Tactical Analysis: Manchester United vs Newcastle United | OneFootball

Manchester United are set to face a stern challenge as they host Newcastle United tonight in their Boxing Day showdown.

Last weekend, Man United were unfortunate to lose 2-1 to Aston Villa in what was a hotly contested match.

Still, it was a positive performance from Ruben Amorim’s team, who were severely shorthanded due to several injuries and players missing due to AFCON.

Given their recent form, victory is certainly within United’s reach if they simply follow two simple rules.

Tighten up

Despite an overwhelmingly positive display against Villa, one consistent flaw in United’s performance was their soft centre.

United’s defence was easily dismantled on a regular basis by Villa when they were on the attack. Despite only getting four shots on target, the hosts were able to put two goals past Amorim’s side.

Of course, this loose defending was the main reason for United failing to win against Bournemouth, with the match ending in a 4-4 deadlock.

Ultimately, some defenders like Ayden Heaven have seemed to do a good job at finding their groove, so Amorim will need to ensure that his team adopts a defensive cohesiveness, whereby players properly communicate with each other and do not leave gaps that their opponents can easily expose.

Compared to the likes of Villa and Bournemouth, Newcastle should prove to be an easier team to defend against. They have scored 23 goals in 17 games, with only seven teams in the league scoring fewer. This should make United’s defenders’ jobs a little easier if they build some strong team chemistry.

Versatility is key

While several key players are still missing, including captain Bruno Fernandes, United could still succeed tonight. After all, they proved that they are still able to put together plenty of attacking creativity during their clash with Villa.

Amorim may need some of his stars to play out of position, but this doesn’t necessarily spell doom for the hosts.

After all, there are several versatile players in the team who will certainly be able to perform to expectations.

Mason Mount, for example, can play as a number 10 as well as a central midfielder, as can Kobbie Mainoo. Both Joshua Zirkzee and Matheus Cunha are capable of playing in any of the front three positions.

Even in defence, the likes of Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot can play in the centre or at wing-back if need be.

No matter how many players are unavailable, Amorim can still lead his team to victory if he makes the most of his versatile squad members who are able to play out of position with relative comfort. This could make all the difference as United seek three points against a struggling Newcastle at Old Trafford tonight.

Featured image Stu Forster via Getty Images

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