Manchester United against Newcastle United

Time rapidly running out in what has been an absorbing game. If there's anything better in the Premiership today, it will have to be very, very good indeed

Shearer wins another header, and United have to concede a throw from that... then the offside flag goes up against Bellamy and United have the free-kick

Veron lifts it towards Solskjaer, who is penalised for a foul

Richardson on the break down the United left - he wins a free-kick midway inside Newcastle territory...

Shearer heads on and Jenas gets there - but steers his own header over the top. Flutters in the United defence

Dyer finds Bellamy with a clever pass into the left-hand side of the area, but the angle is narrow and there's not enough power in the shot to trouble Barthez

Jenas tries a long-range blast - it's too close to Barthez, who saves pretty comfortably in the end

Newcastle have the ball on half way - can they get the goal that would make these final stages incredibly tense?

Diego Forlan, who has had a bright and zippy game today, goes off to make way for Juan Veron

Solskjaer finds himself some space on the right and crosses low, but there's nobody there to take advantage

The visitors in possession with Bellamy - he looks for Dyer but the offside flag goes up

Corner - Forlan plays it in, O'Shea heads and Griffin clears off the line

Scholes plays Giggs into the area, and Given is brave to dive at his feet and flick the ball away from danger

Shearer tumbles in the area under challenge from O'Shea. No penalty, says the referee, but the appeals were pretty half-hearted

What a game - and there are still 15 minutes or so to go

...from the corner, Shearer wins a header and Bellamy flicks it into the net. It's 5-3, and bordering on the ludicrous!

Dyer tries a pass towards Bellamy, but it's just overhit and the Welshman can't get there... then he hits a long-ranger which Barthez tips over...

Dyer dances into the United area, Brown stops him in his tracks with another good challenge

Nolberto Solano comes on for Newcastle, off goes goalscorer Bernard. That leveller seems like a long time ago

Nearly - Giggs tries a clever lob over Given, who reads his intentions and gets back in time to make the save

Overdue another goal from somebody or other, let's face it

In the meantime, and in comparison with the rest of this second half so far, we've hit a bit of a lull in the action

Laurent Blanc, limping after a tough challenge, will be replaced by Lee Roche

Jenas tries to thread a through-ball into the area for Newcastle, but Brown is there with a no-nonsense clearance

Given clutches the ball gratefully - it's a respite for his side

Solskjaer slides the ball to Richardson - Jenas makes a fine challenge to concede a corner

Plenty of homages to the Dutch striker are booming from the Stretford End

Change for United - off goes three-goal van Nistelrooy, and on comes youngster Kieran Richardson

Newcastle have a free-kick - it's aimed towards Speed, who can't keep the header down and sees it sail over the top

United break - good play from Forlan at the heart of it. Newcastle clear their lines this time

It is, but Scholes blocks this effort and it cannons away for a throw

O'Shea gives away a free-kick, corner of the area. Shearer again?

There's some exhibition stuff going on from the home side. Who said they were a fading force?

Giggs thumps a shot after clever play from Fortune - it's blocked

O'Shea wins a corner, and at this stage you have to assume the Toon Army would quite like to go home

Newcastle look stunned, and concede a free-kick for a foul on van Nistelrooy by Dabizas, who is booked

Solskjaer tries to get into the area again but is crowded out. Hat-trick man van Nistlerooy fouls Bernard and is booked

...and it looked as though the Magpies man was fouled. But 5-2 it is

Speed's booked for protesting about a collision between Solskjaer and a defender, but the goal stands and United are three in front. Aaron Hughes was the defender in question

Silvestre finds Solskjaer steaming through the middle - he gets into the area and slides home a low shot. It's 5-2!

And surely United have done enough now - the two-goal cushion is back. They can't throw it away from here, can they?

