Harvey Barnes scored a pair of goals as Newcastle United caused a Manchester United second-half implosion en route to a 4-1 win at St. James’ Park on Sunday.
MORE — Ruben Amorim reacts to loss
Newcastle are back into the top four with a match-in-hand on most of their competitors for UEFA Champions League places.
The Magpies have 56 points, one behind Nottingham Forest, one clear of Man City, and two ahead of Chelsea and Aston Villa.
WATCH — Newcastle v Manchester United full match replay
Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes also scored goals in the Magpies’ fourth-straight Premier League win. The only thing absent was Eddie Howe, as the manager has been hospitalized with an illness.
Alejandro Garnacho scored the lone goal for Manchester United, who slip behind Everton on goal differential and own 14th place on the table.
Leadership-low Red Devils wilt
Bruno Fernandes is a vocal leader but you need more than one out of 11 and that’s what it felt like once Newcastle put Manchester United under pressure on Sunday. The fits and starts of Ruben Amorim’s system must be infuriating to the boss and his bosses because there are periods of 15-20 minutes where you look at the midfield press and see the plan. It will take a lot of physical skill and mental fortitude to make Amorim’s demanding system work and if the Red Devils have the former they are missing the latter... or at least the strength to do it over a long period of time. Players like Casemiro can’t go every four days and both the midfielder and Harry Maguire are not going to be strong parts of a strong team but those types of presences are felt so keenly by this Manchester United. That’s especially true against one of the most complete, active, punishing, and ornery midfields in the game right now. Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joelinton erased Man United’s midfield on Sunday.
Newcastle United vs Manchester United player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Newcastle United vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Newcastle United vs Manchester United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Man United host Lyon on Thursday in the Europa League, then see Wolves come to town at 9am ET Sunday.
Newcastle welcome Crystal Palace at 2:30pm ET Wednesday in their ‘match-in-hand’ on the field, then go to Aston Villa for a huge match at 12:30pm Saturday.
How to watch Newcastle vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday
Venue: St. James’ Park — Newcastle upon Tyne
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
Newcastle vs Manchester United final score: 4-1
Sandro Tonali 24', Alejandro Garnacho 37', Harvey Barnes 49', 64', Bruno Guimaraes 77'
Newcastle vs Manchester United live updates
Full time — Newcastle United 4-1 Manchester United
More subs
Lewis Miley and Sean Longstaff replace Joelinton and Bruno Guimaraes, the architects of Newcastle’s last goal.
Bruno Fernandes exits
Kobbie Mainoo comes on Fernandes, who hands the arm band to Victor Lindelof in the 81st minute.
Both sides sub
Anthony Gordon, Emil Krafth, and Callum Wilson enter for Murphy, Trippier, and Isak.
Luke Shaw comes in for Mazraoui.
Magpies up three with a dozen or so minutes to play at St. James’ Park.
Bruno Guimaraes goal — Newcastle 4-1 Manchester United (77th minute)
A gaffe from Manchester United, or at least a gift.
Bruno Guimaraes has only Bayindir to beat after the keeper’s poor chipped pass isn’t tall enough to beat Joelinton.
The Brazilian, set up by his countryman, slots home.
Harvey Barnes goal — Newcastle 3-1 Manchester United (64th minute)
Barnes just bulls by a slipping Noussair Mazraoui, catching the Red Devils back on the ball in the Man Utd half.
There’s plenty to do, and Barnes slips through two backs before drilling a shot around Bayindir.
Joshua Zirkzee injured, requires sub
Zirkzee’s terrific, physical dribble through Newcastle ends with him on the ball but also grabbing at his hamstring.
Rasmus Hojlund is quickly readied to Zirkzee’s place and Man Utd’s planned double sub is now a triple sub. Mason Mount and Patrick Dorgu also enter for Harry Amass and Garnacho in the 55th minute.
Harvey Barnes goal — Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester United (49th minute)
Livramento jukes Dalot on the left flank and sends a low cross toward the back post, but it’s a bit too strong.
Jacob Murphy rescues it from goal kick status with a pass toward the spot, and Harvey Barnes is first to it.
Drilled into the net. Magpies back in front.
Halftime — Newcastle United 1-1 Manchester United
A decent watch, for sure, though the Magpies were certainly in control of the ball and the danger for most of the half.
Shots are 7-4 for the hosts.
The Red Devils had some nice moments on the counter including Garnacho’s goal and a second chance from the Argentine that Pope parried away from goal.
