Newcastle United set to sign 'electric' teenager after European blow v Man Utd & Chelsea

Newcastle United’s hopes of European qualification suffered a major blow with a 3-2 defeat at Manchester United on Wednesday night.

Kobbie Mainoo opened the scoring for Manchester United before Anthony Gordon equalised shortly after half-time. Amad Diallo put the hosts back ahead at Old Trafford and substitute Rasmus Hojlund wrapped up the points late on.

A stunning stoppage-time strike from Lewis Hall gave The Magpies some late hope but it was ultimately too little too late as they suffered another defeat away from home.

Here are five talking points from the match...

No Tino Livramento as Kieran Trippier comes into the side

A recurring ankle issue has ended Tino Livramento’s season early and forced Eddie Howe’s hand when it came to re-introducing Kieran Trippier into the starting line-up for the first time in over two months.

Trippier led the side out at Old Trafford as the only change from Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion. But the 33-year-old was caught playing Mainoo onside for Manchester United’s opener and allowed Newcastle to concede a corner in the build-up to Man United’s second goal before being withdrawn in the second half.

It was a disappointing return to the side for the England international with Howe suggesting the right-back may have started as a substitute had it not been for Livramento’s injury.

“No, it was dictated to us by Tino's injury,” Howe told The Gazette on whether he planned to start Trippier. “Tino picked up an injury on Saturday to his ankle so Kieran had to play when he's had limited training time.

“Like a number of players for us this season, he's put himself forward for the group and I think he's played well but he was fatiguing in that moment so we had to take him off.”

Newcastle United penalty controversy as VAR criticised

Newcastle had a major penalty shout turned down in the first half with Man United leading 1-0. Gordon charged towards goal before being stopped by a combination of Casemiro and Sofyan Amrabat. While Casemiro cleanly won the ball from Gordon, replays showed Amrabat pulled Gordon and made contact with his Achilles inside the penalty area.

Referee Rob Jones waved play on but VAR refrained from intervening, much to the frustration of the Newcastle winger.

“I have watched it back and it is a clear penalty,” Gordon told Sky Sports. “I don't mind the referee getting it wrong on the pitch, but I don't understand the point of VAR. He [Amrabat] goes down my Achilles and pushes me in the back.

“I knew straight away, that is why I didn't appeal. I waited for the VAR to check, I told my team-mates 'it was a clear penalty'. I don't understand the point of it, either get rid of it or get better - it's that simple.”

Howe echoed Gordon’s comments after the match as he said: “It’s a stonewall penalty. I thought it was a penalty. You have to see it one to three times to see where the contact is. I thought that’s what VAR was good at.”

The decision came on the same day a proposal was put forward to discuss the potential removal of VAR moving forward.

A missed opportunity for Newcastle United

In a similar story to the draw against Brighton, missed opportunities came back to haunt Newcastle at Old Trafford. The Magpies had 21 shots in total on Wednesday night - including two one-on-one opportunities - but failed to really test Andre Onana in the Manchester United goal.

Alexander Isak saw a shot blocked by Amrabat while Sean Longstaff hit the ball straight at Onana as he bared down on goal. After equalising for Newcastle early in the second half, Gordon came close to grabbing another with his angled shot going just wide of the right post as Miguel Almiron came within inches of turning it in himself.

As Newcastle have been in front of goals at times this season, as proven by their 98 goals in all competitions, they have shown a distinct lack of cutting edge in the last two matches despite scoring three times.

While good opportunities went begging, Newcastle’s leaky defence also returned at Old Trafford. The lack of marking and playing Mainoo onside for the first goal, a poorly conceded and half-cleared corner for the second and a failure to make things difficult for Rasmus Hojlund for the third were the main reasons why Newcastle came away with nothing.

Lewis Hall almost steals the show at Old Trafford

On a disappointing night for Newcastle, Lewis Hall was the one bright spark throughout at left-back. His electric work down the left flank and composure on the ball were evident even before he hit a stunning 25-yard strike into the right corner of the goal to give Newcastle something to play for in stoppage time.

After such a long spell out of the starting line-up, the 19-year-old seems to be getting better by the game and put in a proper attacking left-back performance at Old Trafford.

It’s taken almost a full season, but Hall is finally starting to realise his potential and play a key part in the starting line-up. Earlier in the season, Hall’s future at Newcastle seemed uncertain with the terms of his loan from Chelsea placed under scrutiny and suggestions made that if he were to sign permanently that the club may look to loan him out.

But this past month has gone some way to justifying the £28million fee The Magpies will pay to Chelsea this summer.

European qualification out of Newcastle United’s hands

Speaking of Chelsea, their win at Brighton and Newcastle’s defeat now means European qualification is officially out of their hands - that’s despite starting the evening in control of their destiny.

Newcastle have dropped to seventh with only goal difference keeping them above Manchester United. To finish in the top seven Newcastle must at least equal Manchester United’s result against Brighton when they face Brentford on the final day.

But seventh will only be enough for Europa Conference League qualification if Manchester United fail to win the FA Cup. Sixth place is guaranteed Europe but to get that Newcastle must beat Brentford and hope Chelsea lose to AFC Bournemouth on Sunday.

The pressure is very much on heading into the final day.