By A Correspondent

First-half headers from Alexander Isak and Joelinton propelled Newcastle United into fifth place, while handing Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side their third consecutive league defeat.

The action began early, with Isak scoring his 12th goal of the season in the 4th minute, heading in from a brilliant cross by Lewis Hall. Joelinton doubled the lead shortly after, making it 2-0 before the 20-minute mark. Although Manchester United showed signs of improvement as the match progressed, they never truly threatened to overturn the deficit.

Eddie Howe’s team climbed to 5th, just three points behind 4th-place Chelsea, who suffered a shock defeat to struggling Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Meanwhile, Manchester United remained in 14th.

Newcastle started the game with confidence, quickly going ahead 1-0 thanks to an expertly crafted build-up and a well-placed cross from Hall that Isak finished off with a header. The visitors extended their lead soon after, with Joelinton outjumping Lisandro Martinez to head the ball past Andre Onana. A potential third goal from Isak was ruled out for offside.

At the other end, Rasmus Hojlund came close with a shot just wide, and Casemiro missed an opportunity from close range after a misstep by Fabian Schar. United’s struggles were evident, with their lack of control in midfield allowing Newcastle to dominate.

The defeat marked a historic low for Manchester United, as it was the first time since 1979 that they had suffered three consecutive league losses at Old Trafford. Despite a few fleeting moments of pressure, Newcastle’s early goals proved enough to seal the victory.