Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

[Arijanet] Muric and [Robert] Sanchez, both of them conceding goals, errors leading to goals. Muric conceded five errors that have led to goals directly which is the most across any of Europe's top five leagues so you can understand why he has been taken out.

I'm surprised that both goalkeepers have been changed but when you look at the stats and how they have been playing this season, you can understand why the managers have changed them.

Nigel Reo-Coker
Former West Ham midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

When you talk about Enzo Maresca, I believe that this is a manager who has confidence in his ability.

You don’t go into Chelsea and make the tough decisions at the start of the season.

Suddenly you are exceeding expectation, but again I feel he’s a manager who is being very smart when he speaks to the media.

• Chelsea have lost just one of their last 12 Premier League away games (W8 D3), with their 0-0 draw at Everton last time out the only time they’ve failed to score in this run.
• Their tally of 20 away points this season is a joint league-high with Liverpool.
• The Blues' only defeats in their last 18 league away fixtures came at Anfield (twice) and the Emirates.
• Ipswich were unable to stay up on the two previous occasions they were in the Premier League's relegation zone at the end of a year: 1994-95 and 2001-02.
• The Tractor Boys could become only the fifth side to fail to win any of their first 10 Premier League home games in a season.
• Ipswich could equal their club record of 10 home league matches without a win from the start of a season, set in 2018-19 in the Championship. They finished bottom of the table in that campaign.

BBC Sounds

On the move tonight? Here's a reminder you can also take 5 Live commentary of Ipswich v Chelsea with you on the BBC Sounds app. Plus they'll be updates from the other two Premier League matches.

Or if you're busy at home but don't want to miss a moment you could tune in via your smart speaker, simply say to your device "Play Radio 5 Live".

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Old Trafford

Ruben Amorim has gone for experience in Manchester United's midfield tonight.

Casemiro and Christian Eriksen have not started in the same team since Amorim's first game in charge at Ipswich on 24 November.

Joshua Zirkzee has not impressed particularly as a number nine, so now he gets the chance as a number 10, which many see as his best role.

Amorim could do with a few decent performances from his players to give them a chance to end 2024 on a high - United have a trip Liverpool on Sunday so 2025 might not start too well.

Jamie Carragher
Former Liverpool defender on Sky Sports

The one big mistake Ruben Amorim made was the team he picked at Tottenham. On the back of the Man City game they had to keep the momentum going.

The way that they won the derby was fantastic, the buzz for the fans in the stadium and watching at home. They had beaten Pep Guardiola and their biggest rivals and they just had to keep it going.

But you look where they are now, three defeats in a row, they are in a really poor position.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says the vast expense of bringing him in will not shield him from the sack if he fails to produce a winning team.

While United sources stress there is total support for the new boss inside Old Trafford, recent results and performances have made some fans nervous.

Away supporters booed their team at the final whistle of the 2-0 defeat by Wolves at Molineux on Boxing Day, and with many exiting quickly it left the players to acknowledge hundreds of empty yellow seats before heading to the tunnel.

"The manager of Manchester United can never, no matter what, be comfortable," said Amorim.

"You can argue I have been here one month and I've had four training [sessions], but we are not winning. That is the reality.

"I know that if we don't win, regardless if they pay the buyout or not, every manager is in danger, I like that because that is the job."

Manchester United

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim speaking to Sky Sports: "It has been a little bit more difficult than expected yes because of the schedule. You don't have a lot of time to train, just to prepare the next game.

"There are a lot of things you should address but you cannot because there is no time. But now we will have more time. We also know that with the bad results it is hard to sell an idea but now we will have more time.

"I am trying to adapt to win games, because winning is important but I will not stop selling my idea because it is the only one. I was hired because of this idea and if you change your mind in these difficult moments then it is the end of any coach."

On more changes to his lineup: "At the beginning I made changes because of the training and now it is to win games, always I just try to win games. The team are in the same level so I try to use the characteristics for the opponent."

On Rashford's return: "Selection and we have a lot of players outside. As I said every week I choose the players for the opponent and he was available for selection. This time he is here."

Image source, Getty Images

The last time Newcastle won their final game of a calendar year was 2016, back when they were in the Championship.

Rafael Benitez was the boss, Isaac Hayden was running the midfield and Dwight Gayle was leading the attack up front. What a difference eight years makes.

