Overview
- Patrick Dorgu scored his first United goal with a first-half volley to decide the Boxing Day match at Old Trafford.
- Ruben Amorim opened in a 4-2-3-1 with Dorgu high on the right and Casemiro alongside Manuel Ugarte, catching Newcastle out early.
- Newcastle controlled the second half, struck the bar through Lewis Hall, and had a VAR handball check against Lisandro Martinez dismissed.
- Lisandro Martinez returned for his first start of the season as captain, while Bruno Fernandes was absent with a hamstring injury.
- United finished with a patched-up, youthful back line to secure just their second clean sheet of the season and move up to fifth, with AFCON call-ups and injuries leaving selection uncertainty.