Football betting tips: Premier League
2.5pts BTTS & over 2.5 goals at 10/11 (bet365, Coral, Ladbrokes)
0.5pt Mason Mount 1+ assists at 8/1 (bet365)
Boxing Day football.
I could prattle on for hours about the game being gone, it being a disgrace and the powers that be not caring about fans but to what end? Instead let's squeeze what we can from the solitary Premier League fixture on what ought to be a hallowed day in the English football calendar; it's also a late night kick-off by the way.
No pressure on Manchester United and Newcastle then. The good news is this has all the hallmarks of being a thoroughly entertaining fixture thanks to both teams' inability to defend.
Ruben Amorim has stopped United from losing as much this season, with defeat at a seemingly unstoppable Aston Villa on Sunday only their second in 11 matches, but defensively things remain a real struggle - only the current bottom three, Leeds and Bournemouth have conceded more than their 28 league goals.
Newcastle - who sit three points and four places lower in 11th - are suffering the exact same issues. Eddie Howe's team kept five clean sheets in their opening seven games and had conceded only five goals at that point. They have since let in a further 17 in 10 matches, failing to keep a single clean sheet.
At the other end of the pitch Amorim's side trail only Manchester City for most goals scored in the top flight this term. Again, Newcastle have had few issues themselves in that respect, with their recent 1-0 defeat in the Tyne-Wear derby the only occasion in 20 fixtures that they have failed to find the net.
These factors combine to make BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE & OVER 2.5 GOALS a great bet at 10/11. It has been a winner in nine of Newcastle's past 10 league games, with that derby defeat the only exception, alongside coming in in eight of Manchester United's last 10.
Were Bruno Fernandes likely to be missing through injury I would have been tempted to get the hosts onside in some way. Newcastle have been poor away this term, taking just six points from eight fixtures and winning only once.
United hope to have Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt back available, but they are now without their captain and AFCON trio Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui. Just as it looked as though Kobbie Mainoo may get a run in the team he is also expected to be out for a few weeks.
All of this contributes to them being even weaker in central midfield, an area of the pitch Newcastle are especially strong with Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali, so there is just too much doubt there when it comes to the 1x2.
One player who will have to step up with so many players absent is MASON MOUNT.
The former Chelsea midfielder has forced his way into the United XI this season, starting four of their last five matches and scoring in the wins over Wolves and Crystal Palace.
With Fernandes and Mbeumo missing he is likely to take over set-piece duty, piquing my interest in the 8/1 about him to provide 1+ ASSISTS.
His recent performances for United have been hugely encouraging, giving reason to believe he could return to his creative best when, across three seasons at Stamford Bridge, he provided 29 assists, with a high of 16 (10 in 32 league games) in 2021/22.
Odds correct at 10:00 GMT (23/12/25)
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