MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 17:38:17| >> :60:966:966:

Chris Smalling urges Manchester United to "set the benchmark"

Manchester United defender Chris Smalling wants his team to capitalise on the fact that they play Newcastle United early on Saturday afternoon.

Chris Smalling has encouraged his Manchester United teammates to make the most of the fact that they play before any of their Premier League rivals for the third game running this weekend.

The Red Devils faced both Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa in early Premier League kickoffs, both of which ended in 1-0 victories for Louis van Gaal's side.

With Newcastle United next up at Old Trafford on Saturday, centre-back Smalling has insisted that the Red Devils must once again take advantage of playing first.

"We must continue our good start. It is another home game and we have to assert ourselves early on," he told MUTV.

"It is good that we again get to be in the first game that plays and, hopefully, set the benchmark for the weekend."

The visiting Magpies have won at Old Trafford just once since 1972.

ID:240377: cacheID:240377:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1723:
Written by
Liam Apicella
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
The Manchester United team pose during the UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round Play Off First Leg match between Manchester United and Club Brugge at Old Trafford on August 18, 2015
Read Next:
Man United 3-1 Brugge: Five talking points
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Fulham166642422224
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton153661421-715
16Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!