Alexander Isak has been on fire during the month of December. Before the meeting with Manchester United at Old Trafford, the 25-year-old had scored seven goals in the last five Premier League matches.
Against crisis-stricken United, the goal streak was extended to six straight league matches. Already in the fourth minute, the unmarked Swede nodded in the leading goal behind a helpless André Onana in the home goal.
It was Isak's 12th league goal of the season, and he is tied for third place in the top scorer list, topped by Liverpool's Mohamed Salah with 17 goals.
Sleeping United Defense
It would get worse for the home team. In the 19th minute, Joelinton nodded in 2–0 – almost in the same way as Isak's goal. Anthony Gordon delivered an assist from the left flank, and Manchester United's defense was caught sleeping.
In the second half, United played better, but never got closer than a ball hitting the post.
Rúben Amorim was recruited from Sporting Lisbon to lift the giant club United, but the Portuguese coach has instead had a nightmare start. There have been a total of six losses in his first 11 matches in the club – all competitions included – and in the Premier League, the team is stuck in 14th place with only 22 points.
In the final stages of the match, parts of the home crowd left Old Trafford early – the loss was Manchester United's third straight in the Premier League.
Star Crash for Chelsea
Newcastle finishes 2024 as the new fifth-placed team and is three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, which suffered a real star crash the day before New Year's Eve. The London club lost 0–2 away to bottom team Ipswich after Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson scored for the home team.
Seventh-placed Brighton – where Swedish national team player Yasin Ayari played for 69 minutes – seemed to lose a 1–0 lead to defeat away to ninth-placed Aston Villa, but in the 81st minute, Tariq Lamptey saved a point with his 2–2 goal.
Liverpool tops the Premier League with 45 points.
