Manchester United came from behind to beat Newcastle United 4-1 at Old Trafford this evening, with Paul Pogba starring on his return from injury.
Dwight Gayle put the Magpies ahead on 14 minutes with the first home goal conceded by the Red Devils in the Premier League this season.
Pogba supplied Anthony Martial with United's equaliser on 37 minutes before Chris Smalling completed the turnaround with a header before half time.
A delicate header from Marcus Rashford set up Pogba for a goal of his own on 54 minutes, and striker Romelu Lukaku ended his barren run with a fourth before the end.
Relive how the action unfolded at the Theatre of Dreams with our minute-by-minute updates below.
Evening ladies and gents and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of a Premier League fixture which rarely disappoints as Manchester United host Newcastle United. This instalment has some extra spice to it, with Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez reigniting their old rivalry.
It is #Pogback2 at Old Trafford tonight, with Paul Pogba back in the United starting lineup. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also on the bench for the first time this season in a massive double fitness boost which should get the Theatre of Dreams rocking. Here comes the full teams news...
MAN UNITED: De Gea; Valencia, Smalling, Lindelof, Young; Matic, Pogba, Mata; Martial, Rashford, Lukaku
Subs: Romero, Rojo, Shaw, Fellaini, Herrera, Lingard, Ibrahimovic
Subs: Romero, Rojo, Shaw, Fellaini, Herrera, Lingard, Ibrahimovic
NEWCASTLE: Elliot; Yedlin, Lejeune, Clark, Manquillo; Ritchie, Hayden, Shelvey, Murphy; Gayle, Joselu
Subs: Darlow, Gamez, Mbemba, Diame, Aarons, Perez, Mitrovic
Subs: Darlow, Gamez, Mbemba, Diame, Aarons, Perez, Mitrovic
My word that is an exciting United lineup, with Pogba back in the middle of the park and the trio of Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku up top - the first time they have started together in the Premier League this term.
Summer signing Victor Lindelof makes his first Premier League start in central defence. The Swede's previous top-flight appearance was as a substitute against Huddersfield Town when a couple of costly errors led to a shock defeat.
As well as Pogba and Ibrahimovic, defender Marcos Rojo is back on the bench after a long-term layoff. Phil Jones is injured and neither Eric Bailly or Daley Blind are in the squad - both likely to be fitness related also.
Mourinho reverts to a back four after going with a three-man defence in the defeat to his former club Chelsea a fortnight ago. Ashley Young continues to be preferred to Luke Shaw and Matteo Darmian at left-back. The one-time forward's career is enjoying quite the second coming in that position.
Newcastle make two changes from the side which lost to Steve Cook's 90th-minute goal against Bournemouth last time out, both of them enforced with captain Jamaal Lascelles and winger Christian Atsu joining new crowd favourite Mikel Merino in the treatment room.
Ciaran Clark deputises for Lascelles in defence, while Benitez offers a huge signal of faith to midfielder Jonjo Shelvey by giving him the armband for the afternoon. Jacob Murphy is in for his first start since September, still looking to make any sort of impact after arriving from Norwich City.
Dwight Gayle gets the nod ahead of Ayoze Perez as strike partner to Joselu, and the travelling Geordie faithful will be pleased to see Aleksandar Mitrovic on the bench as the Serbian has not been involved too much of late.
RESULTS: Manchester City have thrown the gauntlet down for United with a 2-0 victory at Leicester City, which takes them 11 points clear at the top. Chelsea have also won this afternoon - thrashing West Brom 4-0 - to send the Red Devils down to third before kickoff at Old Trafford.
Check out the 3pm scores from across the country in our comprehensive results section.
This is the first time since 2007 that Mourinho and Benitez have lined up in opposing dugouts, having struck up a classic Premier League rivalry during their reigns at Chelsea and Liverpool respectively. The Spaniard would love to get one over on 'The Special One' this evening.
Benitez has more wins over Mourinho (five) than any manager other than Pep Guardiola (eight). This has included two Champions League semi-finals and an FA Cup semi-final. However, the Newcastle boss has also lost five league games to Mourinho - only enduring more against Sir Alex Ferguson (eight).
