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Manchester United 1-0 Newcastle live player ratings and match report

It has been 47 years since Manchester United were last defeated by Newcastle United on Boxing Day. In Sir Alex Ferguson’s first full season at Old Trafford, United were beaten 1–0, with Glenn Roeder’s 45th-minute strike proving decisive.

In today’s sole Premier League Boxing Day fixture, the same pairing took centre stage once again.

The score tonight would provide the same score line, but this time in favour of Manchester United.

Manchester United

Senne Lammens 8/10

The Belgian goalkeeper has been a breath of fresh air for Manchester United this season, with many fans claiming they feel more “safe” with him in net.

Despite this, tonight was just the second time he has kept a clean sheet during his time at the Red Devils.

He was once again calm and composed in the net, though he was not massively tested throughout the match.

Ruben Amorim's decison to sign the Belgian has proved fruitful thus far.

Luke Shaw 7/10

The longest serving player of either side, and one of the longest in the Premier League, Luke Shaw, had a quietly composed match where he helped Manchester United keep their second clean sheet of the season.

He was replaced by Tyrell Malcia in the 87th minute.

Ayden Heaven 9/10

The young 19-year-old has slowly started to improve over the past month and is becoming a mainstay in the Red Devils’ defence with both Matthijs De Ligt and Harry Maguire out injured.

This was the fifth successive game he has started as a central centre-back.

Heaven proved priceless for the United defence in the second half. In a 45-minute period where Newcastle were clearly the dominant side, Heaven played a key role in ensuring that Lammens was not tested.

Class tonight, Ayden 👏 pic.twitter.com/a5FfS09vyB
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 26, 2025

Lisandro Martinez 8/10

In his first start since February of this year, Lisandro Martinez captained Manchester United for a second time.

He was fortunate not to give away a penalty in the 63rd minute after a handball in the box. The Argentine’s hands were above his head, but he had just pushed Thiaw away in the box.

He was replaced by Tyler Fredricson in the 88th minute.

Diogo Dalot 7/10

In the past couple of weeks, Diego Dalot has improved greatly for Manchester United.

Despite this, in the 72nd minute, Dalot got behind Schar and received the ball. Left one-on-one with Aaron Ramsdale, the Portuguese defender should have slotted the ball into the back of the net, but blasted the ball over.

Casmiro 7/10

Casemiro once again performed well for Manchester United in the centre of the pitch, this time without his midfield partner Bruno Fernandes.

After a successful 60 minutes of stopping Newcastle from scoring, he was replaced by Leny Yoro to the confusion of the majority of the crowd, who believed Ugarte would be the player departing.

Manuel Ugarte 7/10

After having a poor season for Manchester United thus far, Manuel Ugarte had a positive game, which saw him more composed in the centre of the park.

He played the entire 90 minutes and helped his side keep a clean sheet.

Matheus Cunha 8/10

The Brazilian came with his natural swagger once again. In the 23rd minute, he forced Aaron Ramsdale to make a save, which would ultimately lead to Patrick Dorgu’s goal.

Whilst Cunha is electric, there is still some doubt about his decision-making process. On two occasions tonight, he let fly towards the goal when his teammates were in better positions.

Regardless, there is no doubt that Cunha is always a bright spark in this United team.

Whilst he was quiet in the second half due to the onslaught from Newcastle, there is no doubt that he will be the creative outlet with Bruno out injured.

Patrick Dorgu 9/10

The biggest surprise of the opening five minutes? Patrick Dorgu was playing as Manchester United’s right attacking midfielder.

Whilst it may seem odd that a player who has spent the majority of his career as a left-wing-back is playing on the opposite side of the pitch, Dorgu actually played nine games as a right midfielder for Lecce last season.

And the Danish international started strong. In the 10th minute of the match, he gave Benjamin Sesko a golden opportunity, which the Slovenian failed to convert.

And in the 24th minute, Dorgu struck the ball sweetly on the volley just inside the box to give him his first goal as a Manchester United player.

And it was not just up top where Dorgu excelled; in the 50th minute, he blocked Fabian Svhar’s goal-bound shot before making a decisive header from the resulting corner.

He moved back towards the left-hand side in the 60th minute of the match, where he continued his outstanding performance.

My man of the match for tonight

Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu, take a bow. pic.twitter.com/bCUItTsYoH
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) December 26, 2025

Mason Mount 6/10

There is little to say about Mason Mount’s 45 minutes for Manchester United tonight.

Whilst he was positive in the first half, none of his chances resulted in troubling Aaron Ramsdale.

Despite this, he was successful in shutting down Sandro Tonali, whom he stuck to like glue.

