United shown up on home turf: Five things we learned from Manchester United 0-2 Newcastle United | OneFootball

Manchester United’s poor season continued as they ended 2024 with a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United.

First half goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton ensured a fifth defeat in December for Ruben Amorim’s United, who round off 2024 in 14th place and seven points of the relegation zone.

Victory for Eddie Howe’s Magpies sees them rise above Manchester City and into fifth place, who end the first half the season in good form.

Here are five things we learnt from a disappointing night for the Red Devils…

Rashford’s return welcomed

Marcus Rashford received warm applause as he came out to warm up ahead of and during the match. The Carrington graduate had been left out of four consecutive matchday squads by Ruben Amorim and had been absent for more than half of a month. Many thought that we had already seen Rashford’s final appearance in a Manchester United shirt, with it being widely believed that he could be heading for a January exit from his boyhood club. Throughout this period, Amorim has maintained that the door has remained open for Rashford’s return to the fold, and perhaps that was proven with his inclusion in the squad today.

Isak’s goalscoring form continues

Alexander Isak is another player who has been linked with an exit from his current club, although under vastly different circumstances to Rashford. Isak opened the scoring in just the fourth minute of the game, as he comfortably headed home Lewis Hall’s cross. The Swedish striker now has eight goals in his last six league games, finding the back of the net in every one of Newcastle’s December fixtures. It is because of goalscoring like this that Isak has long been regarded as one of the best attacking talents in Europe, and he has been consistently linked with some of Europe’s most elite clubs.

Newcastle’s dominant first half

Newcastle were already 2-0 up and cruising before Manchester United took their first shot at goal in the 34th minute- an effort from Rasmus Højlund that was poked wide of the post. United were lucky that they were only two goals down too, as Newcastle had racked up 12 shots, had a third goal disallowed for offside and Sandro Tonali had hit the post from close range. In the second half Man United did offer a better display, with the Red Devils arguably the better side in the second period. Despite this, it was not enough to score, and they end 2024 with a home defeat.

Zirkzee’s embarrassing first half substitution

Huge cheers erupted around Old Trafford as Joshua Zirkzee was substituted in the 33rd minute. The Dutch international did not look pleased and headed straight down the tunnel. Named as Serie A’s best young player last season, Zirkzee has struggled to adjust to life in Manchester where he has only managed to make seven starts in the league, having arrived for £36.5m from Bologna last summer. The forward was replaced by Kobbie Mainoo and United immediately looked much more balanced after the midfielder’s introduction.

Two sides with differing fortunes

After their victory and Chelsea’s defeat this evening, Newcastle are now just three points off the top four. Returning to the Champions League next season would be absolutely huge for Newcastle. The promise of Champions League football could also be a key factor in determining if some of their star players continue at the club after this season. As for Manchester United, the Reds will now head into the New Year in 14th place; closer to the relegation zone than the top four. In his programme notes, Ruben Amorim promised that “this period will not last forever.” The Stretford End voiced their support for him at half-time but Amorim will need to improve his side soon after suffering his fourth defeat in a row.