Michael Dawson is expecting Manchester United to repeat their Carabao Cup final heroics against Newcastle today. It has been just over a month since the Red Devils claimed a 2-0 victory at Wembley.
On that day, Newcastle dominated the ball - but failed to dominate the game as Man United coasted to a comfortable win. However, a lot has happened since then in the Champions League race.
The Magpies were short of confidence heading into the cup final but are back on course after consecutive victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest. Man United, on the other hand, are having a blip of their own following a 7-0 drubbing at Liverpool and a 0-0 draw against Southampton.
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Victory today would lift Newcastle up to third on goal difference, with Tottenham Hotspur set to face Everton tomorrow. However, former Spurs defender Dawson believes the Magpies will taste their second home defeat of the campaign.
“We’ve built them up since Erik ten Hag has come in,” he told Sky Sports. “They (Man United) cruised the Carabao Cup final, in my opinion, and this is a replay of that. I thought they dominated the game.
“Casemiro is a big miss. It’s no surprise that, when he isn't there, they struggle. Now they’re going to be without him again for a few games. McTominay was great for Scotland in the two (international) games so he will have big, big confidence from that.
“He’s going to be big in the middle of the park. I know you (other pundits) are all saying Newcastle, but I see Manchester United. This is a game where they can stamp their authority and say ‘this is how far we’ve come since the start of the season’.
“They’re going to have to step up because this is a tough place to go. A team that has certainly picked up since Isak came into the team.”
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