He was replaced at halftime by Jack Fletcher, possibly due to injury.

Benjamin Sesko 5/10

In the 10th minute of the match, Benjamin Sesko had a great opportunity to put Manchester United ahead. After Dorgu’s cross, Sesko found himself free in the box, but was unable to convert his chance.

In the 59th minute, he pounced on a loose ball, only to thunder the shot onto the crossbar.

It was his last touch of the match as he was replaced by Joshua Zirkzee.

Subs

Jack Fletcher 6/10

Son of Darren Fletcher, Jack Fletcher was rewarded with his second appearance for Manchester United tonight. He was fairly quiet throughout the match, but put in a good shift to stop Newcastle from scoring.

Darren Fletcher’s son just came on for Manchester United. pic.twitter.com/ZsZS06XyRm
— Zito (@_Zeets) December 26, 2025

Joshua Zirkzee 5/10

Largely quiet due to Newcastle constantly pressing up the pitch. Good pressing, nothing else of note.

Leny Yoro 7/10

With just a 30-minute period to impress, Leny Yoro was part of a makeshift backline that ensured United did not concede.

Tyler Fredricson N/A

Did well in his short cameo

Tyrell Malacia N/A

Just like Fredricson, did well in his short cameo.

Manchester United love a Boxing Day win 🔴✅ pic.twitter.com/DBrN0D57cD
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) December 27, 2025

Newcastle

Aaron Ramsdale 5/10

For the opening goal of the night, there is a strong argument that Aaron Ramsdale could have done better. The English goalkeeper has not looked the same since being displaced by David Raya at Arsenal, and tonight he showed why Nick Pope is the preferred number one at Newcastle.

Lewis Miley 6/10

Lewis Miley looked lively throughout the first 20 minutes. He skipped past Ayden Heaven several times, which led to Newcastle receiving numerous corners, which troubled Manchester United greatly during the first half.

He should have scored in the 89th minute, but leaned back and thundered the ball over the bar.

Malick Thiaw 6/10

You could see that Thiaw wanted to progress the ball up the pitch, and on multiple occasions, produced long balls to little success.

In the second half, his position was high up the pitch as he looked to help Newcastle break the deadlock.

Fabian Schar 6/10

Despite being Newcastle’s key centre-back, Fabian Schar was seen more in an attacking position in the battle between the two sides tonight.

He nearly put Newcastle level in the 50th minute when his shot was blocked by Patrick Dorgu.

Lewis Hall 7/10

Despite being relatively quiet in the first half, Lewis Hall had a fantastic shot in the 61st minute, which struck the crossbar. Had it found the net, it would have blown the roof off the travelling away fans.

Sandro Tonali 5/10

There was very little to say about Sandro Tonali’s first 45 minutes other than the fact that his lower leg got stood on by Benjamin Sesko, which caused the match to be delayed by two minutes.

He was ineffective due to Mason Mount’s man-marking.

Despite Newcastle dominating for most of the second half, he was still relatively quiet and received a yellow card in the 72nd minute for a foul on Dorgu.

He was replaced by Joe Willock in the 76th minute.

Bruno Guimaraes 6/10

Just like Tonali, there is little to say about Bruno Guimaraes’s performance tonight.

He was a positive outlet in midfield for the Geordies, but was unable to create anything of note.

Jacob Ramsey 5/10

Jacob Ramsey had a fairly uneventful match tonight for Newcastle. Whilst he was still a creative force in midfield, he had little say over the tempo and control of the match.

He was replaced by Joelinton in the 67th minute

Jacob Murphy 6/10

It is becoming increasingly rare to see a winger playing on a respective side of the pitch with the same foot, but you can see why Eddie Howe likes Jacob Murphy on the flank, even ahead of £55 million signing Anthony Elanga.

In the 40th minute, he provided a sublime cross into the Manchester United box, but Nick Woltermade was unable to provide a touch that would undoubtedly have put the ball into the back of the net.

He was replaced by Harvey Barnes in the 67th minute

Anthony Gordon 5/10

Anthony Gordon was extremely quiet throughout the first half, albeit for five minutes between the 15th and 20th minute.

Throughout the entire match, he was hugging the touchline too closely and playing too deep. Gordon needs to play more towards the centre of the pitch and up high to help Newcastle progress the ball.

Nick Woltermade 4/10

At the start of tonight's matchup, Nick Woltermade must have been licking his lips at the thought of playing against a 5’9 Lisandro Martinez and a 5’10 Luke Shaw.

But despite this, his first 45 minutes were extremely poor, with the German striker practically assisting Dorgu with his weak header.

He was replaced by Yoane Wissa in the 67th minute.