Manchester United kicked off the tie in 3rd place. However, their form was poor before the international break and there is some danger they will slip out of the top four before the end of the campaign.
Newcastle were sat in 5th spot before Sunday and just three points behind Manchester United. The Magpies were also just two points off Tottenham with two games in hand, meaning a win over the Red Devils would have put them back in the Champions League spots.
And when all was said and done on Tyneside, Newcastle came away with the three points.
Newcastle had the first chance of the tie, with Lisandro Martinez making a good block to deny a likely goal.
David de Gea then made two quick saves to deny Isak and Willock 15 minutes in. Newcastle continued to dominate and Sean Longstaff nearly broke the deadlock 37 minutes in with a long-range effort that went just wide.
As for Manchester United, they had very few chances in the first 45 of the match. In fact, they failed to have a single shot on target in the first half, with the two teams going in at the break still level.
With both sides having failed to score in the first hour, Erik ten Hag opted for a double substitution of Anthony Martial and Jadon Sancho, whilst Eddie Howe brought on Anthony Gordon and Joelinton.
But before Newcastle got their subs on, Joe Willock opened the scoring. Guimaraes crossed the ball to Saint-Maximin who guided the ball back across the six-yard box for Willock to head in.
“THIRD TIME LUCKY FOR WILLOCK” ⚫⚪
Newcastle take the lead ✅ pic.twitter.com/I1zZDMhrQO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 2, 2023
The aforementioned Joelinton nearly added Newcastle’s second 75 minutes in but his headed effort was saved by De Gea. Fabian Schar got on the end of the rebound but his header smashed off the post.
Newcastle got the second goal to kill the tie off after 87 minutes. Kieran Trippier floated in a free-kick, which Callum Wilson guided in fairly unchallenged.
Player ratings
Newcastle
- GK: Nick Pope (6)
- RB: Kieran Trippier (7)
- CB: Sven Botman (6)
- CB: Fabian Schar (6)
- LB: Dan Burn (6)
- CM: Sean Longstaff (6.5)
- CM: Bruno Guimaraes (7)
- CM: Joe Willock (7)
- RW: Jacob Murphy (6.5)
- ST: Alexander Isak (6.5)
- LW: Allan Saint-Maximin (6.5)
Substitutes
- Anthony Gordon (5.5)
- Joelinton (5.5)
- Callum Wilson (5.5)
- Elliott Anderson (N/A)
Manchester United
- GK: David de Gea (6.5)
- RB: Diogo Dalot (5)
- CB: Raphael Varane (5)
- CB: Lisandro Martinez (6.5)
- LB: Luke Shaw (5)
- CDM: Marcel Sabitzer (5)
- CDM: Bruno Fernandes ( 5)
- CAM: Scott McTominay (5)
- RW: Antony (5.5)
- ST: Wout Weghorst (4.5)
- LW: Marcus Rashford (5)
Substitutes
- Jadon Sancho (4)
- Anthony Martial (4)
- Facundo Pellistri (N/A)
- Fred (N/A)
- Victor Lindelof (N/A)
Match reaction
For the first time this season, Manchester United have failed to have a shot on target in the first half of a Premier League game.
They had an xG of just 0.14. 😬 pic.twitter.com/4ndWT8iTte
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 2, 2023
Lisandro Martinez’s first half by numbers vs. Newcastle:
92% pass accuracy
37 touches
22 passes completed
3 ground duels won
3 clearances
2/2 long balls completed
2/2 tackles won
2 blocksMade some important defensive contributions. 🔪 pic.twitter.com/8tmtAgKKOE
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 2, 2023
Allan Saint-Maximin has created 5 chances in the first half against Man Utd, that’s more than every Man Utd player combined.
Creative. 🎨 pic.twitter.com/URY6mdxvnn
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 2, 2023
David De Gea is the best shot stopper in the league pic.twitter.com/KKrCiwqmrP
— Morgan (@utdscope) April 2, 2023
Weghorst is fucking useless. #mufc
— The Colonel (@booshmighty1) April 2, 2023
World Class De Gea #NEWMUN #MUFC pic.twitter.com/vZNp8Ss1JI
— Zeemish (@Zeemish6) April 2, 2023
Shaw getting grilled by Jacob Murphy pic.twitter.com/bKCt715xva
— Don Phwoarleone II (@Dombooling) April 2, 2023
Get Weghorst off
— . (@BradleyHuds_) April 2, 2023
We should actually get payed to watch Weghorst
— Ben Matthews (@BenMatthewsMUFC) April 2, 2023
Casemiro gotta get way more hammered, missing the amount of games he’s missed through suspension and not even injury is embarrassing.
— Raymond Holt (@Ic3Evaa) April 2, 2023
That’s on McTominay and Sancho! Dalot’s marking 3 on the back post and there’s no other red shirt near him
— Mark Goldbridge (@markgoldbridge) April 2, 2023
