Afternoon folks, hope you all had a pleasant Christmas and didn't miss the football too much! Not to fear, the Premier League is back with a festive bang today.

TEAM NEWS JUST IN! Gael Bigirimana is the surprise starter for Newcastle.

NEWCASTLE XI: Krul; Simpson, Williamson, Coloccini, Santon; Anita, Perch, Bigirimana; Cisse, Ba, Marveaux

We're just hearing that Wayne Rooney has been dropped!

Still waiting on the confirmed United lineup but Rooney had a stinker against Swansea on Sunday and looks to have paid the price.

UNITED XI: De Gea; Smalling, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs; Hernandez, Van Persie

The Englishman hasn't even made Sir Alex Ferguson's bench this afternoon as Javier Hernandez takes his place alongside Robin van Persie up front.

Rooney knew that he didn't play well against Swansea at the weekend, admitting it himself. Click here to read what he had to say.

Looking at those quotes, Rooney did say that he would "relish" the next match. That indicates that he may not have been expecting this omission today.

Paul Scholes comes in for Tom Cleverley in the middle of midfield, with Ryan Giggs set to play in his usual role on the left wing.

Anyway, there's two teams at Old Trafford today so let's expand on the Newcastle XI...

Alan Pardew brings in Bigirimana & Sylvain Marveaux for the suspended Cheick Tiote and Jonas Gutierrez, who is out of the matchday squad.

A bit of breaking news from another game in the Premier League has just reached us: The kickoff between QPR and West Brom has been put back 15 minutes to 3.15pm due to traffic problems outside the stadium. Albion team coach did not arrive until 2pm.

That reminds me that there's plenty of other action in the top flight today with five other 3pms (and that QPR match at 3.15pm).

We have live commentaries on three other Premier League matches at 3pm, as well as the two evening kickoffs at Stoke and Aston Villa later on. For coverage of the match between United and Newcastle's bitterest rivals, Sunderland and City, with Jack Prescott click here. Everton vs. Wigan with Michael Penkman is available here while Norwich vs. Chelsea with Joe Fish is here.

SUBS:

United: Lindegaard, Wootton, Tunnicliffe, Vidic, Cleverley, Fletcher, Buttner
Newcastle: Elliot, Tavernier, Ferguson, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Campbell, Shola Ameobi

Interesting. United have just released info relating to the absence of Rooney, Ashley Young and Danny Welbeck. Rooney and Young are said to have been injured in training yesterday while Welbeck is ill.

There's also a pair of changes at the back for United as Rio Ferdinand returns for Nemanja Vidic who perhaps isn't ready for two games in quick succession yet. Chris Smalling also replaces Phil Jones, who is out of the squad completely, at right-back.

Looking at that United bench, you'd have to say there's a lack of firepower. It's likely that both Hernandez and RVP will see out the full 90 minutes this afternoon. Wish I'd made Van Persie my Fantasy Football captain but I thought he might be rested!

Let's get statistical, shall we? The numbers certainly favour United as Newcastle have only one once in the last 22 meetings between the two sides. That victory did, however, come earlier this year in a 3-0 romp back at St James' Park.

The last time that the Magpies won a league game at Old Trafford was over 30 years ago!

As we approach kickoff, it's time for my prediction. I can't look past United for this one, even though they have plenty of big names missing. I'm going for a comfortable 3-0 for the Red Devils.

The players are in the tunnel and we're five minutes from kickoff. United are in their customary red tops, white shorts and black socks while Newcastle have a neon green top, black shorts and neon socks. Nice.

As it is right outside where I am, it's absolutely pouring with rain at Old Trafford this afternoon. [Gordon Ramsey voice] Pre-match handshakes, done.

KICKOFF United get us underway.

Van Persie commits the first foul of the match on Perch. The Dutchman has accrued four bookings this season and another one today will see him incur a one-game ban.

Carrick almost threads a pass through to Valencia in the area but it's well intercepted.

I'll do my best to keep you updated whenever a goal goes in at the other PL matches this afternoon.

Newcastle have lined up with a three-pronged forward line that Ba is the spreadhead of.

What a start for the Magpies! Ba has a run at the United defence and hesitates before letting fly. The Senegalese's shot is OK but De Gea shouldn't palm straight into the path of the onrushing Perch, who tucks into an empty net.

That's the second game in a row where De Gea has pushed away a shot straight into the path of an opponent after he gifted Michu a goal in similar fashion in Swansea on Sunday.

Goal at Craven Cottage and former Red Devil Dimitar Berbatov has put Fulham ahead early on against Southampton.

