Newcastle 4-1 Man Utd (Tonali 24′, Barnes 49′, 64′, Guimaraes 77′ | Garnacho 37′)
This was the perfect tonic for ailing Eddie Howe, a ruthless Newcastle United performance that would have had their high priest of intensity purring in his hospital bed.
With Howe recovering from a nasty virus his input this week has been limited. But the hallmarks of his management were all over this brilliant, brutal evisceration of a dismal Manchester United side who are full value for their lowly 14th position in the Premier League table.
Ruben Amorim’s team were woeful, showing a few signs of life in the very early stages but barely laying a glove of Newcastle.
Manuel Ugarte summed it up when he appeared to be spoiling for a fight with Joelinton when the Brazil midfielder was taken off on 86 minutes. Perhaps if Ugarte had got a bit closer to him in the preceding hour and a half his team might not have been quite so shown up at St James’ Park.
Newcastle, by contrast, march on towards the Champions League. They leapt into fourth courtesy of this win and while they have a tough run-in – trips to Arsenal and Aston Villa stand out alongside a mouthwatering home game against Chelsea – they will fancy their chances of returning to the elite playing like this.
Their display hummed with intensity, energy and aggression. Joelinton was sensational again as Sandro Tonali – who scored an absolute peach of an opening goal – pulled the strings in a one-sided midfield battle.
"It was BEAUTIFUL to watch if you're a Newcastle fan" 😍
Alexander Isak with an lovely assist matched by a brilliant finish from Sandro Tonali 👏 pic.twitter.com/Qw5cV0vqU6
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 13, 2025
On the left of defence Tino Livramento continues to impress. Thomas Tuchel was in town and while his cup runs full with left-back options at the moment, he can’t ignore Newcastle’s versatile attacking full-back in this sort of form. Dan Burn, Tuchel’s surprise pick last month, gave Joshua Zirkzee precious little change.
It was a game to highlight the different trajectories these two clubs seem to be on at the moment. Manchester United once made a habit of rolling over Newcastle at St James’ Park but this was a third successive home win for the Magpies and probably the easiest of the lot.
Amorim prowled the touchline throughout, his pristine white trainers getting a real workout. But Manchester United don’t look much closer to being the finished article than they did in December, when Newcastle drove a black and white juggernaut through their non-existent midfield.
Perhaps they now understand the system they are meant to be playing but that doesn’t mean it’s a good one. Mistakes coughed up two goals for Newcastle – Noussair Mazraoui dispossessed as Harvey Barnes scored with a brilliant counter-attack before debutant Altay Bayindir chipped the ball into a onrushing Joelinton to supply Bruno Guimaraes for a fourth – but this wasn’t a case of errors undermining an otherwise good performance. It just underlined their total inferiority.
Altay Bayındır's ball is intercepted by Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães is there to finish it off 🎯 pic.twitter.com/FpKEAI75uR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 13, 2025
Newcastle’s two world class players got the show underway as Alexander Isak – fairly quiet for the most part – deftly guided the ball into Tonali’s path to volley home. The Magpies stepped on the gas, creating a slew of decent chances but the visitors equalised against the run of play through Alejandro Garnacho.
Could Newcastle respond? Their riposte was emphatic as Barnes scored twice in a second half display so dominant it barely felt like a fair fight.
Howe ‘means the world’ to Newcastle, says Tindall
Eddie Howe sent a congratulatory message to his team from his hospital bed as Newcastle United swept aside Manchester United to maintain their Champions League push.
Howe was admitted to hospital on Friday night after falling ill earlier in the week and has undergone tests – although the club confirmed he has been “conscious and talking to his family” over the weekend.
They are yet to specify the exact nature of his illness but he played no part in the immediate build-up to Newcastle’s game on Sunday and was not in contact with assistant manager Jason Tindall until after the 4-1 win.
Tindall is almost certain to be in the dugout again on Wednesday as Newcastle play host to Crystal Palace.
The Newcastle No 2 admitted it had been “emotional” to be without Howe on the touchline for only the second time in the 17 years they had worked together – but paid tribute to the “leaders” in his group who maintained a run of five straight wins.
“We told the players to put in a performance for the manager to be proud of,” Tindall said.
“I had a text message to congratulate us from the manager before I came in here [press conference]. He was able to watch the game and hopefully it put a smile on his face.
“From Saturday morning it was pretty obvious he wouldn’t be here to lead the team so he put the trust in us to make the right calls. They are big shoes to fill so I’m super proud we did that.
“It’s only the second time in 17 years we haven’t been side by side. He means the world to me and the players so the sooner he is back the better.
“I am super proud of the players but not surprised because we have a super group.”