Alejandro Garnacho goal — Newcastle 1-1 Man Utd (37th minute)
From nothing!
Dalot drives the center of the pitch and lays out wide to Garnacho, who has time and space to spin a shot across goal, off the far post, and home.
Bayindir save!
So good from Newcastle but the Manchester United goalkeeper denies Alexander Isak on the doorstep.
Bayindir is the Red Devils’ only hope after Joelinton’s driving run leads to Valentino Livramento’s cross.
He parries it but still has work to do as he flies back into the fray to stop Isak’s close-range effort.
Newcastle are all over Man United.
Nearly two
A Newcastle short corner ends up leaving Tonali with an acre of space from 35 yards or so.
He’s playing with house money and his curling rip is wide but not by a terrible amount.
A second Newcastle goal would feel bigger than the two-goal lead it would represent at St. James’ Park.
Sandro Tonali goal — Newcastle United 1-0 Manchester United (24th minute)
Manchester United’s midfield press has been good but they allow some space to Kieran Trippier on the right and he likes a cross, doesn’t he?
Trippier hits Isak, who hits a volleyed pass to Sandro Tonali for a driven finish across goal and inside the far post.
Nick Pope reaction save
Scintillating combination move from Man United here.
Christian Eriksen hits the entry pass and then Bruno Fernandes and Joshua Zirkzee trade multiple passes before the latter lashes high toward goal.
Nick Pope is able to limit the damage to a corner.
0-0, 13'.
Early warning shots from the hosts
Joelinton has the ball in the goal in the first minute but is ruled offside.
Three minutes later, Jacob Murphy drills a low shot across goal that misses the far post by inches.
Andre Onana latest
Ruben Amorim has explained his decision to leave Andre Onana home after making a verbal gaffe and then two on-field mistakes surrounding Man United’s 2-2 draw with Lyon in the first leg of their Europa League quarterfinal this week.
“These are normal things, sometimes you have to push the player to play again or let them disconnect. Tomorrow he’ll be in training to prepare for the next one. This was a good time to disconnect.
When asked how Onana reacted to the decision, Amorim said there was an understanding with the player.
“He was okay,” Amorim said. “You don’t need to like it but you need to understand because I explain every situation. It’s a normal situation. We have to manage everything, the mental aspect is really important and it’s just one game.”
This is a nice opportunity for Altay Bayindir, as the well-regarded Turkish backstop has a no-pressure outing at a favored opponent.
Newcastle United lineup
Pope, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Barnes, Murphy, Isak
Manchester United lineup
Bayindir, Mazraoui, Lindelof, Yoro, Dalot, Ugarte, Eriksen, Amass, Fernandes, Garnacho, Zirkzee
Newcastle vs Manchester United preview
The Magpies have won three-straight in the Premier League and four overall if you include the League Cup Final triumph over Liverpool, and a top-five place in within reach with seven matches to play in the Premier League season. They will be without manager Eddie Howe on the sidelines this Sunday as Newcastle released a statement saying their boss has been feeling unwell and was admitted to hospital on Friday.
Man United’s UEFA Champions League hopes rest solely upon winning the Europa League, a quest that is in the balance following a 2-2 draw at Lyon in Thursday’s quarterfinal first leg.
But the 13th-place Red Devils — still doesn’t read right, does it? — are coming back from France having asked 90 continental minutes out of mainstays Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, and already thin squad.
Newcastle are the Premier League’s fourth-best side in points-per-game and they could well sit as high as third here with wins over Man Utd and Crystal Palace at midweek. The visitors would do well to finish in the top-half of the table at this point.
Newcastle United team news, focus
OUT: Joe Willock (head), Lewis Hall (foot - out for season), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Sven Botman (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Anthony Gordon (hip)
Manchester United team news, focus
OUT: Toby Collyer (leg), Matthijs de Ligt (unspecified), Ayden Heaven (leg - MORE), Amad Diallo (ankle - out for season), Jonny Evans (lower back), Lisandro Martinez (torn ACL - MORE)
Newcastle vs Manchester United prediction
The Red Devils are almost certainly prioritizing the UEL second leg at Old Trafford, and they are low on depth, anyway. Newcastle may not have Anthony Gordon but are getting plenty of production from wingers Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy. Their midfield is their strength and healthy, though, and that should be enough barring some Fernandes magic (which is always possible). Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester United.
