The Solskjær revolution knows no limits!
Manchester United are good again!
Three convincing victories over Cardiff, Huddersfield and Bournemouth have got Ole Gunnar Solskjær off to a flyer, and beating Newcastle will put United just three points behind Arsenal in 5th (sorry Newcastle fans, but 'United' refers to Wednesday's visitors!).
The level of opposition for these three victories has been gleefully sneered at by plenty, but there is simply no way Jose Mourinho’s side would have dispatched them at an aggregate score of 12-3.
Solskjær’s side are playing with flair and panache. Marcus Rashford terrorised Bournemouth’s defenders on Sunday. Paul Pogba, with four goals in two games, has found some new tools after downing his previous set. It’s not just results that have immediately improved – it’s also the style.
Defensive issues remain for United – David de Gea has still kept only two clean sheets (as many as Fulham) – though Newcastle have scored just seven times this season, and Solskjær will see this as an opportunity to register a third shut-out.
It’s hard to look past a United win on Wednesday, particularly considering how fluid they’ve looked against opposition of a similar level to Newcastle.
The Magpies have lost seven of their 10 at home this season – a truly awful return – and it’s hard to make much of a case for them here. Rafa Benitez’s sides always shut up shop against the big boys, but with United brimming with flair and confidence, there will be no repeat of last season’s 1-0 Newcastle triumph.
Rafa’s boys have lost every match against the top six this season, including that incredible 3-2 against United earlier in the season, and I’m backing a 2pt United win to resume normal service in the new year.
The one main beneficiary from Mourinho’s departure (and there have certainly been a few) is Paul Pogba.
Not only has the Frenchman started scoring again, but that swagger – as if he owns the place – is back, and that’s bad news for Newcastle.
I’ve incorporated this thinking into my next tip: Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard to each have 1+ shots on target.
Pogba averages an impressive 3.1 shots-per-game this term, and considering his current goalscoring form, there’s little chance he’ll be trigger-shy on Wednesday.
Lingard, who scored a brace against Cardiff a couple of weeks ago, has registered five shots on target in his last four matches, so he’s a good bet to have a pop or two against a Newcastle side who do like to invite a little pressure.
So far this season, Newcastle have lost 2-1 to: Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Wolves.
Considering United’s still-leaky back line – and the fact that Newcastle have a relatively miserly defence (they have conceded five fewer goals than their visitors) – a 2-1 away win looks by-far the most likely scoreline.
At 8/1, it’s a cracking outside prospect.
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