EPL: Manchester United's Season from Bad to Worse After 4-1 Loss

Newcastle United thrashed Manchester United 4-1, keeping their Champions League hopes alive with a sixth consecutive win.

Newcastle United strengthened their Champions League aspirations with a commanding 4-1 win over struggling Manchester United at St James’ Park. This victory not only showcased Newcastle's growing prowess but also marked their first league double over Manchester United since the 1930/31 season, pushing them up to fourth place in the Premier League.

Manchester United's rebuilding process under Ruben Amorim continues to face challenges, highlighted by goalkeeper André Onana's recent mistakes against Lyon. Onana was replaced by Altay Bayındır for his Premier League debut in this match. Despite a questionable offside call on Joelinton's early goal, Newcastle's dominance was evident. They took the lead in the 24th minute with a beautifully executed move. Kieran Trippier identified Alexander Isak's positioning on the edge of the box, and Isak delivered a precise lofted pass to Sandro Tonali. The Italian midfielder capitalized on the opportunity with a stunning first-time right-footed shot that left Bayındır no chance.

A convincing win for @NUFC to complete their first league double over Man Utd since 1930/31! 🏹#NEWMUN pic.twitter.com/7rdwLJIY3V

— Premier League (@premierleague) April 13, 2025

Newcastle continued to create scoring opportunities through Tonali and Isak, but in a surprising turn of events, Manchester United scored next. Alejandro Garnacho capitalized on a well-worked move, receiving a pass from Diogo Dalot and finishing clinically with a side-footed shot past Nick Pope.

Newcastle quickly reasserted their lead after halftime when Tino Livramento's cross was redirected by Jacob Murphy to Harvey Barnes, who slotted home Newcastle's second goal. Manchester United's struggles continued as Joshua Zirkzee exited with a hamstring injury, prompting Ruben Amorim to make a triple substitution, bringing on Rasmus Højlund, Patrick Dorgu, and Mason Mount. However, any hopes of a comeback were dashed when Harvey Barnes outmuscled Noussair Mazraoui and delivered a powerful, unstoppable shot past Altay Bayındır. This goal highlighted Manchester United's defensive vulnerabilities and marked Barnes' second goal of the match. Barnes became only the second Newcastle player to score a brace against Manchester United in the Premier League era, following Alan Shearer.

The goalkeeping position in Ruben Amorim's side continues to face challenges, as Altay Bayındır made a critical error when he mishandled a short clearance straight to Joelinton. The ball was then headed to Bruno Guimarães, who sealed Newcastle's 4-1 victory. This win marked a memorable season for Eddie Howe's team, who extended their unbeaten streak to six games across all competitions and are on track to secure a UEFA Champions League spot for next season.

Meanwhile, Manchester United endured another disappointing day, further cementing their worst Premier League season on record. Even if they win all their remaining matches, they'll still fall short of their 2021/22 points tally, finishing with a maximum of 56 points – two shy of their previous low. The Red Devils' struggles have been evident throughout the campaign, and this latest defeat only adds to their woes.