In an exhilarating showdown at Old Trafford, Newcastle United eliminated the reigning champions, Manchester United, from this year’s EFL Cup.
Securing their second triumph at Old Trafford against the Red Devils since the early ’70s, Newcastle United exacted sweet revenge for their loss in the Carabao Cup final. The defeat also turned up the heat on Manchester United’s head coach, Erik ten Hag.
Newcastle’s emphatic win began with first-half netbusters from Miguel Almiron, who came off the bench, and Lewis Hall, scoring his maiden goal for the Magpies. Joe Willock added the cherry on top with a remarkable individual score at the 60-minute mark. The 3-0 victory marked Newcastle’s largest away win over Manchester United in nearly a century, as they confidently advanced to the quarter-finals.
Up next for Newcastle is a clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, following the Blues’ 2-0 victory over Blackburn in the last round.
For Manchester United and their embattled manager, the loss represents a continuation of a worrying trend. The team has now lost eight of their first 15 matches this season, a low not seen since the 1962-63 campaign. This latest defeat comes hot on the heels of another 3-0 thrashing at home, this time by city rivals Manchester City.
Defensive woes for Manchester United were evident as Diogo Dalot was subbed off at half-time due to his inability to contain Almiron’s breakaway during the opening goal. Casemiro, the Brazilian midfielder and former Real Madrid star, also failed to make an appearance in the second half, indicating Ten Hag’s dissatisfaction with his performance.
Lewis Hall’s stunning volley capitalized on a headed clearance from Harry Maguire, while Willock’s goal was a solo masterpiece, running 30 yards unchallenged before taking his shot. The opportunity arose after Sofyan Amrabat gave away the ball at midfield.
Amid a week of jokes about their uniform sizes, Manchester United players likely wished they had jerseys large enough to hide under, as they faced jeers from the crowd for the second consecutive match.
Despite the scrutiny around Ten Hag, who’s overseen a £350 million spending spree over three transfer windows, the manager is determined to “fight on,” even as questions about his future at the helm intensify.
It’s a sharp fall from grace for a side that, until recently, seemed to be on an upward trajectory. The Red Devils have now lost more than a third of their matches since their EFL Cup win against Newcastle earlier this year, a remarkable downturn after finishing third in the league last season and making it to the FA Cup final.
None of Ten Hag’s new signings stood out in this dismal performance, though it could be argued that goalie Andre Onana was not at fault for Newcastle’s goals. Mason Mount, once again, was practically invisible on the field.
The sole glimmer of hope for Manchester United was a botched header by Anthony Martial, who seemed to miscommunicate with Mount and thus squandered the opportunity.
But these troubles are none of Newcastle’s concern. Their fans made their joy and schadenfreude crystal clear, chanting predictions of Ten Hag’s firing and remarking on the conspicuously empty seats as many Man U fans exited before the final whistle.
The only downside for Newcastle was an early injury to Matt Targett, who had to exit the game within minutes due to a severe hamstring issue. With multiple players already sidelined, the timing couldn’t be worse for manager Steve Howe. However, despite these obstacles, Newcastle sailed to a well-deserved victory, cheered on by a 9,000-strong away fanbase, who undoubtedly had a night to remember.
Is Newcastle United’s ascent just getting started? The whole city is certainly buzzing with anticipation.
Player Ratings
Manchester United
- Maguire: 3.94
- Wan-Bissaka: 3.35
- Onana: 3.20
- Garnacho: 3.10
- Højlund: 3.00
- Lindelöf: 2.93
- Reguilón: 2.85
- Casemiro: 2.79
- Diogo Dalot: 2.78
- Mount: 2.77
- Mejbri: 2.77
- S Amrabat: 2.68
- Rashford: 2.51
- Martial: 2.51
- Antony: 2.39
- Bruno Fernandes: 2.33
Newcastle United
- Tino Livramento: 8.30 (Player of the Match)
Match Statistics
- Possession: Man Utd 62% | Newcastle 38%
- Shots: Man Utd 13 | Newcastle 10
- Shots on Target: Man Utd 2 | Newcastle 5
- Corners: Man Utd 5 | Newcastle 2
- Fouls: Man Utd 16 | Newcastle 9
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about EFL Cup Manchester United vs Newcastle United
What was the final score between Manchester United and Newcastle United in the EFL Cup match?
The final score was 3-0 in favor of Newcastle United.
Who scored the goals for Newcastle United?
Miguel Almiron, Lewis Hall, and Joe Willock scored for Newcastle United.
What does this loss mean for Manchester United’s coach, Erik ten Hag?
The loss intensifies the pressure on Erik ten Hag, who has now overseen eight losses in the first 15 games of the season for Manchester United.
Where will Newcastle United play their next match in the EFL Cup?
Newcastle United will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup.
How did the Manchester United fans react to the loss?
The team was booed off the field at the end of both halves, marking the second consecutive game where they faced jeers from their own fans.
Have Manchester United been performing poorly recently?
Yes, they have lost eight of their opening 15 games this season, which is their worst start since the 1962-63 season. They also suffered another 3-0 defeat just three days prior to this match against Manchester City.
How significant is this win for Newcastle United?
This win is quite significant for Newcastle as it marks their biggest away win over Manchester United in 93 years and propels them into the EFL Cup quarter-finals.
Were there any injuries during the match?
Yes, Matt Targett of Newcastle United had to leave the game within the first two minutes due to a severe hamstring injury.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Tino Livramento of Newcastle United was named the Player of the Match with an average rating of 8.30.
How much has Erik ten Hag spent in the transfer market since he took charge?
Erik ten Hag has spent over £350 million over three transfer windows since taking over as the manager of Manchester United.
More about EFL Cup Manchester United vs Newcastle United
- Manchester United Official Website
- EFL Cup Official Site
- Erik ten Hag Coaching Record
- Newcastle United Official Website
- Premier League Official Website
- ESPN’s Coverage of Manchester United vs Newcastle United EFL Cup match
- BBC Sport’s EFL Cup Roundup
- Transfer Market: Erik ten Hag’s Signings
- Player Ratings for Manchester United vs Newcastle United
- Injury Report: Matt Targett’s Status Update
10 comments
If this match was a sci-fi movie, Man Utd would be the failed experiment gone horribly wrong. Time to go back to the drawing board.
newcastle pulling off a 3-0 at Old Trafford? that’s like a final boss level achievement in a video game!
Wow, Man Utd are just falling apart this season, aren’t they? Ten Hag better pack his bags lol
This game had more drama than a Hollywood blockbuster. And a plot twist no one saw comin.
This is embarassing. We used to be kings of Old Trafford, now we’re just jesters.
If Man Utd were a gadget, they’d be a 2005 flip phone struggling to run a single app. Time for an upgrade!
Ten Hag has spent 350M and this is what we get? Might as well have burnt that money.
As a Newcastle fan, this is like music to my ears. Finally, some good news for us!
Willock’s goal was like an action sequence. Ran 30 yards unchecked and boom, bottom corner!
player of the match Tino Livramento, remember the name. Kid’s going places.