Newcastle's hopes of getting back into this lasted for a fraction over a minute

A belter of a game now, and a fantastic afternoon for the Dutch striker

But wait a moment - Forlan crosses after some neat tricks inside the area and van Nistelrooy heads in from close range. It's a hat-trick, and it's 4-2 to United!

It was just tapped square to him, and the shot was an absolute screamer. Wonderful goal

Shearer hammers the ball into the net - it's his 100th Premiership goal, and it's a brilliant effort. Barthez no chance - Newcastle back to 3-2!

The free-kick is about 30 yards out and central - can Newcastle find a way back from this set piece?

Solskjaer disputes a free-kick decision... he'll get a yellow card for that

Forlan looks for van Nistelrooy - the ball's just too fast for him and Given gets there

They're looking almost as fluent as AFC Wimbledon during their recent good run. Sorry, bit parochial, that one

Another good move, and another good chance for a United side who are, without question, playing very well today

Sir Alex Ferguson's side have a stranglehold on this game, and van Nistelrooy finds Solskjaer, who blasts an angled shot over the top

...and then the move breaks down as Jenas miscontrols

But here are Newcastle, stringing some passing of their own together. Shearer has the ball, but he's very deep...

But the home side are quickly into their stride - some neat passing in midfield from them

Newcastle start the second half - they need a quick route back into this game

And the half-time whistle blows - the home side have a two-goal lead and deserve it

Giggs finds Forlan in space inside the area - he slices his shot but it finds van Nistelrooy, who simply sidefoots home. It's 3-1!

Bellamy and Brown tangle on the edge of the Manchester United area - no foul, says the referee

Blanc on the ball. He takes time to look casual before knocking it back to Barthez. He's got the casual thing going as well as we enter first-half injury time

He finds Solskjaer, who tries to thread the ball back to him and only just fails to get it absolutely right

But it's Scholes and van Nistelrooy who are the two goalscorers - the latter's on the charge down the right...

Nice move, all the same - a great touch by Forlan, who has had his moments in this first half

...it's wasted, and Forlan flicks towards Scholes, who threads it through to an offside van Nistelrooy

Coming towards the end of the first half - Newcastle's free-kick...

Then Newcastle win a free-kick inside the home side's half - they don't make anything of it, however

Scholes tries his luck from long range once more - Given gets back in time

A deflection on the cross helped the Dutchman but, on the balance of play, United will feel that the scoreline is the right one

Silvestre does well on the left and crosses towards van Nistelrooy - the Dutchman meets it with a neat header past Given and United have restored their lead: it's 2-1!

Forlan races into the area and Given gets the ball away from him... Giggs is following up, but Given recovers to claim

Solskjaer chases a long ball forward, but fouls his defender in the process. The home fans don't like that decision

A very strange equaliser, but an equaliser nonetheless. The stunned silence around Old Trafford says it all

Suddenly, Newcastle equalise - Bernard is on the left and looks to cross... the ball floats over Barthez and into the top corner via the woodwork. It's 1-1!

...but the Dutchman is - just - in an offside position, and Newcastle breathe again

Solskjaer plays the ball towards van Nistelrooy, who has peeled away from the defence...

Giggs chases a ball into the area, but it's overhit and eludes him

Another excellent contribution from the striker, who has had an impressive game so far

Solskjaer takes Newcastle on down the right once more, but this time nobody can get on the end of a fizzing low cross along the edge of the six-yard box

And United win another - they've moved forward to halfway inside Newcastle territory...

Then it's given away - Bernard comes forward but plays a poor ball out wide towards Bellamy. It's out for a throw

At the moment, the home side are first to every ball - they're in possession again with Newcastle struggling to get it back

It's a delicate chip, but Given recovers in time to make the catch

Scholes makes an excellent run through the middle, and takes aim from 30 yards or more...

Newcastle need to find something extra - they haven't managed a shot and face more problems here...

It's a lead that Sir Alex Ferguson's side deserve - can they add to it before the break?

