Ruben Amorim has a lot of work to do at Man United. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
Four minutes was all it took Newcastle to take the lead against Man United on Monday night and the goal would have had Ruben Amorim questioning three of his players.
It has been a difficult start to life for the Portuguese manager at Old Trafford after losing his last three games in charge of the Manchester club. Things don’t get any easier for the 39-year-old, with Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal being his next three games.
Amorim has not improved the form of the Red Devils since they dismissed Erik ten Hag and it took just four minutes for their underwhelming start to the 2024/25 campaign to continue against Newcastle.
Eddie Howe’s side arrived at Old Trafford in top form and got the Premier League game off to a flying start with Alexander Isak making it 1-0 within four minutes.
Lewis Hall sent a cross into the United box and the Swedish striker headed the ball unchallenged, showing why. Arsenal are interested in the 25-year-old heading into 2025.
Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez were like statues for the opening strike and the trio were again at fault for the Magpies’ second.
Ruben Amorim is pushing Man United to complete the €18 million transfer for the Barcelona defender
Barely three minutes on the clock and Newcastle are ahead at Old Trafford! ?
Does Alexander Isak lead the Magpies up front? pic.twitter.com/FT3jNtS8XV
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 30, 2024
Ruben Amorim must rethink his Man United defence
Newcastle’s second goal was much the same in the first, when Anthony Gordon’s cross was headed unchallenged by Joelinton.
De Ligt, Maguire and Martinez have done next to nothing to stop the Brazilian from scoring and highlights an area that Amorim needs to fix quickly. The central three are central to the Portuguese coach’s system and it would be a surprise if no new players arrived in 2025.
“Now they are a powerhouse”
Joelinton doubles the lead for Newcastle ?? pic.twitter.com/wUsXeX09ol
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 30, 2024
The central defenders in the pitch for Newcastle’s competition are not good enough to play together at Old Trafford and most United fans will not disagree that changes need to be made in this area of the pitch.
