Manchester United concluded the year on a disappointing note with a 2-0 Premier League defeat to Newcastle United at Old Trafford. The Red Devils struggled in the first half, with Newcastle scoring just four minutes into the match and doubling their lead in the 19th minute. This prompted manager Ruben Amorim to consider early substitutions.

Kobbie Mainoo came on for Joshua Zirkzee in the 33rd minute, providing the midfield with more control. Despite having struggled with consistency since returning from injury, Mainoo delivered an impressive performance, achieving a passing accuracy of 96 percent. He also made eight recoveries, won six duels, and successfully tackled three times. Notably, he created a significant scoring chance for Casemiro, who unfortunately missed the target.

Mainoo was undoubtedly the standout player on the pitch, earning a 7/10 rating from the Manchester Evening News. After a lackluster showing against Wolverhampton Wanderers the previous weekend, his revival was crucial, and he should be a guaranteed starter alongside Manuel Ugarte in the upcoming match against Liverpool.

Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were chosen to start in midfield but struggled to cope with Newcastle’s intensity. Casemiro, in particular, had a poor outing, losing possession 15 times in 64 minutes, which raises concerns about his future at the club.

United faced a challenging finish to 2024 and will need to improve defensively in the coming matches, with tough away fixtures against Liverpool and Arsenal on the horizon. Amorim has significant work to do on the training ground to prepare the team for these critical encounters.