Apparently after scoring Berbatov revealed a t-shirt that said: "Keep calm and pass me the ball". Bit arrogant eh?

Scholes picks out Valencia with an almost-magnificent fizzed pass. The Ecuadorian has to stretch though and can't pick out Hernandez with his cross.

Wayne Rooney is watching from a box at Old Trafford and he's wearing a United training jacket.

REFEREE WATCH: I forgot to mention earlier that today's man in charge is Mike Dean.

SHOT! Williamson wins a header in the opposite penalty area for Ba who lashes left-footed but his effort is well blocked. The ball is pumped back in and a flicked header almost catches De Gea out but he holds on just in front of the line.

Groans from the Stretford End as Giggs's through ball is easily cut out. United are still to test Krul as we approach the midway point of this first half.

Evans forgets that he's a centre-back and tries to dribble his way past a few bright Newcastle shirts. He's easily dispossessed and Ba breaks up the pitch. He only has Ferdinand to beat but the veteran sticks with him well before Ba fails to pick out the supporting Cisse.

They don't really deserve it, but United are level. Van Persie's free kick from the right isn't cleared and Hernandez is the quickest to react to the loose ball. Krul does well to keep out the Mexican's low effort but it falls kindly to Evans to slide in and prod home from a couple of yards.

Unbelievable! This is sure to be a contentious moment after the game. Simpson is afforded way too much room on the right and the former United youngster's shot is deflected into his own net by Evans. The official on the near side has his flag up, however, and initially the goal is ruled out. Newcastle are furious as the ball didn't touch Cisse, who was a good yard or two ahead of the play and Dean has to go and consult his assistant. It seems that the goal has been ruled out before Dean changes his mind and gives the goal.

That was a very peculiar moment. I'm sure Fergie will rage after the game as Cisse's position (offside) was forcing Evans to stretch. Such a tough call.

After scoring the opening goal, Evans's day has gone right downhill. First he scores an oggie and now he's booked for a deliberate handball. Bigirimana's free kick is a good one but it's well defended by United.

Still no other goals in the Premier League apart from that early Berbatov strike at Fulham. Too much turkey yesterday?

Newcastle have a free kick right on the edge as a tracking-back Hernandez clips the heels of Marveaux. What a chance for 3-1...

OFF THE BAR! Marveaux dusts himself down to take the set piece and it's a cracking whipped effort that slaps the face of the crossbar and goes clear.

YELLOW! Hernandez was booked for that challenge that led to the free kick, by the way.

Goals elsewhere! Chelsea take the lead at Norwich through Juan Mata while West Brom lead at QPR thanks to Chris Brunt.

BOOKING! Williamson is the latest player to go into the book after scything down Giggs who was looking to break away.

Van Persie with one of his trademark long run-ups but that's horribly misjudged. The United number 10 was looking to curl it around the wall but ended up hitting it way wide.

Two minutes added on at the end of the first half.

Plenty of talking points after that half of footy then! Newcastle lead and, in all honesty, deservedly so. The Magpies have had more shots than United and they look far more threatening when going forward.

Unless something even more ridiculous happens in the second half, all the headlines will be made by that Newcastle second goal. On Twitter, a lot of journalists are suggesting that Dean made the right decision as Evans got the final touch. However, I believe that Cisse's offside position was obstructing Evans and that was the reason he had to stretch. Surely that's interfering with play, no?

Here are the other half-time scores in the Premier League:


Everton 0-0 Wigan
Fulham 1-0 Southampton
Norwich 0-1 Chelsea
Reading 0-0 Swansea
Sunderland 0-0 Man City

The game that kicked off 10 minutes late in West London remains QPR 0-1 West Brom.

We could have some transparency on the Newcastle second goal. Apparently as Cisse wasn't playing the ball then he wasn't interfering so it was the right decision to award the goal.

talkSPORT commentator and former frontman Stan Collymore is making some valid points on Twitter. He says: "ANY player offside and in the six-yard box when ball is played in is by default interfering with play!! Ridiculous to suggest otherwise!"

Half-time in that delayed game and it's still QPR 0-1 West Brom. Chris Brunt with a fine long-range strike.

The teams are coming out for the second half and referee Dean receives a healthy boo upon entry.

The teams are coming out for the second half and referee Dean receives a healthy boo upon entry.

Ferguson has been blasting Dean for the last couple of minutes. It's clear that the United manager thinks Evans was pulled back by Cisse for that second goal.

KICKOFF Newcastle get the second half underway.

No changes from either manager at the break.

