Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of this afternoon's Premier League encounter as Manchester United welcome Newcastle United to Old Trafford. We should have some team news for you shortly...

NEWCASTLE: Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Cabaye, Tiote, Anita; Sissoko, Remy, Gouffran

Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew makes just the one change following the Magpies' 3-0 defeat at Swansea City on Wednesday as Vurnon Anita replaces Shola Ameobi. A sign of a more cautious approach from Pardew, perhaps?

NEWCASTLE SUBS: Elliot, Yanga-Mbiwa, Obertan, Gutierrez, Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi, Cisse

MAN UTD: De Gea; Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Jones, Cleverley, Januzaj; Van Persie, Hernandez

The big team news for the hosts is that Robin van Persie returns to the starting lineup after missing the last four games through injury. He will partner Javier Hernandez up front as Wayne Rooney is forced to sit out the match due to suspension. In total, David Moyes has made seven changes, with Jonny Evans, Nani, Phil Jones, Tom Cleverley and Adnan Januzaj also returning.

MAN UTD SUBS: Lindegaard, Ferdinand, Anderson, Valencia, Young, Zaha, Welbeck

It's interesting to see Wilfried Zaha's name among the Manchester United substitutes today. The youngster has struggled during his first few months at the club, but David Moyes has given him the nod on the bench this time.

Furthermore, there's no Marouane Fellaini in the squad for the champions this afternoon. The big Belgian has come in for some serious flack since joining from Everton over the summer, and Moyes has obviously seen fit to drop him today.

One fascinating area in today's match will be the midfield. The home side have a fairly inexperienced quartet playing there on the face of it, while Newcastle have the combative trio of Yohan Cabaye, Cheick Tiote and Vurnon Anita battling away in there.

Despite losing on Wednesday, Newcastle are sure to be arriving at Old Trafford with some hope considering Man Utd's slip-up in midweek against Everton. The Magpies are looking to win at the Theatre of Dreams for the first time since February 1972 - a whopping 41 years.

Man Utd v Newcastle (1245 GMT): The Red Devils have not lost successive #BPL home games since May 2002 #MUNNEW — Premier League (@premierleague) December 7, 2013

One player you just know is going to be important for Newcastle today is goalkeeper Tim Krul. The Dutch shotstopper has been a rock for the Magpies this season and was rewarded for his recent performances with the Premier League Player of the Month award for November. It was double delight for Newcastle in fact as Alan Pardew was named Manager of the Month.

Someone who Krul might be seeing a lot of today is Robin van Persie. Man Utd will be delighted with his return to the starting lineup, but reports have emerged this morning claiming that the striker wants to leave Old Trafford. It will be interesting to see how that one develops. You can read the story here.

6 - Robin van Persie has scored six goals in his last seven Barclays Premier League starts against Newcastle United. Return. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 7, 2013

RECENT FORM:

MAN UTD: DWDWDL
NEWCASTLE: LWWWWL

HEAD TO HEAD: Man Utd have been fairly dominant against Newcastle down the years, winning 77 out of 154 matches. Meanwhile, the Magpies have come out on top 40 times.

The teams played each other three times last season (twice in the league, once in the League Cup), but it was Man Utd who won all three games. One particularly thrilling match was at Old Trafford on Boxing Day as the hosts earned a 4-3 win thanks to Javier Hernandez's late goal.

Moyes: "We’re pleased @Persie_Official is back. I don’t know if he will play the whole game. He’s vitally important to us." #MUNNEW

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 7, 2013

Just over five minutes until kickoff. The players are slowly emerging in the tunnel as they ready themselves to step out onto the pitch.

Here come the players out onto the Old Trafford pitch, and they are greeted by a hearty roar from the crowd.

We will have a minute's applause in honour of the late Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday night at the age of 95.

Right, this one's ready to get underway. It'll be Man Utd to kick us off. Here we go!

It's been a lively start from both sides as they look to surge forward in the opening stages. Gouffran troubled the Man Utd defence with a threatening cross inside the first 30 seconds, but Evra was there to clear the danger.

