0 duels won, 0 tackles: £14.7m star may have played his last Man Utd game after Newcastle display

Manchester United suffered their first Premier League defeat under interim manager Michael Carrick after a 2-1 loss to Newcastle United on the road.

The Red Devils went into the game at St James’ Park in good form, having picked up 19 points from their previous seven league matches under Carrick.

They were handed an advantage in the opening half with Jacob Ramsey’s sending off, but there was more drama to come before the half-time interval.

Anthony Gordon scored six minutes into added time from the penalty spot, but Casemiro put United level before the break with a dominating header from a Bruno Fernandes cross.

The Red Devils felt favourites to pick up a seventh win under Carrick, but Magpies goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale produced some world-class saves.

William Osula eventually scored a stunning long-range winner for the Magpies in the 90th minute from a counter-attack which should have been halted.

Tyrell Malacia came on the pitch in the 85th minute for the injured Noussair Mazraoui at left-back, and the Dutchman was largely at fault for the Magpies’ winner, in our view.

The £14.7 million signing backtracked alongside Harry Maguire in the lead-up to Osula’s winner.

Maguire obviously felt that Malacia would have handled the situation. The left-back should have just fouled Osula and taken a booking before stoppage time.

Instead, his reluctance to challenge the Dane left space for the 22-year-old to unleash a super curling strike beyond the reach of goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Aside from his huge positional error, Malacia did not contest a single duel or make a tackle against the Magpies. Carrick probably made a big selection mistake.

He had Ayden Heaven on the bench, who could have temporarily slotted as the makeshift left-back, but the decision to go with a specialist in Malacia proved costly.

Yesterday’s appearance was Malacia’s second of the season after previously coming on as a substitute during the 1-0 win over the Magpies on Boxing Day at home.

With just nine games left and Champions League football up for grabs, Malacia may well have made his final appearance for the Red Devils before his summer exit.

His contract expires at the end of June, and United are poised to release him.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com

Article written by Sri Aswin .