Covid still hurting United
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DAMAGE limitation was the name of the game after Newcastle United’s defeat at Manchester City last night.
Like the remains of the Christmas turkey, it just seems to get harder to digest the more it goes on and parking the bus will never go down well with Newcastle fans.
In the end, it felt like Steve Bruce did not have a great deal of choice but to go defensive and one or two scary counter-attacks showed the reality of what happens against an expensively-assembled City side when you over-commit.
For all that, the goals Newcastle did give away were poor and could have been prevented.
The first a posse of black and white shirts stood motionless as Ilkay Gundogan rolled home with ease in the first half.
The second a gift-wrapped effort for Ferran Torres after Federico Fernandez twice failed to clear beyond the 20-yard area.
With Newcastle’s main goal threat watching from the bench, it felt like there was very little on offer in terms of attacking options.
The emphasis fell on Jacob Murphy in the end and the winger can take encouragement from a positive second half.
He did manage two shots on target - but annoyingly why did nobody follow up his curling effort pushed away by Ederson?
A quick look at the replay shows not one Newcastle player thought it might be an idea to try to cash in from a potential rebound!
In days gone by Andy Cole, Les Ferdinand or even Rob Lee would have been straight on the end of it.
By the way, that is not another unrealistic Entertainers comparison, it is merely querying why players no longer make runs into the box on occasions like that.
The final outcome in terms of goal difference means Newcastle are on minus seven going into the
Liverpool game on Wednesday. It is not the best goal difference in the bottom half of the table but it is also not the worst - but has it really come to this?
Counting how Newcastle might stay up on goal difference!
When it comes to offering their fans a festive lift in between Christmas and New Year, United are hopeless.
No side has ever lost as much on Boxing Day than the Magpies now (15) in Premier League history.
It is also six defeats in a row on Boxing Day in the last half a decade or so.
Newcastle’s away form is now proving to be a cause for concern with three defeats from the last four matches, more losses than their previous eight on their travels.
At least Callum Wilson could be back to face the Reds.
The top scorer was left on the bench at the Etihad because of a “nasty “ankle knock.
Perhaps the only consolation for United was their game with the champions is being staged on Wednesday rather than a quick turnaround today.
Even then, Newcastle have just 45 hours to be ready for Liverpool.