Manchester United weathered a second-half charge from Newcastle to record a 1-0 win that takes them up to fifth place in the Premier League.
The home side went ahead midway through the first half with a wonderfully-taken goal from Patrick Dorgu, the Dane impressing out wide on the right flank as Ruben Amorim lined his side up in a 4-3-3 formation.
Newcastle showed much more intent in the second half — with Lewis Hall particularly impressive — but the home side hung on to record a win that extends their record as the club with more Boxing Day victories than any other team in English league history.
Carl Anka and Chris Waugh analyse the key talking points from the game.
What does this result and performance mean for Manchester United?
It was a notably tetchy second half for the home fans, who saw their side swap Mason Mount for the teenager Jack Fletcher at half-time, and then saw Casemiro replaced by Leny Yoro in the 61st, a change that seemed to signal a change in formation and approach from the home team.
The Brazil international gave a “Who me?” gesture to the dugout when he saw his number on the fourth official board, and Manchester United fans were left wondering why Amorim elected to remove his best defensive midfielder when up against one of the most robust midfields in the league.
(Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Newcastle repeatedly knocked on the door in the game’s final 20 minutes, but they saw the majority of their efforts go wide of Senne Lammens’ goalposts. What on-target efforts they did manage were smothered by a crowd of red shirts in the penalty area.
Amorim has made it clear that his team must be willing to suffer for results, and his men scratched and clawed their way to the finish line on Boxing Day. The 86th minute saw Dorgu choose to take a football launched into his face, rather than allow another Newcastle cross into the penalty box.
The win takes them up to fifth in the Premier League table, with bottom-half sides Wolves, Leeds and Burnley making up Manchester United’s next trio of opponents. The new year could bring new hope for this steadily improving side.
Carl Anka
How does Eddie Howe fix his side’s away form?
Newcastle’s away results are becoming almost predestined. In 18 top-flight games on the road across 2025, they have won only five and have lost half of them. Only one of those victories has come in the last 11, while they have lost five of their last six.
For a Champions League outfit, a return of six points from a possible 27 on their travels is simply unacceptable. Especially when they are yet to visit the Etihad, the Emirates, Anfield or Stamford Bridge, all grounds at which they have away records ranging from the very poor to the absolutely appalling.
There are numerous issues which Howe has to fix to turn that form around. They continue to concede from set pieces after allowing Manchester United to score from a long throw, they have not kept a clean sheet in 11 games in all competitions, or in any of their last 11 top-flight matches, while they have also yet to pick up a point when falling behind in the Premier League in 2025-26.
(Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images) /
Their second-half display at Old Trafford was encouraging, however. Howe’s team dominated possession, territory and efforts on goal, even if their final-third decision-making was too often lacking.
There are some reasonable on-the-ball foundations from which Howe can build. Starting Yoane Wissa, who is better suited to away matches than Nick Woltemade, who managed only four touches in the opposition box, would ensure they offer more of a threat for a start.
A trip to Turf Moor to end 2025 may be just the antidote Newcastle require, given second-bottom Burnley have not won since October, but no away game is a ‘gimme’ for Howe’s side right now.
Chris Waugh
No Bruno Fernandes — and no three at the back
Across his entire Manchester United career, Bruno Fernandes has missed just three matches due to injury or illness. There is a very good chance that his current hamstring issue could see him double that tally before he returns.
This game marked the start of uncharted territory for Amorim’s side. How do you play football without your leader, your talisman, your best creator, your set-piece taker, and the man who moans to the match officials on your behalf?
In his Christmas Eve pre-match press conference, Amorim said it would be “impossible” to replace Fernandes, and his solution was to adapt his tactical approach. The 3-4-3 that had become so commonplace this calendar year made way for another 4-3-3, with Lisandro Martinez and Ayden Heaven serving as centre-backs with Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot on either side. Mason Mount was the most advanced midfielder in a combative engine room manned by Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte.
