Newcastle vs Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clinches fourth consecutive win
Re-live coverage of the match at St James' Park
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Your support makes all the difference.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's dream start to life in the Manchester United hotseat continued at Newcastle as the caretaker manager emulated Sir Matt Busby's record feat of winning his first four league matches in charge.
The encouraging post-Jose Mourinho era continued at St James' Park, where the Norwegian's side emerged from their toughest test to date with another three points and a clean sheet to boot.
Solskjaer's Reds rode their luck at times as Christian Atsu proved a thorn in their side, but substitute Romelu Lukaku scored with his first touch of the game before Marcus Rashford wrapped up a 2-0 win at Rafael Benitez's struggling Newcastle.
It was a dogged display that showed flashes of exciting attacking football at a ground where United had fallen to defeat in February, thanks in no small part to a man-of-the-match display by Martin Dubravka.
Newcastle's goalkeeper was in the headlines for the wrong reasons this time as he spilled a stinging Rashford free-kick, allowing sub Lukaku to turn home just 38 seconds after coming on. Rashford joined in on the act by completing a fine counter-attack as the visitors took their goal tally to 14 goals in four matches. Re-live the action below:
What time does it start?
Newcastle United vs Manchester United kicks off at 8pm (GMT)
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports Premier League. Sky customers can also view the action online live on the Sky Go app.
Independent Sport will also keep you up to date with the goals as the fly in via our live blog.
Player to watch
Paul Pogba: Mourinho never got the best out of the French World Cup winner but finally he’s back. With an astonishing four goals, three assists and two Man of the Matches in his last three games, Pogba is showing what he’s capable of.
Form guide
Newcastle Utd: DLDWLD
Manchester Utd: WWWLWD
Odds
Newcastle Utd to win: 19/4
Manchester Utd to win: 3/5
Draw: 3/1
Prediction
Newcastle Utd 1-4 Manchester Utd: Manchester Utd have looked like a completely different side of late and finally Pogba is beginning to recreate his impressive World Cup form under the new manager. Newcastle are struggling to consistently pick up points and I think they’ll slump to a defeat against a confident side.
We are hearing the delay at the Vitality Stadium was due to an erroneous fire alarm. A reminder that that game will now begin at 8pm.
The first major move of the transfer window came this morning at Stamford Bridge. Prodigious American Christian Pulisic has emerged as one of Europe's most coveted talents over the last few years, and Chelsea have won the race for his signing, with a reported fee of £58 million required to bring the winger to the club.
Pulisic will remain at Borussia Dortmund on loan until the summer before moving to London for the start of next season.
An ambitious and exciting signing, but not one without potential drawbacks for Chelsea. On the transfer, it's our Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney:
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is striving to become the first Manchester United manager since Sir Matt Busby in 1946 to win his first four games in charge. Esteemed company.
What has the Norwegian brought to the club since arriving to inspire his perfect start?
Paul Pogba has his say:
Two of the bottom three meet this evening, with bottom-placed Huddersfield seeking what would be a huge win at home to Burnley.
Sean Dyche's side earned a crucial three points against West Ham last time out, but still find themselves in 18th.
It is unlikely to be a vintage Premier League fixture, but it is a big one...
There will be more mid-table jostling this evening, with four of the sides seeking seventh meeting.
Andy Carroll makes his first start for more than a year as West Ham host Brighton, while the delayed fixture at the Vitality Stadium sees Bournemouth meet Watford.
It's all a little congested among the Premier League's most consistently inconsistent teams. Leicester's win at Everton yesterday leaves them seventh for the time being, but there could be plenty of movement behind them today.
Indeed, Wolves could leapfrog their fellow Midlanders for that 'best of the rest' spot with a win over Crystal Palace at Molineux.
Some bad news for the visitors in the last hour-or-so - it is understood a deal for Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke is dead (for the time being at least)
Roy Hodgson is desperate to improve his forward options this January, and was effusive in talking up Solanke earlier in the week. Jordan Ayew starts this evening, a selection decision that has not gone down well with the Palace fans on Twitter...
Ten minutes until kick off in the four games that remain scheduled to begin at 7.45.
How will the new year start?
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