United's biggest squad problem is the lack of depth in their midfield.

Key Highlights :

1. Erik Ten Hag labelled Newcastle as 'annoying' in reference to their tactical approach when these two sides met earlier in the season.

2. The earlier league meeting had ended in a goalless draw at Old Trafford as the visitors frustrated their opponents.

3. The truth is that it is far easier said than done.

4. The only chance this had of finishing the same would have been if Newcastle were as wasteful in the second-half as they were in the first, but while United never looked like scoring, they always looked like conceding.

5. From the first few minutes, David de Gea deliberated over his goal-kicks, taking all the time he could get away with before he eventually launched the ball upfield.

6. United practised the dark arts with some creative ways of running down the clock, be it from Antony making the most of the fouls against him, or Bruno Fernandes side-stepping up the sideline before eventually launching a throw-in.

7. It might not have been the most pretty football, but it was their most effective option.

8. Not only did it stop Newcastle from finding a long-term rhythm in the match, but it also frustrated the lively home crowd, channeling their energy into protests against United as they looked to perform a snatch-and-grab.

9. The harsh reality, though, is that all it did was delay the inevitable and leave them with little opportunity to ever fight back—not that they ever looked remotely like doing so.

10. United's midfield was a real problem again, as they struggled to have any meaningful presence at all, but that was no surprise on a day without both Casemiro and Christian Eriksen again.

     Manchester United were poor in their away defeat to Newcastle but there was not much else the manager could have done with his line up. The Red Devils were without Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan was also absent. This meant that Marcus Rashford was given the starting role and he was up against a strong Newcastle defence. United struggled to create chances and were punished for their lack of creativity. The Magpies were also excellent at keeping the ball and they deserved their victory. United are now three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool and they will need to improve their performances if they want to challenge for the title.

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