Man Utd 0-2 Newcastle: Ruben Amorim’s problems deepen as Alexander Isak and Joelinton goals sink hosts

Newcastle moved up to fifth with a 2-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford as Ruben Amorim’s side lost their fourth consecutive game.

Alexander Isak and Joelinton headed the Magpies two up early on to leave the home team is disarray, with Amorim substituting Joshua Zirkzee inside the first half to jeers from his own supporters.

It could have been more for Newcastle, Isak having a goal ruled out for offside and Sandro Tonali striking a post. There was something of a response in the second half with Harry Maguire heading against the post, but it was a deserved win for Eddie Howe’s team.

Manchester United have now lost five of their last six Premier League games and four in a row in all competitions, the last three coming without even scoring. They remain 14th in the table, now only seven points above the drop. Newcastle climb to fifth.

Man Utd’s slump in stats

Manchester United have lost three consecutive home league games for the first time since February 1979, while they have lost three consecutive Premier League games within the same season for the first time since December 2015 under Louis van Gaal.
Manchester United lost six games in all competitions in December, only the third month in which they’ve lost six games, after April 1926 (6) and September 1930 (7). They also conceded 18 goals in December, their most in a single month since March 1964 (also 18).
Manchester United will end New Year’s Eve in 14th place in the Premier League, their lowest position at the turn of a year in the league since 1989, when they ended that year in 15th, eventually finishing 13th.
Since Ruben Amorim’s first game in charge on November 24, only Southampton (7) have lost more games in all competitions among Premier League clubs than Man Utd (6), while the Red Devils have shipped the joint-most goals (21, level with Spurs).

Amorim: Relegation risk ‘really clear’

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim speaking to Sky Sports:

“That is really clear [United are being dragged into a relegation battle] so we have to fight. It is a really difficult moment, one of the more difficult moments in the history of Manchester United and we have to address it with honesty.

“We have to fight in the next game.”

Asked whether he will change his system…

“Maybe, or you continue with your idea and they have to change the coach. It is a choice that everyone has to make in football. If I think this is the best thing for the team, I will continue to pass my message, easily.

“You cannot go back. We’ve only had four training sessions all together. I will continue to do my idea until the end.”

Asked about the decision to substitute Joshua Zirkzee in the first half…

“You have to think about the team but also the player, but the player is suffering. I thought the team was suffering and we needed another midfielder to have more ball. It was really tough for me to do that, but I’ve spoken to Josh as it was important to express the message. For the team, it was important for Josh to go out.

“I know that Josh is a really good guy. When he went to the tunnel, I can understand that some guys can be in a bad way but he is a really good lad. It is life, and we will support Josh and continue. Newcastle were better than Manchester United, they weren’t better than Josh.”

Player of the match: Alexander Isak

Jamie Carragher speaking about Alexander Isak on Monday Night Football:

“When he’s in position, sometimes with strikers, they can be a little bit sloppy or a little bit loose in possession. When you see him, he’s on the move, he’s moving with the ball, he’s not just standing in the box, waiting for the ball.

“He can play as the target man, he can score goals, he can make runs in behind, I actually think he could almost play as a No. 10, he could probably almost play with another striker, as he’s got the ability to actually drop in and pick the ball.

“He’s just been a sensation, and there’s been a lot of great signings, we should say under Eddie Howe. He is the best striker in the Premier League right now. I don’t think it’s actually close right now, I think he’s the real standout.”

How long can Man Utd go on like this?

“With bad results, it’s really difficult to sell an idea,” Amorim told Sky Sports before the game. “I was hired because of that idea and in these difficult moments if you change your mind, it is the end for any coach.” But sticking with that idea brings problems too.

Manchester United were a mess from the outset against Newcastle. Some of it is down to players bereft of confidence. The sad sight of Zirkzee being booed from the field before the break was emblematic of a group of players who look unhappy in their work.

But a system is supposed to make their jobs easier not harder and whatever your view of the quality of the squad inherited by Amorim it is increasingly difficult to argue that this is not at least part of the problem. Too many of them look uncomfortable in their roles.

Diogo Dalot was stationed so high up the pitch for much of the game that it would have been more natural to have a left winger there rather than an erstwhile right-back. When he did get the ball he could only shovel it inside rather than provide any genuine width.

Noussair Mazraoui fared little better on the other flank and Matthijs de Ligt does not want to be dragged into wide areas as he was by Alexander Isak. Lisandro Martinez is one of the few this shape is said to suit and he endured a wretched evening in red.

Amorim would no doubt have preferred to have come into this job last summer or next rather than be plunged into a congested fixture list and asked to fix problems on the fly. But the hope would have been that he could muddle through and build for next season.

That remains the hope but it surely needs United to pick up or risk beginning that rebuild on the back foot, being doubted even before his first full season in charge. As he himself acknowledges, there is an idea to sell – to the players, to the public and to his bosses.

Amorim does not need a trophy. A season out of Europe could even make things simpler. There is no expectation United fire. Just function. But a third Premier League defeat in a row without so much as scoring a goal is unacceptable even at this low ebb.

Story of the match in stats…

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