Alexander Isak and Joelinton helped Newcastle stay red-hot by sinking the Red Devils of Manchester United to a 2-0 loss at Old Trafford on Monday, a fourth-straight clean-sheet win for Eddie Howe’s Magpies.
Newcastle struck twice in the first 20 minutes as the hosts got it all wrong without suspended Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes.
MORE - Ruben Amorim’s post-game reaction
Newcastle go fifth with 32 points, 10 points and nearly 10 places ahead of the 14th-sitting Red Devils. The Magpies have not allowed a goal in 360 minutes of Premier League play.
Man United are reeling once again, now losers of five of their last six games in the Premier League, and new manager Ruben Amorim will be furious at the haphazard first half from his team.
Sky is the limit if Newcastle keep their stars at St. James’ Park
Newcastle United did not quality for Europe last year, and that bears the risk of upsetting a side when there are top, top talents at the squad. Reports emerged of potential unrest for Alexander Isak when the club was sitting outside the European places early this season, so this red-hot clean-sheet streak is huge for a few reasons. That’s especially true when the Magpies spent so big to bring in absolutely world-class players. Isak, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimaraes want to play under the bright European lights, and Eddie Howe said after the game that he cares as much about keeping bodies as he does acquiring reinforcements.
“We don’t want to lose anybody,” Howe said. “We’ve got a good balance to the side and we don’t want to disturb it.”
Amorim gets it wrong and these Man Utd players aren’t good enough to fix it
Amorim opted for a midfield base of Christian Eriksen and Casemiro. Newcastle’s strong midfield trio bossed them all over the pitch. If there was any question what wasn’t going well, Amorim showed us his mistake when he withdrew a seemingly-healthy Joshua Zirkzee for Kobbie Mainoo after 33 minutes. Mainoo was arguably the Man of the Match from that point forward, and made a massive difference. Amorim says it’s all about training, comfort in his system. and finding a base but today it was also about a personnel mistake. And his players are so frail right now that they could’ve been down three or four. Even two-nil turned out to be too big of an ask.
Manchester United vs Newcastle player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester United vs Newcastle player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Newcastle visit Tottenham at 7:30am ET Saturday, then have a League Cup semifinal first leg at Arsenal on January 7 before an FA Cup third round visit from Bromley the following Sunday.
Man United go to Liverpool at 11:30am Sunday, then visit Arsenal in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, January 12.
How to watch Manchester United vs Newcastle live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Monday (December 30)
Venue: Old Trafford — Manchester
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Manchester United vs Newcastle United final score: 0-2
Alexander Isak 5', Joelinton 19'
Manchester United vs Newcastle United live updates — By Nick Mendola
Manchester United vs Newcastle extended highlights (video)
Full time — Man United 0-2 Newcastle United
Newcastle subs
Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock enter the fray for Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon in the 85th minute.
Red Devils flurry, but offside
Good fight from Hojlund, who’s been a Man Utd bright spot, but a few half-chances end with Christian Eriksen lacing one over the goal as the flag goes up.
Matthijs de Ligt comes off for Antony, so now Marcus Rashford tonight.
Fabian Schar picks up a yellow card and will miss Newcastle’s next game through accumulation.
2-0, 84'.
Yoro just wide!
A good corner from the hosts meeds Leny Yoro, and the back is a whisker away from turning his header inside the far post.
Not done yet, 74'.
Newcastle bite back
Sandro Tonali, Alexander Isak, and Joelinton are among the players who’ve helped Newcastle reacquire a sense of control, as it had been go-go-go from Man United.
The Magpies are slowing things down and holding the ball a bit, and you’d assume some changes are soon to come for Howe.
2-0 Newcastle, 71'.
Man United subs
Alejandro Garnacho and Leny Yoro enter for Martinez and Casemiro.
The Red Devils nearly strike!
Harry Maguire clips the post and Man United’s bid at the rebound is blocked by Lewis Hall.
This has been much better from the hosts, and Mainoo’s been a huge part of it.
Kieran Trippier injury
The veteran fullback, who has played well, sits down with an apparent left thigh injury. They’ll hope it’s a cramp.
Valentino Livramento is readied and looks soon to be deployed as we’re into the 57th minute but Trippier has sprinted back into the fray.
Sire enough, he blocks a cross. Livramento is then inserted into the fray.
Better from Man United out of the break
The Red Devils, buoyed by Mainoo, have kept the ball for much of the second half’s first 10 minutes.
Casemiro sliced a shot wide and Newcastle had a short free kick routine well defended by the hosts.
Still 2-0 to Eddie Howe’s visitors as we hit the 56th minute.
Halftime — Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle
The sub had given Man United a bit more of a foothold, and the Red Devils will feel happy to get into the team room with a chance to set this right.
They’re booed off the pitch.
Granted, Newcastle have not allowed a Premier League goal in 315 minutes.
Shots are 11-3 for the visitors, with four shots on going on Onana’s goal.
Possession’s about 50:50, but Newcastle boasts a 1.92-0.35 xG gap.
