After a dismal display in the Manchester derby at the weekend, Manchester United were looking to turn things around when they faced Newcastle United on Wednesday, in the Carabao Cup Round of 16.
A much-changed lineup
Both sides made wholesale changes to their lineups, with United making seven changes from the derby defeat as Casemiro returned from injury in a new-look midfield, consisting of summer signing Mason Mount and youngster Hannibal Mejbri, with Eriksen, McTominay and Amrabat all dropping to the bench.
An entirely different front three would also start, with Martial, Garnacho and Antony coming in for Rashford, Hojlund and Fernandes. The only other change came in defence, with Sergio Reguilon coming in for
veteran Jonny Evans.
As for Newcastle, they fielded what seemed to be a very weakened side, electing to rest their entire back four, including arguably their most important player in Kieran Trippier, as well as resting their two top scorers,
Callum Wilson, and Alexander Isak.
A SHAKY START FOR UNITED
Visitors Newcastle started the game like they had a point to prove, as they looked to avenge their defeat in the final of the competition back in February, at the hands of the same opposition.
The Geordies showed no signs of wilting under the Old Trafford lights, and looked to take the game to the home side, forcing the Reds into two early bookings, with Casemiro the first recipient, followed by Hannibal Mejbri, who was fortunate not to receive a second just minutes later for a poorly timed challenge.
After dominating the opening stages, Eddie Howe’s side finally capitalised on their continued pressure just before the half-hour mark, with full-back Tino Livramento picking the ball up inside his own half and driving through the heart of the United midfield before slipping in substitute Miguel Almiron down the left, who slotted the ball beyond the onrushing Onana to give Newcastle a deserved lead.
A shocking goal for United to concede, with Alejandro Garnacho giving the ball away cheaply in the build-up, and Diogo Dalot showing a complete lack of intensity in his recovery run, allowing the Paraguayan to breeze past him and score.
It got even worse for Ten Hag and his side when Newcastle doubled their lead just eight minutes later, with Dalot letting his man go down the left and full-back Lewis Hall making sure the mistake was thoroughly punished, volleying the ball past the despairing Onana from the resulting cut back.
The Portuguese right-back looked to atone for his errors just before half-time with a strike from the edge of the box, but this flew just wide of the left-hand post.
This was to be the defender’s last action of the game as he was hooked off at half-time, and replaced by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who returned from his six-week-long absence.
This was not the only change at the break, with Casemiro also making way for summer signing Sofyan Amrabat.
SECOND HALF MISERY
These changes seemed to have an instant impact, with United dominating the ball from the off, and creating a number of opportunities down the right through Wan-Bissaka.
United began to throw bodies forward as they looked to find a route back in the game but this ultimately resulted in their downfall, with Newcastle adding a third on the break as Joe Willock finished off a lightning-quick counter-attack, sweeping the ball into the bottom right corner from just outside the box.
From then on it seemed as though finding a way back into the game would be a step too far for United, and this proved to be the case, with all three second half substitutes (Rashford, Fernandes and Hojlund) failing to make an impact and the match finishing 3-0 to the men from the North East,
dumping United out of the cup.
The defeat piles the pressure on Erik Ten Hag, whose side have now endured back-to-back 3-0 losses at home, a place which was once a fortress.
United need to respond this weekend when they return to action in the league with a trip to Fulham, on Saturday.
midfield woes
The lack of cohesion in the side, especially in midfield, is beyond concerning, and something the manager needs to fix quickly if he is to have any chance of turning things around.
New signing Sofyan Amrabat seems to be struggling to settle into life in the Premier League, and five-time Champions League winner Casemiro is beginning to look like a shell of his former self.
Summer signing Mason Mount has not made the start to life at Old Trafford that he and the fans would have hoped for, and this is also adding to United’s issues in the middle of the park.
the LACK OF LEADERSHIP
There has been a lack of leadership on the field for a number of weeks now, and this was epitomised on Wednesday evening as the armband was worn by three different players across the same game.
With Casemiro starting as captain, only for the armband to be given to Victor Lindelof when the Brazilian departed the field, and later to Bruno Fernandes when he entered the frame.
Concerns have been raised as to whether the Portuguese playmaker is cut out to be the club’s skipper going forward after he showed familiar signs of petulance and ill temper at the weekend.
This seemed to be rubbing off on his teammates, with Antony’s reckless kick out on Jeremy Doku making for a rather embarrassing end to proceedings.
player ratings
Onana – 6
Dalot – 4
Maguire – 6
Lindelof – 5
Casemiro – 4
Mount – 4
Hannibal – 5
Antony – 3
Martial – 4
Garnacho – 4
Subs:
Amrabat – 6
Wan-Bissaka – 7
Fernandes – 5
Hojlund – 5
Rashford – 5