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe speaking to PLP: "We are playing with a bit more belief. There is the confidence that every team needs to execute their best level of performance.

"We have seen from the difficult run of matches that we had, the Brentford game was particularly painful, but the players have bounced back since then. Gradually with each game we have got better and we are going to need to again tonight against a very good Manchester United team.

"Throughout the season we have tried to tweak little things to make the general performance better and there was a period where it did not have the desired effect. But we have continued to try new things and the balance of the team looks good at the moment.

"In football you never know what can happen so you cannot take things for granted. We know that we are going to need our best form in these next few games."

Manchester United fan Joe Smith, Stretford Paddock Youtube Channel:

"[The Newcastle game] is particularly daunting because the one thing that we aren't is athletic, high energy, high work rate and physical - they are our weaknesses, and they are all of Newcastle's strengths.

"With Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte being suspended tonight I can see Casemiro being run past a lot in midfield. It is going to be really hard."

Image source, Getty Images

Alexander Isak has been on fire recently with 10 goals in his last 10 Premier League games.

Even a hat-trick at Old Trafford tonight isn't out of question. That would take his goal tally to 27 goals in 2024 and see him match Alan Shearer's record for the Magpies in 2002.

That would be some way to end the year!

Chris Sutton
BBC Sport football predictions expert

I said before Christmas that I thought Newcastle would hit their stride and they have done exactly that. The way they are playing, they should win at Old Trafford and make it four league wins in a row.

Manchester United's form is the exact opposite. I am not concerned about Amorim getting the sack but it really does not help when your goalkeeper keeps on conceding goals direct from a corner - that is under-12s stuff.

I remember it happening when I was watching my son play when he was about 15 and he got done off a corner. I told him you would never see it happen to a professional goalkeeper, but it has happened twice in two weeks to Manchester United - first to Altay Bayindir and then Andre Onana. You could not make it up.

I need to apologise here though, because I was far too kind to Manchester United last week when I said they would get a draw at Wolves.

Their fans give me so much stick on social media whenever I say they will lose that it must have got to me a bit - I have become a bit of a chicken and have put them down to get a draw when my gut feeling has been for them to lose.

That has got to stop, because they are rubbish. That is not on Amorim because we will judge him when he has a chance to bring in his own players but, for now, we have to see them for what they are, which is a really poor side.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Gary Neville
Former Manchester United defender on Sky Sports

The most positive thing for Ruben Amorim is that he has seen the players for who they are. There has not been the big bounce that normally comes from a new manager but that is a good thing, he knows who they really are. He knew it was a big job when he came here but now he knows how massive it is.

Manchester United fan Joe Smith, Stretford Paddock Youtube Channel:

"As I'm sure you can imagine the mood among United fans is not great.

"There is a weird feeling that we have to accept that it is going to be really bad for a bit, but I don't think that anyone thought it would be quite this bad.

"14th on Christmas day is pretty rough isn't it? It does feel unthinkable being so low in the table."

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Old Trafford

A rallying cry from Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim in his programme notes tonight as his side look to avoid suffering a third successive home league defeat for the first time in almost half a century.

"It will take time but we will improve," he said. I have no doubt about that. This period will not last forever.

"We are looking to implement a new way of playing, at the busiest time of the year, so there are short-term costs for our long-term aims.

"I remain as convinced as I was on my first day there that we will achieve it (success)."

Image source, Getty Images

How many games have Manchester United won in the Premier League this December? Just two out of six.

December hasn't been a happy month for the Red Devils, with more Premier League defeats (four) than any other side.

The last time they lost five league games in a calendar month was way back in September 1962.

If they lose against Newcastle tonight, it will be the first time Manchester United have lost three league games in a row at home since February 1979.

Paul Robinson
Former England goalkeeper on Football Focus

Image source, Getty Images

Enzo Maresca deserves some credit for the form of Cole Palmer this season. We often see players coached into a system and they are almost overcoached.

He allows Palmer to play in the way that he does. The natural quality, like a young boy playing in the park, he is allowed to do that in the Premier League and does it with such quality.

No player has scored more Premier League goals in 2024 than Cole Palmer, with his 26 strikes also the most of any Chelsea in a single calendar year in the competition’s history.

Image source, Getty Images