Back in 2009, United overcame Hull City 3-1 on 27 December, with strikers Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov adding to an own-goal by Michael Dawson.
The only other time we haven't played on the festive date since the inception of the Premier League came in 1995. Again, the game took place a day later, ironically against Newcastle, as goals from Andy Cole and Roy Keane earned three vital points on the way to pegging back Kevin Keegan's league leaders, with the Reds eventually not only overcoming the Magpies but securing the Double.
It had looked likely that United would meet Newcastle for the fourth time on Boxing Day since 2012.