The hosts are starting to assert themselves a bit more now, though the visitors are looking confident whenever they get on the ball. Both sets of fans are in fine voice.

YELLOW CARD: Referee Andre Marriner issues the first booking of the day for Yohan Cabaye after the Newcastle midfielder clattered into Adnan Januzaj. Not a very good challenge at all, that.

CHANCE! Man Utd launch a quick counter-attack through Evra before Cleverley is eventually picked out on the edge of the box. The midfielder has a couple of cracks at goal, but the Newcastle defence stands firm to block both efforts before Krul collects.

The home side are still dictating the play for the most part, though Newcastle continue to threaten. However, Man Utd are sure to be the happier of the two sides with around 14 minutes played.

Newcastle continue to look lively whenever they are in possession, but they're looking a bit toothless in attack at the moment. Remy has a half chance as he gets on the end of Sissoko's cross to head wide.

This is probably Newcastle's best spell of the match so far. The visitors are looking a bit too comfortable for Man Utd's liking as they pass the ball around with little trouble. Their midfield is also doing well to win it back when they lose it.

CHANCE! Lovely play from Man Utd as Hernandez and Januzaj combine on the right before the latter directs his cross towards Van Persie. However, Debuchy is there to clear the danger.

CHANCE! Newcastle have an attempt at goal now as Tiote feeds Cabaye, but the Frenchman drags his shot wide from about 20 yards. Just a tinge of exasperation creeping into the home fans inside Old Trafford.

What a dreadful waste. Man Utd win a corner, but they take far too long deciding what to do with it, allowing Newcastle to close down quickly when they finally take it short. This has been a very flat performance from the champions so far.

Fifteen minutes of normal time remaining in this first half and neither side looks like breaking the deadlock anytime soon. Chances continue to be few and far between at both ends of the pitch.

Little to separate the sides in the opening exchanges at Old Trafford. Man Utd 0-0 Newcastle (30 mins) #MUNNEW pic.twitter.com/06BMs4KA7r

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 7, 2013

For the record, that Cabaye booking earlier was the Frenchman's fifth of the season. He'll miss Newcastle's next game at home to Southampton next Saturday.

Tiote is lucky to get away with a card there as he gives away a free kick by raising his elbow to Hernandez. Newcastle's discipline hasn't been the best today - something that could come back to haunt them if they continue to give away free kicks.

Five minutes to go until half time. Will we get a goal before the break? This game certainly needs one as it continues to lack any inspiration from both sets of players.

PENALTY APPEAL! Man Utd want a penalty as Hernandez goes down under a challenge from Coloccini, but Andre Marriner waves play on. Probably the right decision from the official. Hernandez looked to have made a meal of that after allowing the ball to get away from him.

Two minutes added time...

SAVE! De Gea is called into action as he pushes Debuchy's shot away on the angle after the defender had ghosted in behind Evra. The Man Utd full-back was fast asleep there.

Andre Marriner blows his whistle to bring an end to what was, in truth, a fairly dull first half. Both sides struggled to create chances and it's goalless at the break.

Newcastle are sure to be the happier of the two sides following that firat 45 minutes. They defended resolutely while presenting their opponents with an attacking threat on a few occasions.

As for Man Utd, that was a poor first-half display. There were a few murmurings of discontent from the stands, and you can hardly blame the fans. The midfield found it difficult to pick holes in Newcastle, while Van Persie and Hernandez showed very little promise up front. Still, there's plenty of time for them to turn it around.

If you're looking for a concise round-up of that first half then look no further. Our half-time report is right here.

8 - Manchester United have scored only eight goals at home in the Premier League this season, fewer than bottom side Sunderland (9). Shy.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 7, 2013

The players are back out and it will be Newcastle to kick off this second half. It looks like both managers have opted not to make any changes at the break.

Man Utd have seen more of the ball during the opening few minutes of the second half, but their passing isn't quite there at the moment. In truth, it hasn't been up to scratch all game.

