Afternoon all! We here at SM hope you had a fantastic Christmas and are looking forward to a bumper Boxing Day of Premier League action.

Our live game on this page is the match at Old Trafford as Man Utd take on Newcastle. The team news has just reached us, so let's get straight to it.

MAN UTD XI: De Gea; Jones, McNair, Evans; Valencia, Carrick, Rooney, Mata, Young; Van Persie, Falcao
Subs: Lindegaard, Rafael, Smalling, Blackett, Fletcher, A. Pereira, Wilson

NEWCASTLE XI: Alnwick; Janmaat, Coloccini, S.Taylor, Dummett; Colback, Anita; Sissoko, Perez, Gouffran; Armstrong
Subs: Woodman, Williamson, Satka, Cabella, Vuckic, Riviere, Cisse

Right then. Van Gaal makes one change from the 1-1 draw at Aston Villa on Saturday as Paddy McNair returns in defence, allowing Michael Carrick to move forward into his usual central midfield position. Darren Fletcher is the man that drops into defence.

Further forward, captain Wayne Rooney continues in a deep-lying role to allow both Radamel Falcao and Robin van Persie to start in attack. Is the Dutch-Colombian duo the best two-man frontline in world football? Here's the former celebrating his equaliser at Villa Park, a great header.

Moving onto visitors Newcastle, Alan Pardew makes two changes from the heartbreaking late loss to North-East rivals Sunderland on Sunday. Cheick Tiote is suspended and replaced by Vurnon Anita in midfield, while Adam Armstrong comes in for Sammy Ameobi.

Armstrong's inclusion is the standout news there - he makes his first Premier League start at the age of 17. Plenty is expected of the frontman, who should lead the line today as Perez drops into the three playmaking positions behind.

Ameobi, who was enjoying a good run in the team, is nowhere to be seen today. Has he been dropped, or is he injured?

There is also no Angel Di Maria for the home side today. He made his first appearance for almost a month from the bench at Villa, but must have aggravated a problem if he's not in the squad at all this afternoon.

Moving away from the game Old Trafford briefly, we've got every Premier League game covered with live text coverage that you can access via our live scores hub. Open that link in a new tab and follow as many games as you like!

There is one early kickoff that's in the second half at the moment. Leaders Chelsea are on course to put the pressure on City and United as they lead West Ham 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Follow the rest here.

DI MARIA LATEST: News from Guardian journalist Daniel Taylor on Twitter: "Confirmation that Angel Di Maria was injured in last #MUFC training session. Don't know the extent of Di Maria's injury but recurring theme for #MUFC - latest figure was 49 injuries this season, 24 different players."

That is a massive blow for United. We don't yet know if the Argentinian has suffered a serious injury, but any time missed at this busy time of year is cruel on Van Gaal. When he was fit and playing regularly at the start of the season, the £60m man was United's best player and often carried the team. At least they have the likes of Rooney, Van Persie and Falcao, eh?

KICKOFF! The hosts get us underway in Manchester.

UPDATE: Goodness me, we've seen some early goals today! New Championship leaders Ipswich Town scored after 18 seconds against Brentford earlier today and there's already two goals in the Premier League 3pms. Sunderland lead Hull thanks to Adam Johnson, while Spurs are ahead at bottom side Leicester thanks to Harry Kane.

Alnwick is Newcastle's third-choice goalkeeper, remember. He makes an awesome save with his left-hand to tip Rooney's header wide, but it wouldn't have counted as the England captain was offside.

Armstrong almost bursts into the box and almost creates a chance for Perez, with Evans getting across to clear on the six-yard line. Even, end-to-end start.

CHANCE! Although Newcastle don't manage a shot here, it's a really good chance for them. Perez comes forward with the ball and has Armstrong to the right, but it's Gouffran in acres of space out on the left that he should pass to. Instead, he tries to cut back and get off a shot himself and is tackled. Waste.

UPDATE: Man Utd's neighbours City take the lead at West Brom through Fernando. As things stand, Man Utd will be nine points adrift of City and 12 behind Chelsea.

CHANCE! Perez with the best chance of the game after some great work by Armstrong to win the ball back on the goalline. The ball bounced up in front of Perez and he tried an acrobatic bicycle kick and got it all wrong.

CHANCE! Up the other end it's United who threaten as Young's cross somehow misses the head of Falcao. Replays show that the Colombian was offside, but he wasn't flagged.

