Manchester United, a struggling football team, was overpowered by Newcastle while their manager, Erik ten Hag, watched and saw what his team lacks.

Ten Hag suffered 10 defeats. Manchester United’s disappointing record grew worse as they reached a total of 10 losses in a single season, falling behind Newcastle United in the process. While the standings indicate a shift in dominance, Ten Hag’s squad was also outpaced, overmatched, and outmuscled by a team lacking reliable substitutes.

Once again, Manchester United performed poorly while Newcastle’s determination was impressive. They bounced back from the heartbreak of Paris Saint-Germain’s disputed 98th-minute goal with an impeccable response. Their hard work paid off with Anthony Gordon scoring from close range and claiming another impressive victory. Just a week after demolishing Chelsea, Manchester United were defeated by Newcastle’s strong performance.

Ten Hag may have experienced a sense of déjà vu. Despite being in charge for a year and a half, he has not secured a victory against any of the top eight teams in the Premier League while playing away. The team’s plans were disrupted due to transportation issues, resulting in a road trip instead of flying. However, the coach’s issues extended beyond just the mode of transportation. Manchester United appeared uncoordinated against Newcastle, who were well-prepared and had both motivation and a game plan.

Their impressive record at home was further enhanced; during Eddie Howe’s two-year tenure, only Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal have managed to defeat them in a league game at St James’ Park. Manchester United is not at their level and, following their loss in the Carabao Cup final, has now suffered three consecutive defeats against Newcastle, with subpar performances in each one.

Unfortunately, due to the frigid weather and a depleted roster of 10 players, facing Newcastle at this time was not ideal. However, the remaining 11 players who completed the previous game in Paris were once again called upon to play. Despite this, they showed great determination and attacked the opposing team, Manchester United, with intense speed and energy.

There were impressive displays all over the field. Lewis Miley had a standout week and gained recognition from the St James’ Park crowd as his name echoed throughout the game. His teammate Joelinton also made a strong impact, while Bruno Guimaraes was the most skilled player on the field. Tino Livramento may not be a natural left-back, but he played exceptionally well, making powerful runs up the wing. On the opposite side, Kieran Trippier, a lifelong fan of Manchester United, expertly curled a free kick that hit the underside of the crossbar, with Andre Onana unable to move, and also assisted in the winning goal.

Newcastle scored a traditional goal with Guimaraes passing to Trippier on the outside, who then crossed the ball to Gordon for an easy finish at the far post. Despite it being a simple goal, there was a distinct characteristic to it. Gordon has been a constant threat to top teams such as Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea, showcasing his bravery and embodying the spirit of Newcastle. In the previous game, Reece James was sent off for fouling Gordon because he couldn’t keep up with him; a week later, Harry Maguire received a caution for clumsily fouling the Liverpudlian.

Manchester United could have greatly benefitted from a strong attack, but instead, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford were unimpressive and were both substituted out. Alejandro Garnacho had a chance to score early on, but it was a rare moment of action for United. In fact, they only had two shots in the first half, their lowest in a Premier League game in almost two years. Their only other noteworthy attempt came from substitute Sergio Reguilon’s volley, which was thwarted by Fabian Schar. Despite an offside Harry Maguire managing to get a touch on an Antony shot, the goal was disallowed.

Martin Dubravka was unable to stop it as it passed by, bringing in a new player for Newcastle who were only just forced to make a substitution. This occurred right as it appeared that their brave starting players would all finish out the game once again. Unfortunately, Pope had to leave the game due to a concerning shoulder issue, adding him to the already long list of injured players.

The attention was primarily on the opposing team’s objective. Onana demonstrated his flexibility by quickly diving to his right and stopping Miguel Almiron’s low attempt. However, he also seemed unsure, struggling with a corner kick, experiencing miscommunication with Diogo Dalot, and being ridiculed by the Newcastle fans.

Luke Shaw was positioned as a center-back while Raphael Varane was once again overlooked. Ten Hag believed Shaw’s left-footed abilities would aid in the team’s build-up, but there were instances where they did not have enough possession for it to have a significant impact. While Howe did not have any alternatives, Ten Hag made four substitutions. Despite Bruno Fernandes’ strong performance, the team’s overall performance declined, lacking the same level of threat as they had against Istanbul. At halftime, they were fortunate to be tied.

At the end of the game, it seemed even more peculiar that they were considered the top team in the division, at least on paper. They had won five out of their last six matches in the league. However, they have a tendency to lose against teams in the top half of the table, and even with many players missing, Newcastle remains a strong team.

Source: independent.co.uk