CHANCE! Almost an opening goal for the hosts as Nani's cross is turned towards his own goal by Williamson, but Krul shows good reactions to gather the ball inside a busy six-yard box.

CHANCE! Man Utd come close again as they look to build some momentum. Hernandez is picked out in acres of space inside the area before seeing his shot pushed away by Krul. The Mexican has another go moments later which Krul again keeps out.

CHANCES! What a mad scramble inside the Newcastle penalty area! Evra hits the post with a header from a free kick before about 15 players try to win the ball in the box. Van Persie, Hernandez, Nani and Cleverley all battle for it, but Krul eventually jumps on the ball before winning his side a free kick.

SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle make the first change of the match as Yoan Gouffran comes off for Hatem Ben Arfa. Can the tricky French winger provide the visitors with a bit of magic?

This is certainly better from Man Utd. They're looking a lot more energetic and dynamic now as they go in search of the opening goal. The fans seems to be a lot more in the match as well. An hour played and it's still goalless.

We have the opening goal, but it's the visitors who get it through Yohan Cabaye! Sissoko did well to make a lot of ground down the right before picking out Cabaye on the edge of the box. It's a lovely finish from the Frenchman as he sweeps the ball into the net with a first time effort. Are Newcastle about to get their first win at Old Trafford since 1972?

A lot of credit must go to Newcastle because they soaked up a fair bit of Man Utd pressure before going up the other end and scoring. Their gameplan seems to be working so far, but they will be aware that there's still enough time for the home side to fight back. The question is: do the champions have it in them?

65' - The hosts and their fans look shellshocked. It's voices from the North East filling Old Trafford at the moment. #NUFC #MUNNEW — Newcastle United FC (@NUFCOfficial) December 7, 2013

SUBSTITUTION: What a moment for Wilfried Zaha to come on for his Premier League debut as he replaces Nani. Can the youngster get the hosts back into the match?

SUBSTITUTION: Another change for Man Utd now as Anderson comes on for Tom Cleverley.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Man Utd think they have an equaliser as Van Persie heads in from a free kick, but the goal is rightly ruled out for offside.

CHANCE! Man Utd continue to surge forward as Zaha receives the ball out wide before trying to bend it into the far post. However, he gets too much on it and sees his effort go wide. You get the feeling that the home side will bombard the Newcastle goal for these last 15 minutes or so.

CHANCE! Close again for the hosts! Van Persie whips a free kick into the area, but it misses everyone and goes narrowly wide of the post. Meanwhile, David Moyes makes his final change of the afternoon as Antonio Valencia replaces Rafael.

SUBSTITUTION: Now it's Newcastle's turn to make a swap as goalscorer Yohan Cabaye comes off for Shola Ameobi.

Ten minutes of normal time left to play at Old Trafford and Newcastle still lead 1-0 thanks to Cabaye's strike on the hour. As you can imagine, Man Utd are seeing a lot of the ball right now, but they failing to do anything of note with it.

SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle's final change of the match sees Mathieu Debuchy come off for Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. It looks as if it's been forced on Alan Pardew as Debuchy walks off the pitch gingerly.

Man Utd are still trying to pick a way through the Newcastle defence, but the visitors continue to stand firm as they close in on a memorable win against the champions. Five minutes left at Old Trafford.

Make no mistake, each an every one in this Newcastle team have worked their socks off today. From Tim Krul through to the strikers, they've all played their part. Remy has just exemplified this by chasing the ball upfield, running down a few seconds.

There will be three minutes of injury time...

YELLOW CARD: Newcastle's Vurnon Anita goes into the book for bringing down Anderson.

Andre Marriner blows the full-time whistle and Newcastle United have beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford for the first time since 1972 as Yohan Cabaye's goal gives them a 1-0 win. Needless to say, the Newcastle players are jubilant.

Anyway, that's all from me but don't forget that you can follow live text coverage of every game in the Premier League this afternoon right here on Sports Mole. So, have a look around and see what takes your fancy. Thank you for your company, and goodbye!