Newcastle United defeated Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford, delivering a devastating blow to the home side’s faltering campaign.
The victory, which saw goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton, extended Manchester United’s losing streak to four matches in all competitions, with their most recent defeat leaving them in 14th place in the Premier League with just 22 points after 11 games.
Under the management of Ruben Amorim, who took charge on November 11, Manchester United continued to struggle. Amorim admitted after the match that relegation was now a real concern for the club, saying, “Our club needs a shock,” and acknowledged that United’s performance under his leadership has been below expectations, with six losses, four wins, and one draw since his appointment.
United’s formation of 3-4-3 was ineffective once again, and the match saw significant tactical missteps. Amorim was forced to remove striker Joshua Zirkzee after just 30 minutes, a move that highlighted the disarray within the team.
Marcus Rashford, who had expressed a desire for a “new challenge” earlier this season, was reinstated to the squad, but his return did little to lift the team’s performance.
Newcastle, in contrast, demonstrated fluid and organized attacking play from the outset.
The visitors took the lead within the first four minutes. Isak capitalized on a defensive error by United’s Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez, heading in a cross from Kieran Trippier to make it 1-0. The Swedish striker, in great form, scored his eighth goal in his last seven appearances.
Photo: Reuters
United’s defense was again exposed for the second goal, which came in the 25th minute. Anthony Gordon raced past United’s right wing-back, Noussair Mazraoui, and crossed the ball to Joelinton, who outjumped Martínez to score a header past goalkeeper André Onana.
Amorim’s decision to field a midfield pairing of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, both of whom are in their 30s, instead of younger options like Kobbie Mainoo, allowed Newcastle’s midfield trio—Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimarães—to dominate.
Amorim himself admitted that his team’s defensive issues were largely due to the gaps left in midfield, with the absence of Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes felt throughout the match.
Despite occasional flashes of hope, such as a long-range effort from Tonali that hit the post, United struggled to generate significant threats. Their only real chance came when Maguire’s diving header hit the post in the second half, but it was too little, too late.
As the match wore on, United showed brief signs of urgency, particularly after Amorim introduced Leny Yoro and Alejandro Garnacho, but the hosts lacked the spark needed to make a comeback. Rashford, who had been benched for much of the game, watched from the sidelines as United continued to falter.
After the match, Isak reflected on the historic nature of the victory, saying, “It feels great, we haven’t won in a long time here: the perfect way to end this year.” This was Newcastle’s first win at Old Trafford in 11 years, and just their second league victory there since 1972.
Newcastle’s win further complicates the situation for Amorim and Manchester United, who face mounting pressure as their disappointing form threatens to continue into the new year.