First opening of the second 45 falls to United as Carrick floats ingeniously to Giggs on the overlap. The Welshman cuts back for Van Persie but he can't wrap his foot around a volley.

Goal at Goodison! Everton take the lead at home to Wigan as Leon Osman's shot is deflected in.

CLOSE! Cisse gets to the right byline and crosses for Ba but the forward's header gets a flick off a United player and flies out for a corner.

YELLOW! Valencia is booked for a rash tackle on Simpson. There wasn't much contact but that was careless from the winger.

Goal for Sunderland! United's title rivals City are behind as Adam Johnson finds the net. The top two are both currently losing!

We're back level once more as Van Persie's rather aimless cross is headed out by Perch straight to the feet of Evra. The left-back holds off Marveaux and fires low to the far corner. Krul should keep it out really but it squirms under his left hand in the wet conditions.

BOOKING! A loose ball has Simpson and Evans challenging for a 50/50 and it's the Newcastle man who is late and receiving yellow.

Goal at Loftus Road and West Brom go two ahead as Rob Green fails to deal with a high ball, turning the ball into his own net. Oh dear.

YELLOW! Plenty of cards in this one as Cisse becomes the latest to be noted by Dean for a real 'forward's tackle' on Evra.

The first change of the game sees former Red Devil Gabriel Obertan replace Bigirimana for the visitors.

Smalling almost gets away a shot from inside the box but it's blocked and United have a corner. Van Persie's centre is well cleared though.

Santon's long throw up the left touchline bounces through for Obertan and the substitute gets to the left edge of the penalty area before squaring for Cisse who powerfully curls it home with his left at the near post. Top finish.

United pull it back for a third time! Valencia has plenty of room down the right and he cuts back for Van Persie. The Dutchman's first effort is well beaten away by Krul but he eventually gets onto the rebound to slide home.

CHANCES! United should be ahead for the first time. First Van Persie brilliantly slips through Hernandez but the Mexican is forced wide after rounding Krul and can't find a teammate with the pullback. Moments later Coloccini heads more up than away and Valencia has a free volley at goal but he scuffs horribly.

In amongst all that goal madness, Tom Cleverley was brought on for Paul Scholes.

PENALTY SHOUT! United want a penalty as Hernandez's shot strikes the arm of Coloccini. The distance between the two wasn't gaping but the Argentinian's arm was a long way from his body. Pen for me.

CHANCE! What a chance for United. Valencia whips over a superb cross from the right and all Hernandez has to do is get it on target from six yards. The Mexican's diving header flies just wide though. Huge miss.

Obertan manages to squeeze off a shot under pressure on the edge of the box that is easy for De Gea to hold. Moments earlier, Sammy Ameobi was brought on for Cisse.

Plenty of goals elsewhere in the Premier League recently. Everton now lead 2-1 against Wigan, Southampton have equalised against Fulham and QPR have pulled one back against West Brom.

As we edge ever nearer to the 90-minute mark, Ferguson is gesticulating particularly ferociously on the edge of his technical area.

CHANCE! Can Newcastle hold out?! Carrick clips a fine ball over for Giggs but the Welshman hesitates and looks to have lost possession. However, the veteran manages to regain the ball and somehow dink a cross over for Hernandez. The Mexican only has to get it past Krul but he heads straight at the Magpies' stopper.

OFF THE POST! Sammy Ameobi almost wins it for Newcastle.

It's classic last-gasp United at Old Trafford! Carrick looks for a pass to the right but there's nothing on so he has to lift to the back post. Hernandez is there, unmarked and 'Chicharito' makes no mistake from eight yards. A slightly scruffy finish but the hosts will definitely take it.

The full time whistle is imminent but we'll have to wait a while as Anita is down and very injured. Replays show that Valencia's tackle was rather nasty and, as he was already on a yellow, he's lucky to still be on the pitch.

Newcastle go forward for one last attack and Santon beats Van Persie down the left before Simpson's strike from the edge of the area bounces way wide. Surely that's that?

A truly astonishing game at Old Trafford is finally brought to an end by Dean. Hernandez's late winner takes on even more meaning as news reaches the home faithful that main title rivals City lost at Sunderland! That means United now lead the Premier League by a mighty seven points.

Spare a though for Newcastle though. The Magpies more than deserved a point for their performance today but unfortunately that's another defeat at the Theatre of Dreams for the black-and-whites.

Thanks for joining Sports Mole for a crazy affair in Manchester. If you've only just joined us, click here for Liam Apicella's match report. Complete with BIG pictures from the match. Until next time, good evening!