PENALTY SHOUT! Newcastle want a penalty as Mata, when tracking Gouffran, clips the Frenchman's heels and brings him down in the box. It looks like a clear spot kick, but Mike Jones shakes his head and Newcastle are dumbfounded. Gouffran was looking up at the ball and ready to bring it down or head at goal when Mata made contact.

CHANCE! Give me some time to catch my breath guys! Another opening as Van Persie beats the offside trap and tries to round Alnwick. He's a long way wide of the goal, though, and is only able to sidefoot it wide at the near post. A tough chance, but the Dutchman would have expected to do better.

Blimey, what a mad start to the game. Both sides have looked threatening but it's Newcastle who have impressed most with their free-flowing counter-attacks. United's defence is weak and Newcastle are exposing that.

SAVE! Again it's Newcastle who come forward in numbers. This time it's right-back Janmaat with a fierce drive from 20 yards that De Gea acrobatically tips out for a corner. Fine save from the in-form Spaniard.

It's been a brilliant, brilliant start from Newcastle, but will they regret not making their pressure pay? To be fair to them, they had what seemed to be a clear penalty not given.

What did I say?! It's against the run of play, but Man Utd will take it. They get an odd piece of luck as referee Jones fails to award them a free kick when Armstrong hauled over McNair. It gives the Newcastle teenager a chance to shoot, but his shot is blocked and the home side streak forward on the break. Mata clips a ball to the back post where Falcao does superbly to slide and toe the ball back across goal for Rooney and an easy tap-in.

What a suckerpunch that is for Newcastle. They had been playing so well but now have a bit of a mountain to climb at Old Trafford, where Man Utd haven't lost since the opening day.

CLOSE! Falcao is flirting with offside on almost every Man Utd attack, but he stays on here and is so close to meeting Young's inswinging cross. In the end it's good defending from Dummett to ease him away from making contact.

Man Utd have dominated the ball so far with 72% possession, but it hasn't felt like constant waves of red. Newcastle have been excellent on the counter-attack and continue to threaten.

Gouffran with some neat dribbling to break forward after Man Utd got some advantage that they didn't want from Mike Jones, who is having a poor game. Gouffran should have looked for the unmarked Armstrong, but didn't get his head up.

Jones with a really important header at the back post to put the ball out for a corner from Colback's inviting free kick.

This is really harsh on Newcastle, but ever so clinical from the hosts. Once again Falcao plays a big part as he goes in strongly to win the ball back. Mata soon has it and slides in Rooney for a simple finish past Alnwick, who again could do absolutely nothing.

SHOT! Valencia with his trademark shift and sprint onto his right foot before shooting low straight at Alnwick.

At the other end Sissoko tries his luck from distance and although it's a firm hit, it's far too close to De Gea. He's not going to struggle there.

PIC! Here's Rooney tucking home the first:

Not much action as half time approaches. Man Utd will be more than happy with the scoreline after that nervy opening 15 minutes that Newcastle dominated. Worst performance of the day: referee Mike Jones, who Pardew will no doubt have words about after the game.

ONE minute of time added on after an enthralling 45 minutes that has just flown by!

Newcastle have a free kick just before the interval, but Dummett's floated delivery is headed away and that's that for the first half.

So it's Wayne Rooney's well-taken brace that has the home side leading 2-0 at the break. Newcastle will feel hard done by, but a combination of missed opportunities and poor refereeing hasn't helped. Man Utd have been much more clinical and look on course for a seventh win in eight games.

If you're only just joining us and want a quick summary of the first half, check out our half-time report here.

STAT: Here's a great stat on Rooney from @MisterChiping on Twitter: "Wayne Rooney has now scored on EVERY day of the week in Premier League (M-T-W-T-F-S-S). He had never scored on a Friday."

The Man Utd and England captain has now scored 11 goals in his last nine Premier League games at Old Trafford as well. They were also his 11th and 12th goals against Newcastle, only against Aston Villa has he scored as many.

Here's the Man Utd number 10 celebrating with Falcao, who did so well to slide in and cut the ball back for the first and then won the ball back for the second.

HALF-TIME SCORES: Here are the seven other scores at the break in the Premier League. Read all of our half-time reports from this page.

