Manchester United fell to a 2-0 defeat against Newcastle at Old Trafford. Here are our player ratings from the game.
(A score of 6 is around average)
Andre Onana 4 – Well and truly beaten for all two goals. Weak from crosses yet again.
Matthijs de Ligt 4 – Got spun more than once. Not the best performance on his return to the starting XI.
Harry Maguire 5 – Could have perhaps done better for Alexander Isak’s headed finish early in the opening 45 minutes. Nearly got on the score sheet in the second half but he hit the post with his effort.
Lisandro Martinez 2 – Very poor. Didn’t get tight enough to Isak for Newcastle’s opener and Joelinton towered over him moments later for their second of the match.
Noussair Mazraoui 2 – Extremely slow start to the game. Targeted for both goals, which saw him fail to close down his man before the cross went in. Lewis Hall and Anthony Gordon had so much joy down his flank, especially in the first half.
Casemiro 1 – Leggy performance. Misplaced passes, aimless long-balls, slow in possession and offered very little protection to the defenders. Missed United’s best chance of the game just before the interval. Just a liability in midfield and ideally, should be moved on as soon as possible.
Christian Eriksen 3 – Offered next to nothing off the ball. Dominated over and over. Another player the club should part ways with at the earliest opportunity.
Diogo Dalot 5 – Did well to contain the in-form Jacob Murphy but that was just about it. Didn’t offer an awful lot going forward, which is needed of a wing-back in Ruben Amorim’s system.
Joshua Zirkzee 1 – Disastrous in the left 10. Just shambolic and brutally hooked in the first half. An outing to forget for the Dutchman.
Amad Diallo 5 – Awful like most of his teammates in the first half as he struggled to get anywhere. Got slightly better in the second half. Primary source of whatever little threat United posed to the visitors after the break.
Rasmus Hojlund 2 – Another nothing and hopeless performance. Struggled to hold up the ball and bring his teammates into play. Had a good chance to score but dragged his shot wide.
Substitutes
Kobbie Mainoo 7 – Came on while United were under the cosh but helped restore some control in the middle of the park. Kept it nice and simple and created a good chance for Casemiro, which the Brazilian failed to put into the back of the net. Injected some much-needed physicality and intensity in a midfield consisting of Casemiro and Eriksen. Mainoo can certainly hold his head high despite the defeat to Eddie Howe’s men.
Alejandro Garnacho 4 – Waste of a substitute. No impact whatsoever.
Leny Yoro 6 – Much better compared to Martinez. Almost opened his United goalscoring account but his header was went wide. Should be starting games for United moving forward.
Antony 5 – On the pitch for a limited period.
Featured Image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Derick Kinoti
Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the game extensively for many years. He is a keen analyst with expertise in SEO and journalism standards. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!
