Isak and Joelinton led Newcastle to a historic 2-0 victory over Manchester United – Aitrend

Newcastle United beat Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford, dealing a devastating blow to the home team’s faltering season.

The win, which saw goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton, extended Manchester United’s losing streak to four games in all competitions, with their latest defeat leaving them 14th in the Premier League with just 22 points after 11 games.

Under the management of Ruben Amorim, who took charge on 11 November, 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 admitted that United’s performance under him had fallen short of expectations, suffering six defeats, four wins and one draw since then. Appoint him.

United’s 3-4-3 formation was again ineffective, and the match saw major tactical errors. Amorim was forced to take off striker Joshua Zirkzee after just 30 minutes, a move that highlighted the disarray within the team.

Marcus Rashford, who expressed his desire to take on a “new challenge” earlier this season, was returned to the team, but his return did little to improve the team’s performance.

On the other hand, Newcastle showed a smooth and organized attacking style from the beginning.

The visitors took the lead in the first four minutes. Isaac took advantage of a defensive error from Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, heading home a cross from Kieran Trippier to make it 1-0. The Swedish striker, who is in great form, scored his eighth goal in the last seven matches.

Photo: Reuters

United’s defense was exposed once again to score the second goal, which came in the 25th minute. Anthony Gordon got past United’s right winger, Noussair Mazraoui, and passed the ball to Joelinton, who jumped on Martinez to score a header past goalkeeper Andre Onana.

Amorim’s decision to field midfield duo Casemiro and Christian Eriksen, both in their 30s, rather than younger options such as Kobe Maino, allowed Newcastle’s midfield trio – Joelinton, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimarães – to dominate.

Amorim himself admitted that his side’s defensive problems were largely due to the holes left in the midfield, with Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes absent throughout the match.

Despite occasional flashes of hope, such as a long-range shot from Tonali that hit the post, United struggled to generate significant threats. Their only real chance came when Maguire’s header hit the post in the second half, but it was too little, too late.

As the game wore on, United showed quick signs of urgency, especially after Amorim brought on Lenny Euro and Alejandro Garnacho, but the hosts lacked the spark needed to pull off a comeback. Rashford, who sat on the bench for most of the match, watched from the bench as United continued to stumble.

After the match, Isak spoke about the historic nature of the victory, saying: “It’s a great feeling, we haven’t won for a long time here: the perfect way to end this year.” It was Newcastle’s first win at Old Trafford in 11 years, and only their second in the league there since 1972.

Newcastle’s win further complicates the situation for Amorim and Manchester United, who face increasing pressure as their disappointing form threatens to continue into the new year.