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Manchester United closed out 2024 with an abysmal performance at home as goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton saw Newcastle win 2-0 and leave Old Trafford with three points.
Defeat on Monday night saw a third league loss in a row for Ruben Amorim’s side, who slump to 14th just 7 points clear of the relegation zone.
Alternatively, it’s a fourth win in a row for Newcastle who propel to 5th, now just 3 points behind a Chelsea side that lost 2-0 to Ipswich on the same evening the Magpies sealed victory.
Newcastle would start on the front foot from the get-go, dominating possession and immediately settling into a nice flow. This allowed Bruno Guimarães to get comfortable in the game early on, allowing him the time and space to switch the ball to Lewis Hall in the 4th minute, before his fast and whipped ball in found Alexander Isak unmarked in the box.
The big Swede headed home from close range to open the scoring, notching in his 12th goal of the season and continuing his hot run of form this Christmastime that has seen him gain 10 goals and assists. 0-1.
Newcastle would remain in total control from here, with Guimarães, Tonali and Joelinton dictating play in midfield and showing the experienced but slow midfield duo of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen how a midfield should be playing.
It was an embarrasing half for the United duo, who made few successful passes and simply could not match the energy of Newcastle’s midfield three.
In the 17th minute, things were close to going from bad to worse for United when Alexander Isak was in one-on-one with Andre Onana, but an odd finish from the normally clinical front man saw his attempted lobbed finish settle slowly and easily into the United keeper’s arms.
It wouldn’t take long for Eddie Howe’s side to conjure up another great chance though, as Antony Gordon raced down the left hand side before whipping a ball into the box for Joelinton to head home in the 19th minute.
It was a brilliant ball by Gordon, who picks up his 4th assist of the season, and a great header by Joelinton who picked up his 4th goal of the season, despite questionable defending from United’s captain on the night Lisandro Martinez allowing him to convert from close range. 0-2.
As the home crowd began to boo their players in the 24th minute, Newcastle took that into their stride and continued to build momentum. In the 31st minute, swift and confident build up play would see the ball fall to the feet of Sandro Tonali in the box, but his close range effort would come off the post to deny the Magpies a third.
Just after, Amorim decided change was needed, and in the 32nd minute 23-year-old Joshua Zirkzee would be hooked for Kobbie Mainoo, with the English midfielder entering the 10 position behind Rasmus Hojlund with Amad.
It was a horrible moment for Zirkzee, who looked visibility upset to be departing the action to jeers from his own fans. The former Bayern and Anderlecht striker, who joined in the summer for £36.5 million, will surely be considering his future already at Old Trafford given his limited game time under Amorim and his inability to win over the Old Trafford faithful.
However, Mainoo did add more energy and balance to United’s midfield, and gave them a glimmer of hope for the second half. In the second minute of added time, an askew Fabian Schär pass would be collected by the young midfielder on the edge of the box, and would slip Casemiro in one-on-one with Dúbravka, but the Brazilian would send a shot sailing well wide of the goal in what was United’s best chance of the first half. Despite his best efforts, United failed to convert. HT: 0-2.
Newcastle would make their first change in the 58th minute after a quiet opening to the second half, with Kieran Trippier being replaced by Tino Livramento, who has solidified his place in Newcastle’s backline in Trippier’s absence.
United would come close in the 59th minute, when Harry Maguire would rocket a header off the post to Dúbravka’s right.
Lisandro Martinez would be the first player to enter the book in the 61st minute. He would be replaced by Leny Yoro just four minutes later, with Casemiro departing the action as well for Alejandro Garnacho as United pushed for a way back into the game.
Despite the changes, United’s build up play would remain sloppy, predictable and downright poor as they struggled to breakdown Newcastle’s defence, that remained firm throughout.
Matthijs de Ligt would be replaced by Antony in the 83rd minute in Amorim’s final attempt to change his side’s fortunes, but a slow end to the game would see Newcastle control possession to deny a grand stand finish.
Eddie Howe brought Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes on for Joelinton and Antony Gordon on 85 minutes to shut things down, with both getting a rapturous applause from the away end for their respective displays.
Newcastle would finish comfortably, despite not really threatening for a third goal in the second half, with the brunt of the damage done in the first half. FT: 0-2.
Newcastle claim their 5th victory in a row, and enter a tough January period that see them take on the likes of Spurs, Arsenal twice in the league cup semi finals, and Bournemouth.
United turn their attention to a massive match against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, as well as what promises to be an important January transfer window as Ruben Amorim begins to make this squad his own.