The tweaks appeared to help Amorim’s men, who went a goal up in the 24th minute thanks to a delightful left-footed volley from Patrick Dorgu. He and Matheus Cunha were energetic pests in wide areas, keeping Newcastle’s full-backs pinned back.
Dorgu’s effectiveness on the right flank was capped off with a well-taken goal (Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
Martinez — making his first Premier League start since February 2 — took care of his team’s chance creation needs from deep, and the home crowd were well entertained in the first half.
Replacing Fernandes is near-impossible, if only because the few Premier League players capable of matching his passing style would probably choose against a 25-yard through-ball pass made with the outside of one’s boot. Mount is a tidy player who can help Manchester United retain possession in the final third, but rather than apportioning the entirety of Fernandes’ responsibilities onto him, Amorim split the load across several players.
The result was a fluid United team that attempted more cutbacks than seen in recent weeks.
Carl Anka
Was Lewis Hall Newcastle’s brightest spark?
Little wonder that Newcastle are looking to sign additional full-back cover in January or later in 2026. When their first-choice wide defenders in Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento are fit and available, the team are an entirely different proposition.
Lewis Miley has covered exceptionally well in an unfamiliar position at right-back, in fairness, but Hall being available again following hamstring problems is absolutely critical to their prospects this season.
The 21-year-old was Newcastle’s best player by a distance at Old Trafford, a ground at which he has scored for the club in the Carabao Cup previously, and he was central to everything positive the visitors did. Hall carried possession well, drove at opposition defenders, fed balls in behind the defence and tried to whip crosses into the area when he could.
His wicked, vicious 62nd-minute effort, which he lashed towards goal from 25 yards after stealing possession high, dipped fiercely and cannoned back off the bar. It was the best opportunity Newcastle had delivered up until that stage and spotlighted Hall’s technical quality.
At times, Hall plays as an additional attacker, offering Newcastle an entirely fresh dimension compared to when Dan Burn is filling in out of position. If he continues to play like this, Hall is surely World Cup-bound with England.
Chris Waugh
(Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
How good was Patrick Dorgu?
If you read the Fernandes section above and thought “Wow, they really skimmed over Dorgu’s goal”, fear not — here’s where we give him his flowers.
The goal came about from a Diogo Dalot corner kick directed to the six-yard box, which was first cleared by Nick Woltemade. But the Newcastle striker’s header only saw the ball loop to the edge of the penalty area, where Dorgu was able to meet it with a superb left-footed volley.
(Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)
“What a hit,” was Gary Neville’s to-the-point response to the strike on Sky Sports’ commentary. Dorgu looked like a player transformed operating on the right wing. The game’s early stages saw him employ some clever kick-and-rush tactics out wide before whipping in a low cross that Benjamin Sesko steered off target.
In the 42nd minute, he forced Anthony Gordon and the ball out of play for a Manchester United throw-in. His defensive hustle and bustle saw him applauded by the Old Trafford crowd, before getting an encouraging push in the back from Casemiro.
1 – In his 38th game and with his 31st shot for the club, Patrick Dorgu has scored his first Manchester United goal in all competitions. Worthy. pic.twitter.com/h6zke3BidS
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 26, 2025
“Keep doing what you’re doing,” was the message from the defensive midfielder. By the hour mark, Dorgu had registered 36 touches of the ball, hoovering up square meterage on the field.
Signed last January, the 21-year-old is finishing the year strongly. Manchester United’s interest in Antoine Semenyo suggests Amorim would like a more attack-minded player to play on the wing in future, but Dorgu is doing plenty to keep himself in his coach’s plans for 2026.
Carl Anka
What did Ruben Amorim say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What did Eddie Howe say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Manchester United?
Tuesday, December 30: Wolverhampton Wanderers (home), Premier League, 8.15pm UK, 3.15pm ET
What next for Newcastle United?
Tuesday, December 30: Burnley (away), Premier League, 7.30pm UK, 2.30pm ET