Sky Sports Pundit Paul Merson has insisted that Manchester United face a must-win game against Newcastle United this weekend. The Red Devils are presently eight points adrift of table-toppers Manchester City following a run of four games with just one victory.
While giving his weekly Premier League predictions on Sky Sports, Merson stressed the importance of Saturday’s late kick-off against Newcastle United with arch-rivals City facing Leicester City earlier in the day.
He said: “It is a must-win game for United as if I get my earlier results right, Man City will be clear and then they will need to win. United are not far away, if I am being honest…. I know they went to Liverpool and Chelsea and did not score.”
“I think the plan was to beat the lesser teams and do not get beat by the big teams, but getting beat by Huddersfield has put them behind the eight ball and so they have to win.”
Jose Mourinho’s men currently share a 100 percent league record at home alongside Arsenal this term, and Merson has backed United to seal a 2-0 victory, which would secure their sixth straight clean sheet at Old Trafford.
The Magpies have tended to focus on their defence on their travels this season, but United pose their biggest threat yet with Rafael Benitez’s side having mostly featured against bottom-half clubs on the road.
Manchester United have managed just two goals in the last four Premier League games, but this weekend could bring a strong reaction from the players with Romelu Lukaku, in particular, likely to be desperate to end his recent barren run.
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