Ruben Amorim warned at the beginning of December that a “storm” was heading for Manchester United. However, he likely didn’t anticipate just how severe it would be, as his team suffered a fourth consecutive defeat.

Newcastle’s Alexander Isak opened the scoring with a header early in the match, followed by Joelinton, who increased the lead by climbing above Lisandro Martinez and seemingly shoulder the ball into the net past Andre Onana.

Now, Amorim has faced four straight losses, and concerns grow as tougher fixtures against Liverpool and Arsenal loom ahead. This situation mirrors the severe weather impacting Hogmanay celebrations further north.

The Red Devils were overwhelmed in the first half by Eddie Howe’s dynamic Newcastle side, who not only scored twice but could have added more. Isak found the net for the sixth straight game, while Joelinton scored a nearly identical goal just 15 minutes later.

Newcastle, in exceptional form, claimed only their second league victory at Old Trafford in 40 attempts. It wasn’t until Amorim replaced the ineffective Joshua Zirkzee with Kobbie Mainoo that United began to regain some control, but by then, the damage was done.

The evening kicked off with Marcus Rashford returning to the squad after an 18-day absence, yet he remained on the bench as Amorim dealt with suspensions to Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte. Concerns about the team’s pace were realized almost immediately.

In just under four minutes, Bruno Guimaraes delivered a precise pass to Lewis Hall, who set up Isak for a goal that left him unmarked between Harry Maguire and Martinez. This was followed by another goal from Joelinton, who once again found himself in the right position to score.

United’s defensive frailties were exposed, with 18 goals conceded in December alone—the most in a month since 1964. Kieran Trippier exploited the situation with dangerous corners, almost scoring directly from one.

Amorim’s frustration peaked by the 33rd minute when he substituted Zirkzee for Mainoo in an attempt to stem Newcastle’s assault. The decision divided the home crowd, but it was clear that many players were underperforming.

United did have a few chances to respond, with Rasmus Hojlund coming close and Casemiro failing to hit the target after a fortunate setup. However, Newcastle seemed to settle down during the break, bolstered by their recent scoring run.

Just before the hour mark, Maguire nearly scored with a header that hit the post, but still, Rashford remained on the bench, even as United desperately sought a goal.