Manchester United kept their European hopes alive with a 3-2 victory over Newcastle United in their final home game of the season.
Kobbie Mainoo opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, though the Red Devils were pegged back early in the second half through Anthony Gordon.
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3–2
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Amad Diallo then scored his first Premier League goal to put the hosts 2-1 up in the second half, before Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench to wrap up the points.
Lewis Hall took advantage of some slack defending in stoppage time to set up a nervy finish, but the hosts held strong to see out the win.
Erik ten Hag’s side remain in eighth but are now level on points with Newcastle, who have a superior goal difference. Chelsea’s win at Brighton means the Magpies drop to seventh.
How the match unfolded
Newcastle soon came under pressure as Martin Dubravka made a routine save to deny Scott McTominay before pushing away Amad’s curler.
Mainoo then found the opening, latching on to Amad’s through-ball before picking out the bottom-left corner with a composed finish.
The Magpies responded well, and Dan Burn’s towering header was inches away from pulling them level, but Casemiro brilliantly cleared on the line.
Newcastle were rewarded for a bright start to the second half as Gordon met Jacob Murphy’s cross to fire an equaliser past Andre Onana in the 49th minute.
Under 10 minutes later, though, Eddie Howe’s side conceded again – Amad latching on to a poor clearance to rifle a powerful strike past Dubravka from the edge of the box.
The hosts were indebted to Onana as he then made two big saves, smothering Sean Longstaff one-on-one and stretching to tip substitute Joelinton’s shot over the bar.
Gordon almost levelled for a second time when his fizzed shot threatened to sneak in at the far post, but substitute Miguel Almiron could not get the vital touch to take it over the line.
Hojlund then came off the bench and with his first touch of the ball, he held off Burn to slot a low shot through Hall’s legs and into the bottom-left corner.
In the second minute of added time, Hall gave Newcastle late hope after latching onto a loose clearance and firing in a brilliant shot from distance, but they were unable to find a second.
The kids are alright
Mainoo has proven a bright spark in United’s underwhelming season, and scored his third goal of the campaign here – he has given the Red Devils the lead each time he has found the back of the net.
Teenagers have now scored 10 Premier League goals for United this season (Alejandro Garnacho has seven to Mainoo’s three), their third-highest tally in a single campaign after 2004/05 (15) and 2019/20 (11).
All three of United’s goalscorers were aged 21 or younger, with Hojlund scoring just 106 seconds after coming off the bench.
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Away blues return for Magpies
Newcastle were looking for their third win over United in all competitions this season, but despite showing a goal threat, they struggled to convert their chances.
Their away form has improved in recent weeks, with the Magpies winning four of their last seven on the road, compared to just one victory from their first 10, but they could not run out winners again here.
Howe is also still looking for his first league win in Manchester, failing to win any of his last 15 away games against either Manchester City or United (three draws, 12 defeats).
Club reports
Man Utd report | Newcastle report
Final Premier League fixtures
Key facts
Man United have lost just one of their 29 Premier League home games against Newcastle (W19 D9), while they have scored more goals against the Magpies at Old Trafford than against any other opponent (66).
Newcastle’s Premier League games have seen 141 goals this season (81 scored, 60 conceded). It is the fourth most of any side across a single campaign in the competition and the most since Liverpool in 2013/14 (151).
Manchester United have conceded 58 Premier League goals this season, their most across a single campaign in the competition. The Red Devils last shipped more in a season in 1978/79 (63).
Gordon is only the fourth Newcastle player to score home and away goals against Manchester United in a Premier League campaign, after Andy Cole (1993/94), Demba Ba (2011/12) and Matty Longstaff (2019/20).