Victory for Rafa tonight would see him create history as the first Premier League manager to win at Old Trafford with three different teams, having conquered the famous stadium with Liverpool and Chelsea already. This United side have been imperious at home all season though, as we will prove...
The Red Devils are unbeaten in 22 league games at Old Trafford. That run has contained 10 draws but they have won the last six without conceding a goal. The last time Manchester United won seven consecutive home league games without conceding was between December 2009 and March 2010.
Mourinho's men are the only side in the five major European leagues yet to concede a top-flight goal at home this season. The only time their defence has been breached on home turf this term was a 90th-minute consolation against Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup in September.
However, United have hit a bit of a rocky patch, in the Premier League at least, over the last month. They have lost two of their last three games in the Premier League, which as many as in the previous 37 combined, and the relationship between Mourinho and the fans is a little animous.
Much of that tension has been surrounding the form of Lukaku, who is now seven games without a goal, having registered just five shots on target during this period. The Belgian had enjoyed an electric start to his United career, with 11 goals in 10 matches after joining from Everton for £75m.
What will the return of Ibrahimovic do for his out-of-sorts teammate? Might his presence on the bench motivate him to return to his best form, or is the Swede's shadow big enough to engulf Lukaku entirely? Zlatan, who last played against Anderlecht in April, will want his starting place back.
It is a landmark day for United captain Antonio Valencia, who makes his 300th Premier League appearance - his first also came against Newcastle, for Wigan Athletic in 2006. Three more outings and the Ecuadorian will pass former Magpie Nolberto Solano as the leading South American in Prem history.
Pogba's return after two months out with a hamstring injury gives United's midfield a dynamic that it has missed in his absence. The Frenchman is not only a physical specimen but is a crucial link between midfield and attack and creates a lot of chances for Lukaku, whose goals dried up without him.
Around 15 minutes until kickoff at Old Trafford, where Newcastle have only won on one of their last 32 league visits, although that was as recently as 2013 courtesy of Yohan Cabaye's solitary strike.
The Magpies made an impressive start upon their return to the Premier League with three successive wins throughout August and September, but the Tyneside outfit have only won one of their last six top-flight games, losing their last two by a 1-0 scoreline.
Newcastle have only scored three away goals in five league matches this season, failing to find the net in three of those. Surprisingly though, they are the second most creative away side in the league behind Manchester City, averaging nearly 16 shots per away game.
With Shelvey and Matt Ritchie in midfield, Newcastle have the creative outlets to make chances for the strikers, but Joselu, Perez, Gayle and Mitrovic only have four goals between them in 32 top-flight appearances this season. They are badly lacking a top-class centre forward.
The middle of the Premier League table is getting more and more compact every week, with three points now separating 16th and eighth. A shock victory today would see Newcastle leap to the top of that pile. Burnley are the only team keeping up with the top six - what a job Sean Dyche is doing.
Lascelles will be a big miss for Newcastle today. He is a leader and warrior as well as being a good defender, and is also the club's joint-top scorer with two league goals. The visitors will be looking to sit in tight but keeping United out without Lascelles is going to be a very big ask.
HEAD TO HEAD: The Magpies will be encouraged by the fact that they held United to a 0-0 draw on their last trip to Old Trafford. However, Newcastle have lost this fixture 84 times in all competitions - more than against any other side in their history.
PREDICTION: Hollywood actor Will Ferrell has predicted a 10-0 Newcastle victory for this one. I don't think the Magpies will be laughing at the end of this one though, having lost 3-0.
KICKOFF: Newcastle get the action underway in their famous black and white stripes, and get down the left early only for Joselu's cross to bounce off Ritchie and go behind for a goal kick.
Lindelof will want to get through this game unscathed after a difficult Premier League debut against Huddersfield, so won't be thanking David de Gea for a casual back-pass which forced him into a rushed clearance. That won't help any nerves that the Swede might have.
Newcastle will be fairly pleased with the way they have started although the hosts are enjoying a decent spell of possession now, with Pogba having a couple of nice touches before taking a clattering from Isaac Hayden.
CHANCE! Great opportunity for Lukaku to end his barren run, with Valencia played in down the right and squaring for the striker, who blazes over first time from no more than 10 yards out.