Joy unconfined at Old Trafford - and almost more as O'Brien dithers and Given is forced to hack clear

A brilliant goal, and outstanding stuff from Solskjaer, who skipped away from his marker like a winger of the highest class

Brilliant play by Solskjaer on the right - he whizzes clear and crosses low for Scholes, who plants a superb finish into the top corner from around the penalty spot. It's 1-0 United!

Giggs is caught offside, then Bernard finds himself well inside the United half but slips on the skiddy surface and the chance to cross disappears

And although Newcastle have been outdone in terms of possession, they have yet to face too much serious danger

Then Bernard is fouled by John O'Shea. The home side struggling to maintain the fluency apparent earlier on in this game

Barthez hits the ball long and Solskjaer looks for the flick - Bernard is there

The free-kick is swung in and cleared - then Bellamy, on the byline, tumbles under challenge from Brown. Play on, says the referee

Newcastle take a chance to get forward - Bellamy is battling and Blanc fouls him on the right-hand side

Another dead ball for United - some way outside the area. The ball is played in, but again it's fairly aimless and harmless

Giggs floats the ball in, but it's not the best delivery and is easily claimed by Shay Given

In it comes, and Speed gets a touch to divert the ball behind for a corner

He lays the ball off to Fortune on the edge of the area - then Dyer wades in with a foul on the touchline. This is a promising free-kick

He's crowded out, but now the home side build again with Forlan...

United snuff the threat out and move to the other end with Scholes

A bit more noise from the Newcastle fans now -Craig Bellamy's trying to give them something to cheer with a neat run

Shearer comes forward down the right - the boos ring out, and the Newcastle striker fails to make anything of it

...and Newcastle clear again, but they just can't seem to keep possession for any significant length of time

...it's a disappointing ball in, and Griffin hacks clear. Silvestre hoofs forward again...

Neat touches from Giggs and Forlan provide the latter with a chance to cross from the left...

Plenty of volume from the crowd - and plenty of boos for Shearer whenever he gets the ball

They win the game's opening corner - it's a poor one and is cleared

The visitors are struggling to put anything together at the moment, and here come United again...

Newcastle again under pressure - Andy Griffin is there to clear his lines

Forlan goes to ground, but the referee isn't interested in his appeals for a free-kick

Solskjaer and Forlan try to link up - the Norwegian plays a ball through the middle...

Giggs epitomises that with an early run - Forlan is in support but Dyer is there for the Toon

And they're moving forward quickly, forcing Newcastle into some early defensive action

United get the game under way - they've got a purposeful look about them...

It's knight time at Old Trafford as Sir Alex takes on Sir Bobby. Follow all the action from 12.15 GMT on Saturday

...from the corner, Shearer wins a header and Bellamy flicks it into the net. It's 5-3, and bordering on the ludicrous!

Dyer tries a pass towards Bellamy, but it's just overhit and the Welshman can't get there... then he hits a long-ranger which Barthez tips over...

Dyer dances into the United area, Brown stops him in his tracks with another good challenge

Nolberto Solano comes on for Newcastle, off goes goalscorer Bernard. That leveller seems like a long time ago

Nearly - Giggs tries a clever lob over Given, who reads his intentions and gets back in time to make the save

Overdue another goal from somebody or other, let's face it

In the meantime, and in comparison with the rest of this second half so far, we've hit a bit of a lull in the action

Laurent Blanc, limping after a tough challenge, will be replaced by Lee Roche

Jenas tries to thread a through-ball into the area for Newcastle, but Brown is there with a no-nonsense clearance

Given clutches the ball gratefully - it's a respite for his side

Solskjaer slides the ball to Richardson - Jenas makes a fine challenge to concede a corner

Plenty of homages to the Dutch striker are booming from the Stretford End

Change for United - off goes three-goal van Nistelrooy, and on comes youngster Kieran Richardson

Newcastle have a free-kick - it's aimed towards Speed, who can't keep the header down and sees it sail over the top

United break - good play from Forlan at the heart of it. Newcastle clear their lines this time

It is, but Scholes blocks this effort and it cannons away for a throw

O'Shea gives away a free-kick, corner of the area. Shearer again?

