If there is one area of the pitch where both Newcastle United and Manchester United want to channel the majority of their attacks, it’s out wide.
Since Eddie Howe’s arrival during the 2021-22 season, Newcastle’s main attacking threat has come from the flanks, where the team’s passing combinations aim to put the full-back in a crossing position, find the winger behind the defence, or allow the midfielder to penetrate the opponent’s lines.
As for Manchester United, Ruben Amorim’s wing-back system has meant that there’s a focus on attacking the same areas — albeit in a different way.
Manchester United’s wide combinations aim to put the wing-backs or the No 10s in advantageous situations. Another solution under Amorim has been switching the ball from one side to the other to find the free wing-back or an advancing centre-back.
That’s why winning the battle in that part of the pitch mattered when both sides met on Monday night at Old Trafford.
Lewis Hall was one of the main beneficiaries of Eddie Howe’s tactics on Monday evening (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
There was no mystery about which side started better — Howe’s side annihilated Manchester United in the first half, before seeing out their 2-0 lead relatively comfortably to clinch their fourth consecutive victory in the Premier League. Newcastle’s success in the first 45 minutes was built on preventing Manchester United from progressing the ball through the wide areas and attacking them in the same zone.
Without the ball, Newcastle defended in a 5-4-1 shape with Jacob Murphy dropping to form a back five to prevent Manchester United from overloading the last line using their wing-backs and three forwards.
Another important detail in Newcastle’s defensive shape was how Bruno Guimaraes moved up towards Lisandro Martinez when Manchester United were switching the ball towards their left side.
The logic behind this was to prevent Martinez from attacking the space created by Manchester United’s left wing-back and No 10 pinning the opponent’s right side, which proved to be crucial in the side’s 2-1 victory against Manchester City.
When Diogo Dalot and Joshua Zirkzee pinned Murphy and Kieran Trippier, Manchester United switched the ball to Martinez…
… but Guimaraes was constantly ready to move up towards the centre-back and leave his team-mates to handle the players behind him.
However, Newcastle didn’t spend the first half defending in a medium block near the halfway line. Their pressing smothered Manchester United and forced them to repeatedly cede possession.
Newcastle’s pressing scheme revolved around trapping Manchester United towards the touchline while blocking their progressive passing options.
When Manchester United wanted to build up, Alexander Isak initially pressed Harry Maguire to force Andre Onana to play the ball to Matthijs de Ligt or Martinez. If the goalkeeper started the attack down the right side, Anthony Gordon moved up to press De Ligt while Guimaraes maintained his position.
Isak then positioned himself between Onana and Maguire to allow him to press the goalkeeper while blocking the passing lane into the England centre-back.
Once Manchester United circulated the ball back to the other side…
… Guimaraes moved up to press Martinez…
… with Sandro Tonali and Murphy boxing in Christian Eriksen and Dalot. The remaining passing options in that situation were marked as well: Trippier followed Zirkzee’s movement, Joelinton picked up Casemiro in midfield and Isak was in position to prevent the pass backwards.
The reverse situation was quite similar: if Martinez had the ball, Guimaraes moved up towards the left centre-back and Manchester United’s circulation of the ball to De Ligt was the trigger for Gordon to press.
Since the ball was now near Newcastle’s left side, Guimaraes held his position to support Tonali and Joelinton in midfield. Meanwhile, Dan Burn and Lewis Hall pushed forward to mark Noussair Mazraoui and Amad.
When De Ligt tried to find Manchester United’s right wing-back or forward…
… they were tightly marked by Burn and Hall, with the nearest passing options under pressure.
One of Amorim’s ploys in the build-up phase is to switch the positioning of the wing-back and the No 10 to open up a direct passing lane into the forward and put him in an isolated one-versus-one situation.
Manchester United tried doing that with Mazraoui moving infield when they were starting the attack down the right…
… but Hall and Burn were conscious of that move. Newcastle’s left-back and centre-back aggressively pressed Amad and Mazraoui by picking up the player nearest to them.
Offensively, Newcastle wanted to create space for Hall to attack by pushing the left-back forward and moving Gordon inside the pitch when they had the ball on the other side.
In this example, Newcastle circulate the ball back to Fabian Schar and the right centre-back plays a diagonal ball…
… to find Hall’s run behind the defence, with Gordon’s narrow position keeping Mazraoui away from his zone. However, Hall’s first touch prevents him from having a shot.
In another example, Gordon has come inside once more and Hall is in his normal position when Trippier plays the ball to Joelinton down the right wing.
That pass is the trigger for Hall to advance, with Amad more concerned about defending the central space. Joelinton then plays the ball to Isak…
… who combines with Gordon to beat Amad…
… before the centre-forward finds Hall’s run into space.
The angle of Isak’s pass, lack of options inside the penalty area and Hall’s decision to receive the ball infield limit the danger of this attack. The left-back then decides to dribble inside the pitch and shoot with his weaker foot, but his shot is saved by Onana.
Newcastle had been successful the first time they tried that move, though, so you can understand why they kept trying it.
Here, Newcastle build up the attack down the right side and as Guimaraes, Murphy and Isak combine, Gordon drags Mazraoui inside and Hall attacks the space.
Guimaraes then switches the play to Hall, with neither Mazraoui nor Amad in a position to defend the left-back…
… who crosses the ball into the penalty area, for Isak to head Newcastle into the lead.
We always knew this game was going to be a battle down the wings, but Howe’s plan and the subsequent execution of it by his players made sure it was Newcastle who came out flying.
