Isak and Joelinton help Newcastle overwhelm weak Manchester United | Premier League

Manchester United are plunging towards the drop zone under Ruben Amorim, a manager who took over on November 11 and forgot to pack the “bounce” often given to an employer after sacking the last guy. This is United’s fourth defeat in a row and after 11 matches the Portuguese coach’s record reads six defeats and four wins.

Peer at the table and Amorim’s side are 14th with 22 points after taking the same number, 11, in nine league games as they did under Erik ten Hag, his predecessor. Once again the 3-4-3 formation failed and to see Joshua Zirkzee subbed off after the half-hour witnessed an encapsulation of United’s disarray. Another was the reinstatement of Marcus Rashford to the squad after the striker said he wanted a “new challenge”. Get the head coach’s thoughts on it if you can.

Three minutes and 30 seconds was all it took for Amorim to sink his head into despair. Fluid from Newcastle, it was amateurish from United who, despite having their centre-back trio of Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez lined up, still let Alexander Isak rise, unmarked, plum before André Onana’s goal and head in .

Maguire and Martínez were the primary culprits as the in-form Swede split them to score an eighth goal in his last seven games. Already, Amorim’s men looked like a pub XI that had staggered on to the local park midway through a particularly enjoyable party season. Noussair Mazraoui was their next champion as Anthony Gordon’s blistering pace left the right wing-back behind before the Newcastle winger set Joelinton in motion. He shot across, but before long Isak shot in from the left. The shot disappointed and was easily blocked.

So did the striker’s attempted chip of Onana after he had run ready for Bruno Guimarães’ 50-yard pass from close to his area. It sent Amorim into a rage at his backline and he felt even deeper disgust as Eddie Howe’s side scored with ease again.

It came thanks to a United midfield that was hot butter to Newcastle’s red-hot knife. Possession was worked wide to Gordon, he lifted the ball up and Joelinton made the hapless Martínez look like a schoolboy by rising to head the other.

Amorim was to blame for the gaping holes, with Manuel Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes unavailable, he eschewed the silky offerings and 19-year-old legs of Kobbie Mainoo to send Casemiro and Christian Eriksen – at a combined age of 64 – into battle against Newcastle’s muscular, speedy trio of Joelinton, Sandro Tonali and Guimarães.

The visiting fans were delighted, taunting their hosts with the killer line from the Beach Boys’ Sloop John B – “this is the best ride I’ve ever been on” – and soon they were in even higher rapture. A Tonali effort led to a corner and Kieran Trippier’s pass came close to beating Onana having been from a set-piece in Boxing Day’s 2-0 reverse at Wolves. The follow-up also threatened, but not as much as Tonali, who struck a cross moments later.

How could Amorim and his men be worse off? When the 39-year-old settled on 32 minutes, his selection was so dismal that Zirkzee had to be substituted for Mainoo. He dropped in alongside Casemiro, Eriksen taking the humiliated Dutchman’s berth. Zirkzee trotted straight down the tunnel. United’s only hope was that Newcastle gave it away: Fabian Schär hit the ball straight to Mainoo, his pass to Casemiro and his chip-cross to nobody. United had returned the worst 45 minutes of Amorim’s short tenure.

The second half was a test for every manager. Could Howe maintain his team’s excellence. Can Amorim make a revival? The visitors would be four or five clear if chances were taken.

Rasmus Højlund was awarded a corner, United’s first, after 51 minutes, but Eriksen’s execution was as effective as Casemiro’s outside-the-boot cross after it broke. Still, it was brighter from the hosts. Amad Diallo’s effort was denied and United knocked the ball around, exerting some control, in a phase that culminated in Maguire’s diving header which hit Martin Dubravka’s right-hand post.

Suddenly Old Trafford was a cauldron, United’s vigor gave the faithful something to believe in. Amorim introduced Leny Yoro and Alejandro Garnacho for Martínez and Casemiro, leaving Marcus Rashford still a spectator as Maguire took the armband. Yoro headed wide and jogged Antony to De Ligt. But bottom line: There is no momentum or threat to United. Amorim oversees a dive.