Four things we learnt as United hold on for brave festive victory to surge into CL place

Manchester United welcomed Newcastle United to Old Trafford on Boxing Day evening. Senne Lammens started in goal, with Lisandro Martinez returning to the starting line-up and partnering Ayden Heaven in the centre of the defence. Luke Shaw began at left-back in a surprising formation change for United. Casemiro, Manuel Ugarte, and Mason Mount made up the surprise midfield three. Benjamin Sesko started up front, with Matheus Cunha on the left and Patrick Dorgu surprisingly on the right. Here are four things we learnt from the match. Patrick Dorgu Ruben Amorim shocked everyone by selecting the young Dane at right winger in a 4-3-3. He started the game in active fashion and gave Newcastle a few problems with his powerful running. Surprisingly, he looked more at home on the right and scored a stupendous goal to open his account for the club. A well-timed volley brought Old Trafford to its feet, and naturally, he continued the rest of the half with supreme confidence. Ayden Heaven The young centre-back started the season struggling for any sort of minutes at senior level. Injuries to the likes of Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire have forced a personnel change at the back, and Heaven has benefitted from this. He has grown in confidence and stature over recent weeks, and he was also impressive tonight against Newcastle. The 19-year-old still has much learning to do, but fans will be incredibly encouraged by what they have seen recently. Mason Mount injury concerns Mount has certainly had his best season in a United shirt this year. He has scored important goals and understood Amorim’s tactical instructions better than most in the squad. With the injury to Bruno Fernandes against Aston Villa, Mount will have been hoping to play a key role for the side. Unfortunately, he was substituted off at half-time with what seemed to be an injury concern. United fans will be hoping it is just precautionary and not another extended period of time on the sidelines for the England international. United finally come up trumps defensively The Red Devils were tasked with defending all second half against Newcastle, and United finally saw the task through. The final eleven on the pitch was a complete patchwork of youngsters and players like Tyrell Malacia, who have barely played football in the last calendar year. Nonetheless, they finally kept a clean sheet and saw out an impressive festive win. Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.