Man United continue EPL freefall with third straight home loss
Alexander Isak has scored for the sixth straight English Premier League game, as Newcastle beat Manchester United 2-0 at Old Trafford, condemning Ruben Amorim’s side to their worst home run in the top tier since the 1970s.
Relegation-threatened Ipswich beat Chelsea 2-0 to win at home for the first time this season, and Aston Villa and Brighton drew 2-2.
Newcastle’s commanding display marked the first time since February 1979 that Man United have lost three home league games in a row. For the first time since 1962, United have lost five league matches in the same calendar month.
Isak started the misery for home fans with his eighth goal in six matches. The Sweden striker put Newcastle ahead with a header after four minutes and Joelinton doubled their lead 15 minutes later, when he rose above Lisandro Martinez to head in a second.
Isak had another effort disallowed after half an hour and Sandro Tonali hit the woodwork seconds later, as Newcastle threatened to run riot.
The once-proud champions fell to a third straight home loss. (Source: SKY)
Amorim withdrew Joshua Zirkzee for Kobbie Mainoo before halftime, but United looked toothless — and clueless — in a dismal display.
The defeat was the fifth in eight league games since Amorim joined from Sporting Lisbon in November and left United in 14th place, seven points above the relegation zone.
Newcastle are fifth.
Ipswich savour home win
Chelsea started the day with the best away record in the league, after leaders Liverpool, but they trailled at Portman Road after just 12 minutes, thanks to a mistake from goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen.
The Scandinavian replaced Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal, but he was adjudged to have fouled Liam Delap in the box and Delap got up to convert the penalty with aplomb.
Chelsea pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Ipswich doubled their lead early in the second half.
A poor pass from Axel Disasi allowed Delap to stretch the Chelsea defence and his pass set up Omari Hutchinson to score against his former club.
For the first time this season, Chelsea have lost two games in a row. They remained in fourth place, after missing a chance to go above Arsenal and Nottingham Forest into second.
Ipswich moved up to 18th place in the 20-team division., with their first home win in the premier league since 2002.
Alexander Isak scores for Newcastle. (Source: Associated Press)
Brighton score late to salvage draw
Aston Villa were unbeaten in their last eight games at Villa Park, but went behind after just 12 minutes against a lively Brighton side.
With the Villa defence all at sea, Simon Adingra gathered a loose ball and curled a right-footed shot past Emiliano Martínez.
Villa came roaring back and got an equaliser in the 36th minute, through birthday boy Ollie Watkins, who returned to the side to replace the suspended Jhon Duran and converted a penalty, after Morgan Rogers was adjudged to have been fouled.
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Rogers put Villa in front early in the second half and, once again, Watkins was involved. His cute chip released Rogers, who chested the ball down and scored his sixth goal of the season.
However, Tariq Lamptey fired home with eight minutes left to give Brighton a share of the points, leaving Villa in ninth and Brighton in 10th.
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