Manchester United legend Gary Neville has launched a scathing attack on his former club after they sunk to a 60-year low in a 2-0 home loss to Newcastle United.
Ruben Amorim’s team have suffered a third straight Premier League defeat and their goals agaionst tally for Decemeber shot to 18 – the worst in a single month since they conceded 18 in March 1964.
Alexander Isak’s early header was followed by Joelinton’s goal in the 19th minute, and the only surprise was that a dismal first-half performance from United on Monday night was not punished further as they lost a third consecutive home league game for the first time since 1979.
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The hosts, without the suspended Bruno Fernandes and Manuel Ugarte, were better after the break, but a fourth straight defeat in all competitions – and fifth league defeat in December – will not fill them with much confidence before Sunday’s trip to face leaders and fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield as they remain 14th.
“You are watching the worst pound-for-pound football team in the country, bar none, out there in red shirts,” Neville said on Sky Sports.
“The first half-hour was embarrassing, as bad as you will see.”
It took Alexander Isak less than four minutes to open the scoring at Old Trafford
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) December 30, 2024
Unmarked from six yards, he scores his first EVER goal against Manchester United.
Goal Rush ???? https://t.co/LfZ7doJ8at pic.twitter.com/oakBvgjnqW
Amorim yanked striker Joshua Zirkzee after just 33 minutes after having just three accurate passes and 14 touches. Zirkzee, who refused to sit on the bench and went straight to the dressingroom, has borne the brunt of criticism of former manager Erik ten Hag’s woeful transfer dealings.
“He’s (Zirkzee) not been good, but they’ve all been absolutely awful,” said Neville.
“I have to feel sorry for him. He has basically been cheered off by his own fans and that is brutal and I’ve not seen that too many times at Old Trafford.”
Newcastle’s fourth straight league win gave Eddie Howe his first league success at Old Trafford in eight attempts and lifted the Magpies (32 points) to fifth in the table.
At Portman Road, Liam Delap’s barnstorming display helped Ipswich Town register a first EPL home win in 22 years with a memorable 2-0 victory over Chelsea to further damage their faint title prospects.
Delap had been tipped for an England debut by former Manchester City U23s boss Enzo Maresca ahead of this fixture and proceeded to haunt his ex-boss.
It was Town’s leading scorer Delap who won an early contentious spot kick, which he fired past Filip Jorgensen in the 12th minute after Chelsea’s back-up goalkeeper had been penalised for minimal contact.
The goal gave Kieran McKenna’s team a crucial lead to hold on to and the hosts doubled their lead straight after halftime.
Omari Hutchinson made the most of an Axel Disasi error to ensure the Tractor Boys won at home in the top-flight at the 10th time of asking this season – and for the first time since 2002 – to make it three games without a win for Chelsea – since the manager said his team weren’t in the title race.
The Blues remain fourth on 35 points, while Ipswich (15) are one point from safety in 18th.
Aston Villa ended 2024 with a disappointing 2-2 draw against Brighton Hove and Albion as they failed to close the gap on the top four.
Villa started the year by reaching a Europa Conference League semi-final and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
But their ambitions of finishing in the top four again look to be hamstrung by inconsistency.
Ollie Watkins looked to be Villa’s hero as he celebrated his birthday in style with a goal, his eighth of the season, and an assist to put his side 2-1 up after Simon Adingra’s early opener for the Seagulls.
But Unai Emery’s men could not see it out and succumbed to an 81st-minute leveller by Tariq Lamptey.
The draw sees both sides on the periphery of the European places, with Brighton’s winless run continuing to seven games.
The Roarhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2024/12/31/worst-pound-for-pound-team-in-the-country-man-united-legends-scathing-take-down-as-fans-boo-own-player-chelsea-crash-again/‘Worst pound-for-pound team in the country’: Man United legend’s scathing take down as fans boo own player, Chelsea crash again
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