Newcastle secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford on Monday night, capping off 2024 with another excellent performance.
Goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton in the opening 20 minutes propelled the Magpies to the win, while Manchester United struggled to muster any meaningful response.
📰 Table Of Contents
First Half
The visitors wasted no time asserting their dominance, taking the lead just four minutes in.
Bruno Guimaraes’ perfectly executed switch of play found Lewis Hall in acres of space on the left flank.
Hall delivered a precise half-volleyed cross into the box, where Isak outjumped Harry Maguire to head the ball into the ground and beyond a helpless Andre Onana.
GET INNNNNN! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/cTyqDHNiao
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) December 30, 2024
Newcastle’s early strike set the tone for the half, and it wasn’t long before they doubled their advantage.
In the 19th minute, Anthony Gordon weaved past Noussair Mazraoui on the left wing before delivering an inch-perfect cross.
Joelinton rose above Lisandro Martinez to power a header past Onana, making it 2-0.
The Magpies came close to extending their lead further, with Sandro Tonali striking the post from the edge of the box and Isak finding the back of the net again, only for his second goal to be disallowed for offside.
Manchester United, meanwhile, struggled to find their rhythm. Their first real chance fell to Rasmus Hojlund, who dragged a left-footed effort wide after beating the offside trap in the 34th minute.
Joshua Zirkzee was substituted to cheers in the first half after a less-than-inspiring performance, but the hosts’ frustrations continued as Casemiro squandered a golden opportunity to pull one back just before the break.
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— Newcastle United (@NUFC) December 30, 2024
Second Half
Rúben Amorim, clearly dissatisfied with his team’s performance, made more changes at the interval.
Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho were introduced, hoping to inject energy into Manchester United’s lacklustre attack.
The home side’s best chance of the half came in the 60th minute when Diogo Dalot’s cross found Harry Maguire in the box.
The defender’s diving header hit the post, and the follow-up effort from Matthijs de Ligt was blocked by Lewis Hall.
Amorim brought on Antony and Leny Yoro late in the game, but the changes failed to turn the tide.
Newcastle’s substitutes, including Harvey Barnes and Joseph Willock, added fresh legs to see out the match.
The victory lifts Newcastle United to fifth in the Premier League table, just three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.
Eddie Howe’s side will enter 2025 brimming with confidence as they push for Champions League qualification.
For Manchester United, the defeat caps off a disappointing year, with questions mounting about the team’s bottle, regardless of who is in charge.
