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Manchester United punished Newcastle United 4-1 at Old Trafford on Thursday thanks to a devastating performance from the front three of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood. Newcastle’s Matty Longstaff scored the game’s opening goal in the 17th minute, but the Red Devils replied with four unanswered (three of which were down to Newcastle errors) to climb to seventh in the table.
With memories of Newcastle’s famous 1-0 victory over Man United at St. James’ Park back on Oct. 6 looming large inside his colossal head, Steve Bruce elected to again pair the Longstaff brothers in the heart of his midfield (it was Matty who’d previously scored the winner with his first-ever EPL goal in his first-ever EPL start), and it was Matty again who made the scoreline 1-0 to the Toon after some nice interplay with Joelinton.
But the lead lasted only seven minutes. In the 24th, Andreas Pereira teed up Martial in the area for a curled finish at the near post. Newcastle fans are used to seeing Martin Dúbravka save these, but the goalkeeper couldn’t do enough to turn it around the post.
MARTIAL pic.twitter.com/Q6swVTkSsN
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 26, 2019
Greenwood then gave the Red Devils the lead in the 36th minute with a rifled finish from the top of the area that went crossbar down, but the opportunity was fashioned because of some pitiful passing from Newcastle defender Fabian Schär.
Newcastle desperately needed the halftime whistle, but the first half onslaught wasn’t over. In the 41st, Aaron Wan-Bissaka hung up an inviting cross for Rashford to attack.
Marcus Rashford's 11th Premier League goal, a new career high pic.twitter.com/mNNpuxGaIt
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 26, 2019
A two-goal deficit was likely an insurmountable task for Newcastle, but Sean Longstaff well and truly put the game out of reach with an atrocious back-pass that was latched onto by Martial.
An Anthony Martial goal and an Anthony Martial smile
Happy days for @ManUtd pic.twitter.com/2G88O29Gkc— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) December 26, 2019
The final 40 minutes were essentially just an opportunity for Paul Pogba to open his account on the season, but his three shots failed to beat Dúbravka as both teams quickly turned their attentions to Saturday.
Man United travels to Turf Moor to play Burnley; Newcastle hosts Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton.
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