Newcastle United have signed £91m Premier League's best as Bruno Guimaraes makes mockery of claim

This Man United team is one of the poorest that’s been but when you’re Newcastle United with just one league win at Old Trafford since 1972, it’s hard not to be pessimistic.

But that feeling was wiped within 20 minutes. Alexander Isak 1-0. Joelinton 2-0. At half-time, it was 2-0 going on five or six considering the number of chances Newcastle had.

Dare we say it? Yes, it was a comfortable victory for Eddie Howe’s men, who now occupy fifth in the top-flight table following a run of four straight wins, which includes 13 goals and zero conceded. Here’s our five talking points from the win:

Alexander Isak - more than just a goalscorer

Alexander Isak is undoubtedly Newcastle United’s best striker since Alan Shearer. Stay here for the time the great man did and the Swede honestly might eclipse him.

But Isak is about more than just goals and his performance at Old Trafford showcased that. Whether it was scoring from six yards or dropping into pockets, right, left or centrally, the 25-year-old was an absolute menace.

And that’s what sets him apart from the rest. The likes of Robert Lewandowski, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland may be viewed as more natural goalscorers (25 goals in 2024 suggests that isn’t exactly true!) but they cannot do what Isak does.

Isak is unique in every sense and Newcastle must treasure him. £150m price tag? More than justified if you ask us!

Starboy Lewis Hall

It feels fitting that Lewis Hall capped off his year in style. From bench warmer to currently the best left-back in the country, it’s been some journey. A £28m bargain.

Hall’s technical ability has rarely been in doubt but defensively he has come leaps and bounds. He is looking the complete full-back and at 20-years-old still has room to grow. And that’s a scary thought.

"Yes, he's made great stride,” said Howe. “The assist today was a really important moment. We needed to start the game well. His cross, I think, took a slight deflection, but it was a really good piece of play from him and Anthony. And Alex is in the right place to finish it off.

"I think Lewis has continued to improve. He's played with a really level head every game. I don't think you see a change in him. He's very, very solid. Delighted with the progress he's made. The challenge for him is to continue that involvement in his game."

Jacob Murphy’s role goes under the radar

He’s grabbed the headlines for his goals and assists of late but this was a night where Jacob Murphy showed another side to his game - and further underlined why Howe can trust him.

Murphy clearly has an ability to follow tactical instructions, so much so that he acted as a right wing back when Newcastle were out of possession.

Prior to the visit to Old Trafford, Murphy registered three goals and four assists in four games. Now he didn’t add to that tally last night but his defensive work deserves a shout out. A proper selfless display.

Bruno’s *beeping* Magic!

Four Premier League wins in a row. 13 goals scored, zero conceded. Newcastle’s form since the 4-2 defeat at Brentford on December 7 has been nothing short of exceptional.

When NewcastleWorld asked Howe what has clicked, he said: “I think a whole host of things. I don't think it's one thing.”

Martin Dubravka has flown under the radar, Dan Burn has been a rock at the back while Isak, Gordon and Jacob Murphy have the numbers to back up their performances. Howe himself deserves massive credit.

But it’s the balance of the midfield that has been the key ingredient. In Sandro Tonali, Newcastle have a conductor and in Joelinton there is a midfield destroyer.

Bruno Guimaraes... well there aren’t enough words to describe his importance. Since moving into the No.8 role, the Brazilian has become a real goal threat and creator while showing an intelligence to take the ball in tight spaces, pick passes and win fouls.

He’s also become a press machine. A certain pundit once claimed Guimaraes wasn’t athletic enough. Well, that was daft.

The one negative...

Ten minutes. That’s how long Fabian Schar was away from avoiding an automatic one-match ban.

The former Switzerland international picked up his fifth yellow card of the Premier League season in the 80th minute at Old Trafford. Annoyingly, the disciplinary threshold now increases to 10 yellows in 32 matches.

And because he was booked twice in the Carabao Cup before the semi-final stage, Schar will sit out of first leg against Arsenal, as well as Tottenham on Saturday.

Lloyd Kelly is expected to replace him the starting XI and partner Dan Burn. Sven Botman, although he’ll be “in and around” the matchday squad, won’t be rushed back after nine months out with an ACL injury.