100% aerial duels, 5 ground duels, 5 tackles: United star was the only positive in disastrous defeat to Newcastle

Manchester United slipped to a fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions as they were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle at Old Trafford on Monday evening.

Alexander Isak and Joelinton scored within the opening 20 minutes to pile further misery on Ruben Amorim and his players.

United have now lost five league games in a single calendar month for the first time since September 1962.

Manchester United have lost five league games in a single calendar month for the first time since September 1962 😳#MUNNEW pic.twitter.com/Ya2A1NRZB8

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 30, 2024

The Red Devils had 53% possession in comparison to Newcastle’s 47% share of the ball. United managed just one shot on target from their total 10 cracks at goal. The visitors on the other hand, attempted a total of 12 shots, with four of these requiring Andre Onana to intervene.

United put together 575 passes with a pass accuracy of 86%. Eddie Howe’s men strung 509 passes with a slightly lower completion rate of 85%.

Several United players were well and truly below the standard but Kobbie Mainoo wasn’t one of them.

Mainoo started on the bench but came on as a first-half substitute for Joshua Zirkzee, who was struggling in the left 10 position.

When Mainoo was thrust into the action, United were firmly under the cosh but he helped restore some control in the middle of the park. He also brought about a lot more physicality and intensity that Christian Eriksen and Casemiro lacked.

During the time he was on the pitch, Mainoo touched the ball 60 times and found his teammates with 47 of the 49 passes he attempted, managing an individual pass accuracy of 96%. One of his passes was a key pass.

The England international successfully connected with two of the three long balls he tried to ping.

He created one big chance, for Casemiro, but the Brazilian dragged his shot wide. Mainoo won five of the 11 ground duels he delved into. He also came out on top in the one aerial challenge he contested.

The teenage midfielder put in an impressive five tackles.

(Stats obtained from Sofascore)

Maino can certainly hold his head high after that performance, even though it ultimately counted for very little.

It diesn’t get easier for United, whose next assignment is against Arne Slot’s high-flying Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Featured Image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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