There's some exhibition stuff going on from the home side. Who said they were a fading force?

Giggs thumps a shot after clever play from Fortune - it's blocked

O'Shea wins a corner, and at this stage you have to assume the Toon Army would quite like to go home

Newcastle look stunned, and concede a free-kick for a foul on van Nistelrooy by Dabizas, who is booked

Solskjaer tries to get into the area again but is crowded out. Hat-trick man van Nistlerooy fouls Bernard and is booked

...and it looked as though the Magpies man was fouled. But 5-2 it is

Speed's booked for protesting about a collision between Solskjaer and a defender, but the goal stands and United are three in front. Aaron Hughes was the defender in question

Silvestre finds Solskjaer steaming through the middle - he gets into the area and slides home a low shot. It's 5-2!

And surely United have done enough now - the two-goal cushion is back. They can't throw it away from here, can they?

Newcastle's hopes of getting back into this lasted for a fraction over a minute

A belter of a game now, and a fantastic afternoon for the Dutch striker

But wait a moment - Forlan crosses after some neat tricks inside the area and van Nistelrooy heads in from close range. It's a hat-trick, and it's 4-2 to United!

It was just tapped square to him, and the shot was an absolute screamer. Wonderful goal

Shearer hammers the ball into the net - it's his 100th Premiership goal, and it's a brilliant effort. Barthez no chance - Newcastle back to 3-2!

The free-kick is about 30 yards out and central - can Newcastle find a way back from this set piece?

Solskjaer disputes a free-kick decision... he'll get a yellow card for that

Forlan looks for van Nistelrooy - the ball's just too fast for him and Given gets there

They're looking almost as fluent as AFC Wimbledon during their recent good run. Sorry, bit parochial, that one

Another good move, and another good chance for a United side who are, without question, playing very well today

Sir Alex Ferguson's side have a stranglehold on this game, and van Nistelrooy finds Solskjaer, who blasts an angled shot over the top

...and then the move breaks down as Jenas miscontrols

But here are Newcastle, stringing some passing of their own together. Shearer has the ball, but he's very deep...

But the home side are quickly into their stride - some neat passing in midfield from them

Newcastle start the second half - they need a quick route back into this game

And the half-time whistle blows - the home side have a two-goal lead and deserve it

Giggs finds Forlan in space inside the area - he slices his shot but it finds van Nistelrooy, who simply sidefoots home. It's 3-1!

Bellamy and Brown tangle on the edge of the Manchester United area - no foul, says the referee

Blanc on the ball. He takes time to look casual before knocking it back to Barthez. He's got the casual thing going as well as we enter first-half injury time

He finds Solskjaer, who tries to thread the ball back to him and only just fails to get it absolutely right

But it's Scholes and van Nistelrooy who are the two goalscorers - the latter's on the charge down the right...

Nice move, all the same - a great touch by Forlan, who has had his moments in this first half

...it's wasted, and Forlan flicks towards Scholes, who threads it through to an offside van Nistelrooy

Coming towards the end of the first half - Newcastle's free-kick...

Then Newcastle win a free-kick inside the home side's half - they don't make anything of it, however

Scholes tries his luck from long range once more - Given gets back in time

A deflection on the cross helped the Dutchman but, on the balance of play, United will feel that the scoreline is the right one

Silvestre does well on the left and crosses towards van Nistelrooy - the Dutchman meets it with a neat header past Given and United have restored their lead: it's 2-1!

