The much-awaited Premier League action along December 30, 2014, was the clash of Manchester United and Newcastle United in Old Trafford, such that both teams have diverse hopes as for their real missions going into the match, United had to ensure that he had a firm top-four finish and Newcastle sought to disrupt all his opponents’ winning ways. Here is a full coverage of the match and important talking points

Overview of the Game

Manchester United went to the game in high spirits under manager Louis van Gaal after a wonderful run of wins. After a horrid beginning to their league campaign, the red devils had really been climbing the table as Newcastle intended to pull off the robbery on their great opponent with their manager up in arms.

The atmosphere at Old Trafford was electric with fans who had to fill up the stadium. The results were high-pressure for both sides as they tried to usher in the new year in style.

Early Events in the First-half: Manchester United took control early in the first half, and the attacking prowess began with the three-man midfield trio consisting of Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, and Michael Carrick. As they played well together, it dominated possession and created openings for scoring chances. They were mostly in pressure and when composed with a counter-attacking form, became a scoring opportunity when Wayne Rooney put the finishing touch to a quick break. The goal epitomizes his prowess as a poacher, able to find space into the attack and pounce upon defensive lapses.

Gradually progressing in each half, Newcastle side to gear up with the rhythm. Their attack has been well contained by the United defense, especially Chris Smalling and Phil Jones at the defence. Newcastle had promising chances on goal with its attackers, but that was no productive score line.

Second-Half Dominance

Second Half Domination Just like the first, the second half kicked off with a bang with Manchester United taking center stage in setting the pace of the game. Rooney doubled the tally for United, with another spectacular effort as he demonstrated his leadership in the goal-scoring instincts of the team.

And when Robin van Persie was introduced, that added more fuel to the fire in United’s attack and it was not long before he provided the spark. Van Persie headed in a third, officially sealing the deal for the Red Devils.

Newcastle showed resilience and eventually struck back in the latter stages of the match when Papiss Cissé netted the penalty award as another consolation goal. However, it was too little too late, as United made an easy breezy trip to self-praise at 3-1.

The Major Points

1. The Brightness of Rooney
   Wayne Rooney was the star of the match as he scored two goals and was dictating the tempo of the match. His versatility and leadership were some of the elements that led to United’s dominance.
2. Midfield Masterclass
   The midfield was well managed by Michael Carrick and Juan Mata, making sure United was always keeping the ball and always taking shots at goal. His composure and vision gave them ways of breaking through Newcastle’s defense.
3. Newcastle’s Woes
   Newcastle could not cope with the attacking threat of United, with more gaps opening up in the defense. The late penalty revealed the fighting spirit within them but sadly, the show itself didn’t leave much to be desired.
4. Defensive Solidity
   The protection at the rear provided by Smalling and Jones was excellent as United held Newcastle off most of their threats.

The Implication In Premier League Table

This ensured Manchester United will be in the top four and will once again be all but assured of at least a Champions League spot. The loss reiterated to Newcastle the areas and departments that required improvement, especially in defense and on the midfield front.

Final Thoughts

The game on December 30 between Manchester United and Newcastle United has summarized how the Red Devils rediscovered their way back under Louis van Gaal. A dominant performance at Old Trafford sent a clear signal to their rivals, United.

But for Newcastle, this game was a rude wake-up call to all that competition at the top end of the Premier League really is. A glittering performance showed flashes of what they can do but, unfortunately, very much the bigger problems remain consistency.

For the unfolding Premier League season, this match stands as one of the major defining moments in Manchester United’s scenes to end well, and for its fans, it had been an electrifying sample of the tippy-tippy football.