Man United have Marcus Rashford, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho on the bench to help attack, as well as keeper Altay Bayindir, midfielder Toby Collyer, and defenders Leny Yoro, Tyrell Malacia, and young Godwill Kukonki.
Terrible Casemiro miss
Fabian Schar makes a miserable pass out of his own third in stoppage.
Kobbie Mainoo picks it off and feeds Casemiro, who slices a should-be goal high and wide.
The hosts’ xG just jumped from 0.17 to 0.35, no matter — symbolic, if not shambolic.
Man United sub, and Man Utd go close
Off goes Joshua Zirkzee and taking his place is Kobbie Mainoo.
Now, a first proper chance for the hosts, as Rasmus Hojlund beats Jacob Murphy and dinks a shot over Martin Dubravka but it just misses the far post.
35'
Lewis Hall stings one, then Sandro Tonali forces corner
Andre Onana’s has to double clutch a hard shot from Lewis Hall, then Newcastle quickly win the ball back and Sandro Tonali forces Onana to conceded a corner with a decent effort of his own.
Trippier’s near-post corner has Olimpico intentions but Onana gets a strong first to it for another corner.
This time he tries to go back post but sends it too high.
Joelinton goal — Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle (19th minute)
Anthony Gordon has the ball on the left and gets a cross off past Mazraoui.
Maguire sucks up to Isak, and Martinez is slow to follow Joelinton.
The Brazilian is too big and he pounds the header past Onana.
The away fans are audible. The home fans.... well....
Isak break!
Bruno Guimaraes turns over Christian Eriksen atop the 18 and sends a long ball over the top of the Man Utd back line.
Isak is 1v1 with Andre Onana on the right, but the keeper stands his ground and easily catches a would-be dink.
1-0 Newcastle, 19'.
Newcastle miles better than Man Utd
At least to start this game, the Magpies are flying around Old Trafford as if it’s any other ground.
Manuel Ugarte’s bite is missing in the midfield, and Bruno Fernandes’ absence seems to be stopping the Magpies from respecting anything that could happen up top.
Alexander Isak goal (video) — Man Utd 0-1 Newcastle (5th minute)
Dreadful defending from Man United, or at least dreadful mental play.
Lewis Hall crosses into the box, and it takes a slight turn off of Noussair Mazraoui’s thigh.
Somehow Harry Maguire, Diogo Dalot, nor Lisandro Martinez stick to the red-hot Alexander Isak, who heads home.
Isak’s 12th of the season.
Marcus Rashford on bench, Newcastle have huge chance to end Old Trafford woes
The absences of Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte mean the hosts will be missing their best defensive midfielder as well as their best attacker. Kobbie Mainoo starts on the bench, and Marcus Rashford is also there after multiple games outside the 18.
Newcastle have their best lineup, at least until Sven Botman returns from his longtime injury — which will be soon. Harvey Barnes starts on the bench and Kieran Trippier gets the call of Valentino Livramento at right back.
Newcastle have won three of four against Man Utd including a League Cup win at Old Trafford in November 2023, but their last Premier League win at the Theater of Dreams came December 7, 2013 when Yohan Cabaye scored the lone goal.
Manchester United lineup
Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot, Eriksen, Casemiro, Zirkzee, Amad, Hojlund
Newcastle United lineup
Dubravka, Hall, Schar, Burn, Trippier, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Murphy, Gordon, Isak
Manchester United vs Newcastle United preview — By Andy Edwards
The Red Devils (14th - 22 points) have lost four games at home already this season (12-2 combined score), including their last two to Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth, two sides currently in the top-6. Amorim predicted earlier this month, after going unbeaten in his first three games, that “the storm will come” for his side as the fixtures pile up and the squad’s (considerable lack of) depth gets tested. Stormy indeed. Captain Bruno Fernandes is suspended after being sent off on Boxing Day, seven minutes before Manuel Ugarte picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and a one-game ban of his own. Back to Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in midfield?
Newcastle (5th - 29 points) would be surging in the top-4 race if Forest would simply drop a point or two, but instead the Magpies are flying under the radar for now. Two weeks ago, Eddie Howe’s side sat 12th with just 19 goals in 15 games, and some questions were being asked. Since then? Three straight wins, 11 goals scored, 0 conceded. Alexander Isak and Jacob Murphy have been unplayable to the tune of 8 goals, 3 assists between them in three games.
Manchester United team news, focus
OUT: Bruno Fernandes (suspension), Manuel Ugarte (suspension), Mason Mount (thigh), Luke Shaw (foot), Victor Lindelof (unspecified)
Newcastle team news, focus
OUT: Nick Pope (knee), Emil Krafth (shoulder), Callum Wilson (thigh), Jamaal Lascelles (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Valentino Livramento (illness), Sven Botman (knee), Kieran Trippier (undisclosed)
Manchester United vs Newcastle prediction
A third straight home defeat for Man United? How can you see any other outcome? Manchester United 1-2 Newcastle.