Forlan races into the area and Given gets the ball away from him... Giggs is following up, but Given recovers to claim

Solskjaer chases a long ball forward, but fouls his defender in the process. The home fans don't like that decision

A very strange equaliser, but an equaliser nonetheless. The stunned silence around Old Trafford says it all

Suddenly, Newcastle equalise - Bernard is on the left and looks to cross... the ball floats over Barthez and into the top corner via the woodwork. It's 1-1!

...but the Dutchman is - just - in an offside position, and Newcastle breathe again

Solskjaer plays the ball towards van Nistelrooy, who has peeled away from the defence...

Giggs chases a ball into the area, but it's overhit and eludes him

Another excellent contribution from the striker, who has had an impressive game so far

Solskjaer takes Newcastle on down the right once more, but this time nobody can get on the end of a fizzing low cross along the edge of the six-yard box

And United win another - they've moved forward to halfway inside Newcastle territory...

Then it's given away - Bernard comes forward but plays a poor ball out wide towards Bellamy. It's out for a throw

At the moment, the home side are first to every ball - they're in possession again with Newcastle struggling to get it back

It's a delicate chip, but Given recovers in time to make the catch

Scholes makes an excellent run through the middle, and takes aim from 30 yards or more...

Newcastle need to find something extra - they haven't managed a shot and face more problems here...

It's a lead that Sir Alex Ferguson's side deserve - can they add to it before the break?

Joy unconfined at Old Trafford - and almost more as O'Brien dithers and Given is forced to hack clear

A brilliant goal, and outstanding stuff from Solskjaer, who skipped away from his marker like a winger of the highest class

Brilliant play by Solskjaer on the right - he whizzes clear and crosses low for Scholes, who plants a superb finish into the top corner from around the penalty spot. It's 1-0 United!

Giggs is caught offside, then Bernard finds himself well inside the United half but slips on the skiddy surface and the chance to cross disappears

And although Newcastle have been outdone in terms of possession, they have yet to face too much serious danger

Then Bernard is fouled by John O'Shea. The home side struggling to maintain the fluency apparent earlier on in this game

Barthez hits the ball long and Solskjaer looks for the flick - Bernard is there

The free-kick is swung in and cleared - then Bellamy, on the byline, tumbles under challenge from Brown. Play on, says the referee

Newcastle take a chance to get forward - Bellamy is battling and Blanc fouls him on the right-hand side

Another dead ball for United - some way outside the area. The ball is played in, but again it's fairly aimless and harmless

Giggs floats the ball in, but it's not the best delivery and is easily claimed by Shay Given

In it comes, and Speed gets a touch to divert the ball behind for a corner

He lays the ball off to Fortune on the edge of the area - then Dyer wades in with a foul on the touchline. This is a promising free-kick

He's crowded out, but now the home side build again with Forlan...

United snuff the threat out and move to the other end with Scholes

A bit more noise from the Newcastle fans now -Craig Bellamy's trying to give them something to cheer with a neat run

Shearer comes forward down the right - the boos ring out, and the Newcastle striker fails to make anything of it

...and Newcastle clear again, but they just can't seem to keep possession for any significant length of time

...it's a disappointing ball in, and Griffin hacks clear. Silvestre hoofs forward again...

Neat touches from Giggs and Forlan provide the latter with a chance to cross from the left...

Plenty of volume from the crowd - and plenty of boos for Shearer whenever he gets the ball

They win the game's opening corner - it's a poor one and is cleared

The visitors are struggling to put anything together at the moment, and here come United again...

Newcastle again under pressure - Andy Griffin is there to clear his lines

Forlan goes to ground, but the referee isn't interested in his appeals for a free-kick

Solskjaer and Forlan try to link up - the Norwegian plays a ball through the middle...

Giggs epitomises that with an early run - Forlan is in support but Dyer is there for the Toon

And they're moving forward quickly, forcing Newcastle into some early defensive action

United get the game under way - they've got a purposeful look about them...

It's knight time at Old Trafford as Sir Alex takes on Sir Bobby. Follow all the action from 12.15 GMT on Saturday