EPL: Newcastle Capitalize on Manchester United's Set-Piece Woes to Secure 2-0 Win

Newcastle United took advantage of Manchester United's struggles defending set-pieces, securing a 2-0 win at Old Trafford.

Newcastle United achieved a remarkable feat by defeating Manchester United in a league match at Old Trafford for only the second time since 1972. This victory condemned the hosts to a third consecutive home loss, a dismal record that has not occurred in 45 years.

Manchester United's struggles continued, with the team suffering five league defeats in a calendar month for the first time since September 1962, during Sir Matt Busby's tenure. Newcastle, on the other hand, celebrated a well-deserved victory, courtesy of early goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton.

Eddie Howe's team ended the year on a high note, securing their fifth position in the league and extending their winning streak to four Premier League games. Isak's impressive form continued, with the striker scoring his 12th goal and maintaining a remarkable strike rate of eight goals in six games.

In stark contrast, Manchester United's performance was abysmal. Head coach Ruben Amorim's decision to start veterans Casemiro and Christian Eriksen together in midfield backfired, prompting him to replace forward Joshua Zirkzee with Kobbie Mainoo in the 33rd minute.

Despite Manchester United's struggles, Amorim opted not to introduce Marcus Rashford, who had returned to the substitutes' bench. The team's fourth consecutive defeat and third successive game without scoring have raised concerns, with Manchester United ending the year in 14th place, just seven points above the relegation zone.

The once-amusing notion of Manchester United fighting to avoid relegation has become a more pressing concern. With a daunting trip to Anfield to face league leaders Liverpool on Sunday, the team's situation is growing increasingly precarious.

Newcastle's strategy to gain control of the match didn't require any elaborate tactics. In fact, a simple review of Manchester United's recent performances would have sufficed. The Red Devils' vulnerabilities in defending set-pieces have been a recurring theme, and Newcastle capitalized on this weakness.

Manchester United's struggles with defending corners and crosses have been well-documented. Since Nottingham Forest scored from a corner at Old Trafford on December 7, the Red Devils have consistently shown frailty in this area. Their recent matches have seen them concede twice in three games directly from corners, highlighting a glaring deficiency that Newcastle exploited.

When Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes found Lewis Hall in space down the left flank, the obvious choice was to deliver a cross into the box. This tactic proved effective, and Newcastle repeated the formula when Anthony Gordon cut inside in a similar position 15 minutes later. By targeting Manchester United's Achilles' heel, Newcastle seized the initiative and gained a crucial advantage in the match.

Newcastle capitalized on Manchester United's defensive frailties, scoring two early goals from set-pieces. On the first occasion, Alexander Isak was left unmarked to head home, despite five Manchester United defenders being in a line. The second goal saw Joelinton outmuscle Lisandro Martinez in the air, highlighting the Red Devils' vulnerability in the box.

By the 19th minute, Newcastle had established a 2-0 lead, and they could have further extended their advantage. Isak squandered a golden opportunity, chipping a weak effort straight at Andre Onana after being left unattended by the touchline. Anthony Gordon curled an effort over from the edge of the area, while Joelinton blasted a shot over after Gordon had beaten Noussair Mazraoui down the flank.

Kieran Trippier also attempted to exploit Manchester United's weakness in defending set-pieces, trying his luck with a direct corner kick that forced Onana to scramble and punch the ball away at his near post. With a comfortable lead established, Newcastle's focus shifted to containment, aiming to preserve their advantage and secure a vital three points.

As the year draws to a close, Newcastle find themselves in a promising position. With a Champions League spot within reach and a Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal on the horizon, Eddie Howe's side is poised to make a significant impact in the second half of the season. Despite experiencing an inconsistent campaign, the Magpies have engineered a strong foundation, and the prospect of ending their 54-year trophy drought is a tantalizing one.

The atmosphere at Old Trafford was a stark contrast to Manchester United's on-field struggles. Home fans rallied behind their team, chanting “Amorim's red and white army” in a show of defiance. Meanwhile, Newcastle's jubilant supporters taunted their hosts with chants of “say hello to Sunderland,” referencing their arch-rivals' current status in the Championship.

Manchester United's relegation worries may still seem far-fetched, but the reality is that Ipswich's shock victory over Chelsea has narrowed the gap between the two teams to just seven points. Manchester United's glaring weakness in defending crosses has been a recurring theme, with disastrous consequences. Head coach Ruben Amorim has repeatedly assured that things will improve, but the team's struggles have raised concerns about his own future.

The pressure on Amorim is palpable, particularly given the ruthless decision-making of club owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ratcliffe's swift dismissal of sporting director Dan Ashworth after just five months in the role sent a clear message about his expectations. Amorim's decision to substitute Joshua Zirkzee was another indication of the intense scrutiny he is under. While any of the home outfield players could have been taken off at that point, Zirkzee's lackluster performance has raised questions about his value to the team, particularly given the £36.5m price tag.

Amorim did witness an improvement from his team in the second half, but this was largely due to the abysmal standards set in the first half. Harry Maguire, who regained the captain's armband after Lisandro Martinez's substitution, came close to scoring with a diving header that hit the post. Despite this, the evening was one to forget for Maguire, much like the rest of the Manchester United team.