Newcastle defeated Manchester United 2-0 on Monday night, a victory for the visitors in a league game at Old Trafford for only the second time since 1972 to condemn their hosts to a third straight home loss in all competitions for the first time in more than 60 years.
Not since Sir Matt Busby’s days in the 1962-1963 season have Manchester United lost three home games in a row in all competitions.
But early goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton gave Eddie Howe’s men a thoroughly deserved victory that left them fifth in an impressive end to 2024.
Newcastle have won their last four English Premier League games, with the excellent Isak taking his tally to 12 and his recent strike rate to eight in six games, with six in successive games.
In contrast, the home side were abysmal.
Head coach Ruben Amorim replaced forward Joshua Zirkzee with Kobbie Mainoo in the 33rd minute, confirmation that he had got a starting line-up that paired veterans Casemiro and Christian Eriksen together in midfield hopelessly wrong.
Marcus Rashford was brought back onto the substitutes bench, but despite watching his side slide to a fourth successive defeat in all competitions and fail to score for the third game on the trot, Amorim opted against introducing the England man into the fray.
United end the year in 14th place, seven points above the relegation zone. What was once was humorous jibing about a fight to avoid the drop is now a little too close to comfort – and league leaders Liverpool lie in wait at Anfield on Sunday.
Also on Monday night, Liam Delap’s exceptional performance helped Ipswich earn their first home win of the season, beating Chelsea 2-0 as the Blues’ title hopes dwindled.
After scoring a 12th-minute penalty, the 21-year-old striker set up former Chelsea winger Omari Hutchinson for Ipswich’s second eight minutes after the break.
Chelsea dominated possession but were wasteful and the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled out a Joao Felix first-half equaliser after a long check for offside.
Earlier, ex-Manchester City striker Delap powered in a penalty that he won himself after VAR judged that there was “sufficient contact” by goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen after the Ipswich man had dribbled past him.
Delap later capitalised on Axel Disasi’s poor back pass to set up Hutchinson to make it 2-0.
Ipswich’s win puts them above Leicester City into 18th and just one point behind Wolves in the table as they look to move out of the bottom three.
Chelsea have now lost consecutive matches following the 0-0 draw at Everton that ended an eight-match winning run in all competitions, and they remain fourth in the Premier League.
Enzo Maresca’s men are 10 points behind league leaders Liverpool – with Arne Slot’s pace-setters also having a game in hand – leaving a sustained title challenge looking unlikely.
BBC Sport
