Day football for the first time as Newcastle United face Manchester United! 🎁 pic.twitter.com/apuKqkQFI7
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 26, 2025
2 hours to kickoff: Manchester United will be missing Bruno Fernandes today, as the captain is sidelined with a hamstring issue.
United have not won any of their last seven Premier League games without the Portugal international in the starting lineup, dating back to the 2022/23 season, losing six and drawing one.
They’ll need to improve that number if they wish to remain afloat in the race for European places through January, as Fernandes is expected to miss around three weeks.
“We have a plan [for January], we will look to sign a player if we believe he’s the future of the club”
Ruben Amorim on Man United’s plans for January and says he expects Bruno Fernandes to return from injury in three weeks 🔴 pic.twitter.com/O5CtvYIZt5
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 26, 2025
Man United vs. Newcastle kick off time
This Premier League match kicks off from Old Trafford on December 26, also known as Boxing Day, at 8 p.m. local time in Manchester, England. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Fri, Dec. 26 | 3 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Fri, Dec. 26 | 12 p.m. PT |
| UK | Fri, Dec. 26 | 8 p.m. BST |
| Australia | Sat, Dec. 27 | 7 a.m. AEST |
| India | Sat, Dec. 27 | 1:30 a.m. IST |
Man United vs. Newcastle lineups, team news
Manchester United are without intrepid captain Bruno Fernandes who went down with a hamstring injury and will likely miss about a month of action.
They are also missing a host of players to AFCON duty, including Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, and Noussair Mazraoui all of whom are regulars within the squad.
Additionally, Kobbie Mainoo and Matthijs de Ligt are both down with slight injuries and face a fitness test to be ready for today’s match.
Man United starting lineup (3-4-2-1): Lammens (GK) — L. Martinez, Heaven, Shaw — Dalot, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dorgu — Mount, Cunha — Sesko.
Man United subs: Bayindir (GK), Fredericson, Malacia, Yoro, J. Fletcher, T. Fletcher, Lacey, Mantato, Zirkzee.
Newcastle have a lengthy injury list, and while it has not affected the starting lineup to a significant degree, it has massively sapped the club’s depth.
The most notable injury absences include Dan Burn, Jamaal Lascelles, and Kieran Trippier, while Sven Botman picked up a back injury. Starting goalkeeper Nick Pope, who was a game-time decision, is on the bench while Aaron Ramsdale starts. Emil Krafth will need a bit longer to make it back from a knee issue.
The club has not yet given any information on the knee injury Tino Livramento picked up recently, but manager Eddie Howe indicated they’re “hoping for good news” which relayed some positivity. Anthony Elanga was not risked after taking a knock against Chelsea.
Newcastle starting lineup (4-3-3): Ramsdale (GK) — Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall — Guimaraes, Tonali, Ramsey — J. Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.
Newcastle subs: Pope (GK), A. Murphy, Sharar, Joelinton, Willock, Barnes, Alabi, Neave, Wissa.
Man United vs. Newcastle live stream, TV channel
Here is how to watch the match in some of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | USA Network | Fubo |
| Canada | — | Fubo Canada |
| UK | Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League | Sky Go |
| Australia | — | Stan Sport |
| India | Star Sports Select 1 | JioHotstar |
