sport news Newcastle vs Man United - famous moments ahead of crunch Premier League clash trends now

Manchester United and Newcastle United fixtures used to be an event as one of the major highlights of a Premier League season.

Of course we are going back to the mid-1990s when both teams were battling furiously for the Premier League title and Sir Alex Ferguson and Kevin Keegan were locking horns.

Halcyon days indeed, but the two sides don't need just need a title race to serve up some classic Premier League moments.

Throughout the years they have produced classics but it's been a while since the fixture had so much riding as Eddie Howe's side host the Red Devils in a big weekend concerning the fight to reach the top four and a Champions League place.

So as Newcastle United vs Manchester United once more becomes a match of immense importance, Sportsmail looks back at some of the fixtures most memorable Premier League moments. 

Kevin Keegan goes both barrels 

Kevin Keegan's tirade late on in the 1995-96 season as Newcastle lost their grip on the title race is arguably the most famous managerial interview in Premier League history.

After defeating Leeds 1-0 in late April, Keegan let rip at Sir Alex Ferguson's remarks about teams going easy on Newcastle ahead of the Toon's matches against Nottingham Forest and Tottenham to end the season.

Keegan's crescendo of ‘We're still fighting for this title and he's [Ferguson] got to go to Middlesbrough and get something and I tell you, honestly, I would love it if we beat them, love it!' is the stuff of legend... but it nearly never happened.

A month earlier was the key moment. Newcastle, who at one point had a 12-point lead at the summit, had a home game with the Red Devils in a pivotal game in the title race.

The March 4 meeting saw the Magpies miss big chances to score until Eric Cantona's second half strike fired Man Utd to a famous 1-0 win, cutting Newcastle's lead to just a point even though Keegan's side still had a game in hand.

If Newcastle had won that night then Keegan's post-match Leeds interview a few weeks later would have been in context of his side needing one point from two matches to claim a famous title. Hard to see how he would have been anywhere near as explosive. 

The rant also had the opposite effect. While Man Utd won 3-0 at Middlesbrough on the final day, Newcastle stumbled to draws with Forest and Spurs, allowing the Red Devils to claim the title by four points. 

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Newcastle turn on style with five star showing

Kevin Keegan's response to losing the title on the final day of the 1995-96 season was to do the most Kevin Keegan thing imaginable and smash the world transfer record to sign a striker.

Not content with having a cream of attacking talent in Les Ferdinand, David Ginola and Faustino Asprilla, Keegan raided Blackburn Rovers for England international Alan Shearer paying a cool £15million. Huge money at the time.

Keegan's Newcastle team were not called 'The Entertainers' for nothing and on an October Sunday afternoon they put in one of the all-time great performances.

First half goals from Darren Peacock, a typical stunner from Ginola and second half strikes from Shearer and Ferdinand had Newcastle fans drooling... and that was before Philippe Albert's audacious lob from 25 yards out left Red Devils keeper Peter Schmeichel looking more than a little foolish to make it 5-0.

By full-time Newcastle were top of the league after a seventh straight win, three points clear of their nearest rivals and five points clear of Man Utd.

By the end of the season though it was once again Man Utd celebrating a title and Newcastle left as runners-up, with Keegan having already departed as manager. 

Keane lashes out at Shearer

By the time the teams met at St James' Park in September 2001 Newcastle had long lost their status as a top tier team in England.

Yet they had started the season well and

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