Burnley 0-0 Liverpool
Palace 0-1 Southampton
Everton 0-1 Stoke
Leicester 0-1 Spurs
Sunderland 1-1 Hull
Swansea 1-0 Villa
West Brom 0-3 Man City

KICKOFF! The visitors get the second half underway. No changes from either manager at the break.

So with Chelsea already victorious today and Manchester City well on top at West Brom, it's crucial for Man Utd to win if they have any kind of outside chance at closing in on the top two.

UPDATE: Rain is falling heavily in Manchester and the goals continue to pour in in the league as well. Southampton go two up at Palace, while Leicester equalise against Spurs.

A fairly tame start to the second half at Old Trafford, Newcastle have lost all the belief that they started the game with.

If Newcastle looked a little timid at the start of the half, what hope have they got now? It's far too easy for United as Rooney floats a ball in behind the defence and Van Persie plants a header across goal into the far corner.

Newcastle close to pulling one back as Sissoko fires over a fabulous low cross that is just too strong for the fellow grey shirts in the middle.

Man Utd come forward straight away and Rooney's clever backheel puts Falcao in loads of space outside the box. He could shoot, but clips over a clever pass for Van Persie who should probably try a trademark first-time volley but instead miscontrols the ball.

UPDATE: Not a goal update, but a weather report for you as SNOW, yes the white stuff, is falling heavily at The Hawthorns where City lead the Baggies 3-0.

Armstrong has been bright on his first Newcastle start in the Premier League and also produces a neat goal when a half-volley fizzes wide.

BOOKING! First yellow card of the day for Newcastle centre-back Taylor after bringing Mata down on the edge of the box.

MAN UTD SUB: Van Gaal makes the first change as Fletcher replaces Carrick in a like-for-like centre-midfield swap.

CLOSE! Rooney so close to his hat-trick from the resulting free kick, which had Alnwick rooted and just cleared the crossbar.

NEWCASTLE SUBS: A double-change from the visitors as Remy Cabella and Papiss Cisse replace Dummett and Armstrong.

MAN UTD SUB: Falcao's impressive game comes to an end as youngster James Wilson replaces him in attack. The Colombian was my man of the first half, but is saved for the trip to Spurs on Sunday.

BOOKING! First yellow card for a Man Utd player as Van Persie slides in nastily on Dutch teammate Janmaat.

With Falcao going off early, Rooney is surely going to be named man of the match today. He has two goals and an assist.

Rooney perhaps a little lucky not to go into the book after sliding through the back of Cabella. The difference in how Newcastle are playing to the first 15 minutes is so vast.

A reminder that Man Utd will stay third today, 10 points behind Chelsea and seven adrift of City.

CHANCE! Great chance for Van Persie to join Rooney with a brace but he completely fluffs his line with a right-footed volley.

SAVE! Perez, who has been Newcastle's brightest player, with a great run down the right before cutting inside and getting off a left-footed shot that De Gea beats out at the near post.

MAN UTD SUB: Third and final change for the home side as Rafael replaces Valencia down the right.

CHANCE! Newcastle have a free kick out on the left and it's whipped in by Cabella for Taylor, who gets under the ball and heads a good chance over.

NEWCASTLE SUB: Pardew makes his final substitution, with Haris Vuckic on for the tireless Perez.

Superb sidefooted penalty from the substitute as he plants it into the top corner. Remember my pre-game prediction? 3-1 ;)

It was certainly a soft penalty to award by Mike Jones and maybe he felt a little guilty after the one that he didn't give in the first half. Unfortunately for Newcastle, it's too little too late.

BOOKING! I just mentioned the non-award of a penalty in the first half and there's an ironic moment as Gouffran clips Mata's heels and is booked. It's not too dissimilar from what happened early on when referee Jones let it go.

FOUR minutes of time added on and the stadium has already began to significantly empty. No-one expecting a late Magpies comeback.

A comfortable win in the end for United then after a nervy start. Rooney (x2) and Van Persie the scorers as United stay within 10 points of the top.

For Newcastle, it's their fourth defeat in a row in all competitions and third on the bounce in the league. Pardew's side are down to 10th in the league and now nearer the drop zone than the top four.

Time for us to say goodbye, thanks for joining us on SM this afternoon. Click around on site for all the Premier League match reports and head this way for our in-depth coverage of the evening kickoff between Arsenal and QPR. Enjoy the weekend!