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Manchester United Fan View: Four things we learned from win over Newcastle United

Romelu Lukaku celebrates Manchester United’s fourth goal against Newcastle United
Romelu Lukaku celebrates Manchester United’s fourth goal against Newcastle United

After two weeks of international football, Manchester United have continued their season with another league win at home, this time to Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle United. The visitors surprisingly took the lead in the 14th minute through Dwight Gayle, but the hosts got back into their stride as they bagged two goals just before the half-time break.

The second half resulted in a one-sided game, as the likes of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba could not be stopped by the Magpies. In the end, the result proved to be a vital one, given that all the teams in the top-six besides Tottenham Hotspur won their respective games on Saturday.

Here are the four things we learned from Manchester United’s latest league win…

Feels so good to have Paul Pogba back

Before yesterday, the last time Paul Pogba made an appearance for Manchester United was two months ago in a Champions League fixture at home to FC Basel. During that period, the football has been lacking the creativity and entertainment that the Old Trafford fans have been use to for a long time. The Frenchman was not 100% to start the match, but he still managed to produce a vital assist and goal in 70 minutes against Newcastle, showing that he is Manchester United’s most vital individual.

Anthony Martial heads home for Manchester United
Anthony Martial heads home for Manchester United

It was actually a surprise to see Pogba re-introduced into the starting line-up straightaway, as many of the supporters including myself was expecting him to start on the bench and be brought on in the last 15 to 20 minutes of the game. On the other hand, the manager himself surely knows more about the situation than the fans and he must have felt that the 24-year-old was recovering well during the international break and is ready to get going once again.

Jose Mourinho went all out with his attacking options

A lot of people have been waiting for the moment of when Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are utilised in the first XI within a league game. Well, the manager decided to give the home fans what they have been wanting for such a long time, and it paid off as both players played a huge role behind the team’s 4-1 win over Newcastle. Martial’s header gave his side the equaliser whilst Rashford’s inch-perfect assist to Pogba confirmed the three points for the Red Devils.

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The front six that Mourinho had placed was debatably the strongest that United could put out, given that Henrikh Mkhitaryan has been awful to watch over the past few months and Zlatan Ibrahimovic would be more effective from the bench. However, the fans should not get too excited for when it comes to games away from home, as Mourinho will typically make sure that not many chances are created for the opposition on the counter.

The return of Eric Bailly will help to complete United’s solid spine

The partnership that we saw between Chris Smalling and Victor Lindelof will thankfully not happen very often, as it will be a recipe for disaster and none of the pair can be trusted on as the last man in defence. Once Eric Bailly returns from the unknown injury he picked up during the international break, his presence within the backline will perfect United’s spine from back to front, which will make them a seriously imposing side to face.

When Bailly is in the line-up, the defence just seem more confident in completing their duties as they have someone that can keep the fast and physical forwards quiet as well as a centre-back who can make the last-ditch tackles and can clear the ball away from the dangerous areas. The Ivory Coast international has made eight appearances in the Premier League and two appearances in the Champions League, where United have conceded in only three out of the ten fixtures, proving how important his commitment and hard work is when his side need him the most.

In the long run, Victor Lindelof will be the side’s best ball-playing centre-back

Many will remember the moment that Victor Lindelof lost his bearings which allowed Newcastle to take the lead, though, his display since the error was much better as he ended the game on two chances created with no player on the pitch managing more than him. To be fair to him, he was robbed off an assist as his peach of a cross was not converted by Romelu Lukaku, who should have handled the situation in the box better.

The Swedish international will certainly need to beef up a bit, if not, he will be bullied and shrugged off by aerially dominant players such as the likes of Troy Deeney and Olivier Giroud, who are the types of strikers that United will potentially be facing in the coming weeks. Overall, Lindelof’s composure whilst in possession and his range of passing is second to none, which makes him the best ball-playing centre-back that the Red Devils have, and he’ll be much needed when the opposition’s come to Old Trafford and play within a very deep block.