Toppling Newcastle, MU closes in on Premier League top 4

(Football results) - Manchester United defeated Newcastle 1-0 at Old Trafford during the 18th round of the 2025/26 Premier League, thereby narrowing the gap to the top 4 in a fierce competition.

In the early hours of December 27 (Vietnam time), Manchester United hosted Newcastle United at Old Trafford as part of the 18th round of the 2025/26 Premier League. After a tense 90 minutes, the Red Devils claimed a narrow 1-0 win thanks to a moment of brilliance from Patrick Dorgu, continuing their intense pursuit of a top 4 spot.

From the opening minutes, Manchester United took control with short-passing play, while Newcastle posed threats mainly from set pieces. In the 4th minute, Casemiro rose high to head a Mason Mount corner, but the ball narrowly flew over the bar. On the other end, goalkeeper Senne Lammens was forced into several impressive saves, denying headers from Lewis Miley and powerful long-range shots from Jacob Murphy.

The turning point came in the 24th minute. Matheus Cunha skillfully dribbled inside the box, forcing Aaron Ramsdale to make a save, but immediately after, Patrick Dorgu was perfectly positioned to slot a cold-blooded finish into the low corner, putting the hosts ahead 1-0. This was the only goal of the first half, despite both sides creating further dangerous chances.

In the second half, Newcastle pushed forward in search of an equalizer. The visitors dominated possession and continuously pressured with corners and shots from distance. In the 60th minute, Benjamin Sesko nearly doubled MU's lead when his close-range shot hit the crossbar. On the other side, Fabian Schär and Lewis Hall tried their luck but could not break down the well-organized Red Devils defense.

The final minutes saw intense pressure from Newcastle. In the 80th minute, Joelinton unleashed a sharp shot inside the box, but Senne Lammens made an excellent diving save to preserve the slim lead for the home side. VAR also played a key role by overturning a penalty claim for Newcastle in the 65th minute after referee Anthony Taylor reviewed the footage on the pitchside monitor.

In the end, Manchester United won 1-0, climbing to 5th place on the table with 29 points, level with Chelsea but behind on goal difference. This victory allows Ruben Amorim’s squad to remain firmly in contention for a Champions League spot, while also providing a crucial morale boost ahead of the decisive phase of the season.