Three days later, we’re back in M16 to welcome Newcastle United for what will be the final game of 2024.
The Magpies finished one place above us last season, although we beat Eddie Howe’s side 3-2 at Old Trafford in May and did deny the north-east club a place in Europe with our Emirates FA Cup final triumph.
Then, 2025 begins in the grand manner as we are scheduled to make a trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Saturday 4 January.
It’s all change for the Merseysiders next season, with Arne Slot replacing Jurgen Klopp as manager, and United are due a win in L4 – the last time we came away from our arch-rivals with all three points was in the first month of 2016.
Our defence of the FA Cup begins on the weekend of 11 January, when the third-round fixtures take place.