Paul Pogba scored on his return from injury as Manchester United came from behind to beat Newcastle United and set a club record of 38 games unbeaten at Old Trafford. Dwight Gayle gave the visitors a surprise lead when a slip by Victor Lindelof let in the striker to score in off the post. Pogba, back after nine weeks out with a hamstring injury, crossed for Anthony Martial to head the equaliser before Chris Smalling met Ashley Young’s centre on the stroke of half-time.
Pogba finished off a fine team move before Romelu Lukaku’s first league goal since 30 September sealed a fine win. Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench for the final 14 minutes after seven months out with a cruciate knee ligament injury. After two defeats in three league games, Jose Mourinho’s side turned on the style to ensure they remain eight points behind leaders Manchester City. This was a performance peppered with quality goals and attacking prowess, while there was a swagger about the way United picked off Newcastle after they became the first visiting team to score a league goal at Old Trafford this season.
Lindelof slipped trying to deal with DeAndre Yedlin’s cut-back, allowing Gayle to stroke home. Jacob Murphy went close to doubling the lead before the hosts found their stride and took control with two headed goals in the final eight minutes of the half. Pogba eased past Isaac Hayden before crossing for Martial to equalise, then Smalling scored from close range.
A simple tap-in for Pogba capped a sublime move involving Juan Mata, Lukaku and Marcus Rashford, before Lukaku smashed home the fourth. United lost their record as the only side in Europe’s five major leagues not to have conceded a top-flight goal at home, but they showed they are back to their ruthless best in front of goal.
Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez was aiming to become the first manager to beat United in the league at Old Trafford with three different clubs. But the Spaniard, who oversaw wins with Liverpool and Chelsea, was left to reflect on a sixth top-flight defeat against a team managed by Mourinho. There was a cold handshake before kick-off between the two managers – who have both had spells in charge at Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Chelsea. Yet there was no doubting who emerged triumphant in the battle of the tactics, with Mourinho able to send on Ibrahimovic for his first run-out since 20 April safe in the knowledge that the points were already won.
