Manchester United ensured they could still record a top-seven finish this season with a 3-2 win at home to Newcastle on Wednesday.
The Red Devils have never finished as low as eighth in the Premier League era, but will leapfrog the Magpies into seventh if they better their result on the final day.
Kobbie Mainoo put United ahead in the first half before Anthony Gordon equalised just after half-time. Amad Diallo fired the hosts back in front and Rasmus Hojlund added a third after coming off the bench, though a late piledriver from Lewis Hall set up a nervy finish.
But United and Newcastle are now locked on points with just one round of fixtures remaining. Here’s what we learned from their meeting at Old Trafford.
Amad matching Antony’s Premier League tally of goal contributions all season in only one night is a hilarious narrative that’s almost too obvious to point out.
Almost too obvious. If anything, it needs amplifying just because of how ludicrously awful the £82m signing has been.
Speaking post-match, Amad was rather gracious with his insistence that he had to be patient to be given a fair chance. He probably should have been booting down Erik ten Hag’s door demanding more opportunities.
The 21-year-old missed the first half of the season with a knee injury and has been eased back into action, but it should not have taken this long for Ten Hag to integrate him into the starting lineup. United have sorely missed someone of Amad’s fearlessness on that right wing.
In fairness to United, they haven’t looked as laughably vulnerable over the last few weeks. That said, they still have serious problems with conceding chances.
The gap between the defence and midfield has decreased but their innate carelessness with the ball gifted Newcastle several openings. On another day, United would have been on the end of another hammering.
They got away with it here. Whether Ten Hag will live to see many further days is another matter.
United’s injury crisis this season has been well documented because of how huge a club they are. Newcastle, on the other hand, have not received such coverage.
But Eddie Howe has managed to steady the ship again up at St James’ Park and his side remain one of the best attacking teams in the country – their total of 81 goals is the best outside of the Premier League’s top…
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