Manchester United suffered their fourth successive defeat, losing 2-0 to Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Monday, with goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton spelling a poor end for the Red Devils to 2024 and increasing the pressure on manager Ruben Amorim.
Just two months into his job, Amorim admitted this week that his job is at stake unless results begin to improve.
The Portuguese has won just two of his first nine league games to leave United in 14th place, just seven points above the relegation zone.
Alexander Isak and Joelinton scored in the first 19 minutes as a fifth successive win lifted the Magpies up to fifth place.
Amorim stood in awe of what he saw in the first half as Newcastle broke through the hosts at will.
There were just over three minutes on the clock when Isak was given space inside the six-yard box to head home a Lewis Hall cross and score for the sixth successive Premier League game.
United sorely missed the presence of suspended captain Bruno Fernandes, with Newcastle’s midfield trio of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton turning around the aging duo of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen with ease.
Isak wasted a great opportunity to double the visitors’ lead when he made a mistake in trying to shoot the ball over Andre Onana, and the Swedish striker’s goal was canceled due to offside.
However, it was only a matter of time before Newcastle added a second, and the goal came when Joelinton raced to meet Anthony Gordon’s cross.
Amorim responded by replacing Joshua Zirkzee with Kobe Maino after just 33 minutes, a move that was greeted with cheers by the frustrated Old Trafford fans.
Tonali should have made it 3-0 when he hit the post at the end of Newcastle’s flowing drive through United’s centre-back.
However, Eddie Howe’s men almost gave the Red Devils a way back into the game before half-time.
Rasmus Hoglund wasted a great opportunity to reduce the gap when the Danish player shot the ball wide of the goal before Martin Dubravka beat it.
Casemiro then missed a better chance after Fabien Schar collected the ball to Maino.
Amorim’s half-time pep talk did at least elicit some response as United started the second half much better.
Harry Maguire’s header came back off the post before De Ligt’s follow-up effort was blocked by Hall.
Marcus Rashford was restored to United’s line-up for the first time in five games but remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes as Amorim turned to another outcast in Alejandro Garnacho to make a difference.
But the Argentina international was introduced just as Newcastle weathered the storm and began to assert their dominance once again.
A third successive home league defeat for the first time since 1979 is the latest in a list of unfortunate statistics that have marked a decade of decline for United.
What Amorim fears is that the losing streak will continue until 2025.
A tough trip to runaway league leaders Liverpool awaits on Sunday before United travel to Arsenal in the FA Cup third round.