Manchester United returned to winning ways in the Premier League courtesy of a 4-1 success over Newcastle United at Old Trafford in Saturday’s late kick-off.
United entered the match 11 points behind league leaders Manchester City, but the gap is now back to eight following a comfortable victory on home soil.
Newcastle took a shock lead in the 14th minute when Dwight Gayle swept a low DeAndre Yedlin cross into the bottom corner following a slip from Victor Lindelof.
United were level in the 37th minute when Anthony Martial headed a Paul Pogba cross into the bottom corner, before Chris Smalling nodded home from close range to turn the match on its head in the final moments of the first period.
The returning Paul Pogba then made it 3-1 in the 54th minute, before Romelu Lukaku ended his goal drought with the fourth and final goal of the match.
Below are four talking points from the Premier League clash.
1. Pogba and Ibrahimovic back in the fold
United had been without the services of Pogba since the beginning of September, with a hamstring problem keeping the Frenchman on the sidelines. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, meanwhile, had been unavailable for the Red Devils since suffering knee ligament damage in April.
Jose Mourinho confirmed at Friday’s pre-match press conference that both would return for the clash against Newcastle, and that was indeed the case as Pogba started while Ibrahimovic appeared off the bench late on.
It was Pogba’s brilliant cross that brought United their equaliser, and he capped his return with a goal early in the second period. The Frenchman always wanted the ball, and his range of passing, energy and personality has been seriously missed during his time on the sidelines.
United now have their most influential midfielder back alongside a player that scored 28 times in all competitions last season. It is a busy end to 2017, and the return of the key duo has come at the perfect time.
2. Martial and Rashford start together in same Premier League XI
Martial and Marcus Rashford have shared the left flank for United in the Premier League this season, but both were included in the starting XI for the clash with Newcastle. The news was well received by the club’s fans ahead of kick-off, with Juan Mata and Lukaku making up an exciting front four.
Martial started on the left with Rashford on the right, but the latter moved into a central position after a difficult first 30 minutes. It was Martial that headed the hosts level in the 37th minute, and both players were key in the Red Devils turning the match on its head before the interval.
Rashford was pushed up alongside Lukaku at the start of the second period, and the England international continued to link well with Martial, who passed up a decent chance to make it 3-1 early in the second period.
Rashford set up United’s third of the match in the 54th minute when his wonderful header was tapped home by Pogba from close range. Meanwhile, Martial has now scored more Premier League goals this season (5) than he managed in the entirety of the 2016-17 campaign.
3. Lukaku returns to the scoresheet for United
Lukaku might have become Belgium’s all-time top scorer during the recent international break, but he entered the Newcastle match having not scored in his last seven games for United.
The 24-year-old had three opportunities inside the first 25 minutes, but scooped over from close range, before heading straight at Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot. He then just failed to connect on a deep ball to the far post, and perhaps should have been awarded a penalty late in the first period after being pulled to the ground by Ciaran Clark.
Lukaku played a key role in Manchester United’s third of the match, and proved a serious threat alongside Rashford in the final third of the field. He finally got his goal in the 71st minute following a mistake from the Newcastle defence, which capped a brilliant all-round performance from the former Everton forward.
4. Benitez breaks the mould with attacking team
Newcastle entered the match having scored just 10 times in 10 Premier League games this season. They were without their captain and joint-leading scorer Jamaal Lascelles, while Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has two goals in three appearances this season, was left on the bench.
Magpies boss Rafael Benitez selected a 4-4-2 formation, with Gayle joining Joselu in the final third of the field. It was Gayle that made the breakthrough with a fine finish, and Jacob Murphy’s presence in a wide position meant that the visitors had plenty of joy on the counter-attack in the first period.
Newcastle might have doubled their lead in the 19th minute when Jonjo Shelvey picked out Murphy with a fine pass, but the summer signing sent his effort just wide. Murphy had another chance moments after United had equalised, but the attacker’s effort missed the post.
Benitez would have been extremely disappointed with his team’s defending in the latter stages of the first period, although they remained a force down the other end – Isaac Hayden bringing a smart save from David de Gea as the visitors entered the half-time interval 2-1 behind.
It was a struggle for Newcastle in the second period as they conceded a third in the 54th minute, but they were still willing to commit players forward, and Murphy again tested De Gea with a long-range strike 25 minutes from time.
The Magpies were certainly more attacking than they have been in recent weeks, but simply did not defend well enough to deserve anything from the match.
