Manchester United vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the action live from Old Trafford where all eyes are on the return of Cristiano Ronaldo
Follow all the action live as Manchester United host Newcastle in the Premier League this afternoon, with Cristiano Ronaldo set to make his return.
After sealing his sensational return to Old Trafford, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Ronaldo will make his second debut for the club, although the head coach refused to state whether the Portuguese would make the starting line-up. “He’s had a good week with us [training] here and he will definitely be on the pitch at some point, that’s for sure,” Solskjaer said.
United took seven points from their opening three matches, thrashing Leeds before being held by Southampton and narrowly defeating Wolves. Jadon Sancho is also in line to feature, having overcome a knock sustained while on international duty with England.
Spirits are far less optimistic at Newcastle, where fans have once again begun to vent their frustration at Steve Bruce, with the Magpies taking just one point from their first three matches. Joe Willock was the only major arrival in the summer window and the club seems destined for another nervous season in limbo. Here is everything you need to know:
Marcus Rashford reacts to victory
England forward Marcus Rashford remains out of action for United due to his shoulder injury, but that hasn’t stopped him enjoying today’s result and performance.
United weak in midfield but all action in attack
There were plenty of occasions throughout the 90 minutes in which the midfield duo of Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba looked far too easily exposed for United, and they were punished by for that with the Javier Manquillo goal.
But the counter-point is that in playing four attackers, with Pogba joining them so often, they are able to work the ball around the box so quickly and so often that goalscoring chances are inevitable. 21 shots taken today is no surprise.
They might not be able to go with this shape against stronger sides, especially away from home, but this result is proof that going for all out attack can work versus the right opposition.
FULL-TIME! Manchester United beat Newcastle with Ronaldo double
90+3 - That’s it! After a brief second-half scare from Newcastle, Manchester United have secured a comfortable victory thanks to two goals from returning forward Cristiano Ronaldo, plus one apiece for Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard.
That puts the Red Devils top of the table with ten points from four games.
GOAL! Jesse Lingard scores
90+2 - He was due to leave the club all summer long but Jesse Lingard has stuck around and how has a goal to celebrate.
Paul Pogba beats a defender and plays a lovely pass with the outside of his right boot, before Lingard drags the ball out of his feet and curls a lovely finish into the corner.
Game over.
Joelinton down injured
89’ - We’re about to enter stoppage-time but Newcastle have a problem.
Joelinton has gone down holding his hip after slipping while trying to turn away from Paul Pogba. But the Magpies have used all their substitutes and can’t replace him. They’re down to ten temporarily.
Standing ovation for Bruno Fernandes
85’ - Bruno Fernandes is off too and replaced by Donny van de Beek, but not before the Old Trafford faithful gives him s standing ovation after his stunning goal.
Anthony Martial is also on for Mason Greenwood, and Jeff Hendrick replaces Joe Willock for Newcastle.
Clark replaced by Lewis
84’ - Steve Bruce makes his second change with Ciaran Clark replaced by Northern Ireland’s Jamal Lewis.
That seems to take the Magpies into a back four shape, but it’s probably too little, too late.
GOAL! Bruno Fernandes scores a belter
80’ - What a goal that is!
Newcastle stand off him with the Portuguese 30-yards from goal, and he unleashes an unstoppable right-footed shot that dips and swirls on its way into the top corner.
Ronaldo will understandably take all the headlines but that’s an immense piece of quality from a superb player.
Woodman has no chance, and United are likely home-and-dry now.
Goalscorer off for Newcastle
76’ - Steve Bruce sees fit to make his first change of the match, bringing on Jacob Murphy for Manquillo.
Newcastle suddenly look exhausted and understandably so. They’ve defended well for the majority of the game and put an awful lot of energy into finding the equaliser.
Manchester United midfield a problem
73’ - The match has lost a lot of the energy and speed which had defined the second-half in the past five minutes or so.
United are controlling possession and moving more slowly in an attempt to prevent Newcastle from being able to launch the kind of counter which led to Javier Manquillo’s goal.
The double-pivot of Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba has been far too easy to move through this afternoon.
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