Manchester United’s struggles deepened as they suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United, who were in superb form and comfortably outplayed the Red Devils, especially in the second half.
The defeat leaves United in a precarious position, sitting 14th in the Premier League and facing a must-win Europa League quarter-final second leg against Lyon later this week.
The match kicked off with Newcastle making their dominance clear, with the ball hitting the back of United’s net just 45 seconds into the game, though the goal was ruled out for offside. Despite a promising start, United failed to keep up with the intensity of the home side, who soon took control.
Alexander Isak’s exquisite assist led to Tonali’s opening goal, and although United equalized through Alejandro Garnacho, the joy was short-lived. Newcastle regained the lead shortly after, with Barnes scoring from close range.
Newcastle didn’t stop there, with further goals from Barnes and a costly mistake from United’s goalkeeper Bayindir, which led to another goal for the Magpies. By the time Bruno Guimarães scored the fourth goal, it was clear that Newcastle were the superior side.
Ruben Amorim, United’s head coach, made the decision to drop goalkeeper Andre Onana, who has had a difficult season, including a recent public row and a costly mistake in the Europa League. However, his replacement, Bayindir, also had a difficult game, including the blunder that led to Newcastle’s fourth goal.
Newcastle’s midfield duo of Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali shone once again, with Tonali in particular showing off his well-rounded abilities, while Isak continued to prove his worth as a complete forward. Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho’s goal was a rare bright spot for United, though his overall performance remains a question mark as he struggles to find consistency.
With a crucial Europa League tie ahead, United will need to regroup quickly to salvage their season, but this defeat shows just how far they have fallen from the heights of previous years.
