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Roy Keane and Alan Shearer predict whether Newcastle United will make the Champions League after 4-1 win
Liam Brusby
4 – 5 minutes
Newcastle United boosted their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League with a dominant win over Manchester United.
Kevin Keegan was honoured at St James’ Park before the game. He will be delighted to see the scoreline after the historic rivalry with Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1990s.
Newcastle United’s win against Manchester United means they have done the double over the Red Devils for the first time since 1931. The 2024/25 campaign is one that keeps seeing Newcastle and their players break records.
Tino Livramento was sensational for Newcastle, making up for a minor blip in the first half with a sensational cross into the box for the second goal.
The win sees Newcastle move up to fourth in the table, just one point off Nottingham Forest above them. Eddie Howe’s side can move up to third if they win their game in hand against Crystal Palace at St James’ Park on Wednesday.
Harvey Barnes also impressed while the pressure was on, Anthony Gordon returned to Newcastle’s matchday squad for the first time in over a month following suspension and a hip injury. He came with the game at 4-1 but failed to make much of an impact.
With a return to the Champions League on the horizon, Man United legend Roy Keane has predicted where Newcastle will finish at the end of the season.
READ MORE – What Eddie Howe said in ‘message’ to Jason Tindall immediately after Newcastle’s 4-1 win vs Man United
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Roy Keane makes Newcastle United Champions League prediction
Keane complimented Newcastle’s style of football during a recent podcast appearance. He was able to see them in the flesh on Sunday as they dismantled his former club.
The former Man United star has a frosty history with Newcastle, he was once sent off during a 4-3 defeat at St James’ Park for swatting a card away from the referee. He then charged at Alan Shearer but was not able to get his hands on him.
Newcastle players want Champions League football next season; the futures of some could depend on that.
Alexander Isak wants Champions League football before committing his future to Newcastle, while Sandro Tonali has also shared his desire to return to Europe’s top competition.
Speaking post-match on Sky Sports (h/t BBC Sport) Keane stated whether he thinks Newcastle will have enough to finish in the Champions League spots.
“Newcastle are in the driving seat for a Champions League spot now,” he said.
“They have got good options off the bench. Their attacking players have been on fire. This is where you find out about your squads.
“Newcastle have got used to winning big matches. I think they will deal with the pressure and I think they have a great chance now. They are in the driving seat.”
READ MORE – What Newcastle United did to ‘rub’ defeat in Manchester United’s face after 4-1 loss
Alan Shearer makes Newcastle United Champions League prediction
Shearer was in attendance at Sunday’s win and was clearly delighted with the result. The Newcastle legend mocked Man United on social media with a brilliant post of a laughing GIF.
Shearer turned down a move to Man United for Newcastle in 1996, and he likes to remind the Red Devils what they missed out on from time to time.
Speaking to Premier League Productions after the game, Shearer assessed Newcastle’s final six games and whether they can qualify for the Champions League.
“I don’t think it’s a bad fixture list at all for Newcastle,” he said.
“Particularly with the feel-good factor, with the way this football club is at this moment in time. I don’t think it’s a bad fixture list at all, it could be a lot worse.
“It’s almost impossible to say ‘yeah, we should be beating them’, there are so many difficult results in and around this time because of the commitments or what other clubs may be going for. What they have to protect, what they have to try and get. So, it’s very difficult to predict.”
