MAN UNITED 4, NEWCASTLE UTD 1
Manchester United had plenty to cheer as they comfortably beat Newcastle United to stay the main challengers to Premier League leaders Manchester City.
The Reds, who played some of their best football of the season, were lifted by the returns of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
After making a terrible start, in which Dwight Gayle fired Newcastle ahead, United took control with goals from Anthony Martial, Chris Smalling, Pogba and Romelu Lukaku who ended his seven game goal drought for United.
It was a satisfying result and performance for United manager Jose Mourinho who also paid a compliment to counterpart Rafa Benitez.
He explained: “We didn’t start well, but I didn’t blame my players, but I blame in a positive sense Rafa Benitez.
“He is very experienced and his side was well organised and they created problems in our defensive areas.
“The team reacted very well and Pogba and Nemanja (Matic) got us going and it was important to score when we did. The second half was ours. We controlled the game, scored goals and had beautiful actions.”
Mourinho was delighted by the returns of Pogba and Ibrahimovic, describing the “joy” of having him back from “one of the biggest injuries”.
He was also pleased to see Lukaku back on the scoresheet.
“It was not a problem as he was working for the team, but it was good for his confidence and self esteem. It can affect a striker’s confidence when they don’t score so I am happy he scored,” explained Mourinho.
Mourinho had released the handbrake as United’s starting line up included Lukaku, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.
Pogba was back after a lengthy injury lay off while Zlatan Ibrahimoic, who damaged a cruciae knee ligament injury late last season, was back on the bench after a speedier than expected recovery. There was also a first Premier League start for summer signing Victor Lindelof.
Lukaku had a great chance in the sixth minute to put United ahead and end his goal drought, firing over from six yards.
It came after Rashford released Antonio Valencia on an overlap on the right.
But it was Newcastle who took the lead in the 13th minute through Gayle.
Right-back DeAndre Yedlin made a brilliant break and cut the ball back for Gayle, capitalising on a slid by Victor Lindelof, to fire in off the upright from 12 yards for his first goal of the season.
Newcastle could have gone 2-0 ahead inside 20 minutes when Jacob Murphy, set up by Jonjo Shelvey, was left free on the far side of the box, but he fired narrowly wide.
Another clear-cut chance fell to Lukaku who headed over from eight yards following a superb cross by Lindelof.
United finally gave their fans something to cheer when Martial equaliser after 37 minutes, heading home from six yards following a cross by Pogba for his seventh of the season.
United had claims for a penalty waved away when Ciaran Clark looked to have pulled Lukaku back by the shirt from inside the six-yard box.
But they found the net for a second time in stoppage time when Smalling stole in at the far post to head home an Ashley Young cross from the left.
Yet Newcastle almost made it 2-2 at the break when Isaac Hayden’s shot forced a decent save from David De Gea and Matt Ritchie, following up, saw his effort deflect off Gayle and fly narrowly wide.
United added a third goal in the 54th minute with Lukaku turning provider. His cross was headed back across goal by Rashford giving Pogba a simple tap in from three yards for his third goal of the season.
The Reds now had a swagger about their play that was conspicuous by its absence in the opening quarter of the game. Now it was a case of by how many they would win.
Newcastle remained a threat and Murphy forced a fine save from De Gea in what was a remarkably open game.
United made their first change after 70 minutes when Pogba, impressive on his return, made way for Marouane Felliani.
United soon made it 4-1 when Lukaku finally found the net with a goal he created and finished. He broke down the right, cut inside before playing a return pass with Mata and firing high into the roof of the net. It was his 12th of the season for the Reds, but first since September 30.
It was the seventh time United had scored four goals in a game this season.
The biggest cheer came with 13 minutes left when Ibrahimovic made his first appearance of the season for Martial. He was back after an absence of six months and 29 days.
Newcastle still kept pressing forward and Shelvey’s shot was just the wrong side of the post.
Ander Herrera replaced Mata in the 83rd minute, United’s final change.
Ibrhimovic almost marked his return with a goal at the death when his spectacular scissor kick forced a decent save from Rob Elliott.
Had that gone in, it would have been a perfect ending.