Juan Mata seems to have shaken off an early knock to continue for the Red Devils, who had Jesse Lingard warming up. Mata will be keen to impress having got a chance at the expense of Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Newcastle have a couple of early corners, from which the absent Lascelles is usually very dangerous. His replacement Clark gets up to meet Shelvey's delivery but can't keep his header down.
YELLOW: Hayden takes a booking by hacking down Mata as the Spaniard threatened to get away on the counter-attack, after intercepting a pass from the Newcastle midfielder. That is now five bookings this season for Hayden, who will miss the visit of Watford next weekend.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 0-1 NEWCASTLE (DWIGHT GAYLE)
Newcastle take a shock lead through Dwight Gayle's first goal of the season, but it is another horror moment for Lindelof. DeAndre Yedlin goes on a brilliant run down the right and cuts a ball back towards the near post, where Lindelof slips to allow Gayle to side-foot home via the woodwork.
United look for an immediate response as Pogba finds Mata in space with a neat reverse pass. By the time the Spaniard cuts back onto his left foot, Newcastle have packed the box and clear through Clark.
Newcastle have a really good opening on the break which Murphy wastes with a tame left-footed shot at De Gea from 25 yards, when Ritchie was unmarked on the edge of the area in a much better position.
CLOSE! Better from Murphy as he makes a run in between Smalling and Young which Shelvey picks out with a nicely-weighted pass. The angle is against him but he has De Gea scrambling across his line with a shot which finishes only a couple of yards wide of the post.
Rashford has had a couple of shots from distance but both have been well off target. Very little from Martial or Lukaku so far, despite the Belgian recovering some confidence with three goals for Belgian over the international break - making him his country's all-time leading scorer.
Newcastle continue to be the more threatening team, with Ritchie coming in to the penalty area for a header which is blocked by Lindelof. Ritchie can't halt his momentum and catches Gayle on his way through, leaving the striker needing some treatment from the medical staff.
Gayle is fine to continue, having put Newcastle into this surprise lead. He was prolific for the Magpies in the Championship last season and he will hope this goal will get him going in the Premier League.
CHANCE! Lindelof joins in a United attack and stands up a beautiful ball for Lukaku, who can't get over his header. That is a couple of decent chances already for the striker.
Benitez has got Newcastle very well drilled and United are finding it hard to break them down. They have one of the best defensive records in the league and that goal has given them something to cling onto.
Murphy is caught dwelling on the ball in the centre circle and United break through Lukaku, but the winger makes amends by keeping up with the Belgian and blocking his cross behind for a corner.
Pogba is frustrated to be penalised for a foul on Manquillo in the middle of the park. It has not been the return that the Frenchman would have hoped for so far although he has been United's standout player.
Mata is finding it difficult to get any space in the pockets, with Shelvey and Hayden holding very disciplined positions in front of the back four. It is Rashford who is coming deep to collect the ball, and that is not where United want the pacey forward.
Newcastle goalkeeper Rob Elliot stays down following a collison with his own left-back Manquillo. The Republic of Ireland international is clutching his knee but looks as though he will be okay to continue.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 1-1 NEWCASTLE (ANTHONY MARTIAL)
Pogba makes his presence felt with a wonderful assist for Martial as United equalise. Some silky footwork gets Pogba away from Hayden and Martial gets a run on Yedlin to climb above the Newcastle defender and head the cross down into the bottom corner.
That goal shouldn't change too much from a Newcastle perspective. They will continue to sit back and try to hit United on the break, as they do here but again the shot from Murphy is easy pickings for De Gea.
Really important tackle from Clark as Martial jinks his way through a couple of challenges.
CLOSE! United take a corner short and Young's delivery is headed onto the roof of his own net by Joselu. Nervy moments for Newcastle who will be desperate to hear the half-time whistle.
Lejeune pulls off an audacious back-heel on the edge of his own box. He's a Newcastle defender if ever I've seen one, but has certainly got himself out of a couple of tight spaces in style today.
SHOT! Newcastle work the ball across the box nicely to tee up Shelvey for a left-footed thunderbolt which would have troubled De Gea had it not been straight at the United keeper.
United want a penalty as Lukaku goes down in the six-yard box under the challenge of Clark, while trying to get onto Young's cross. Clark had some of his shirt but Lukaku looked just as guilty.
MAN UNITED 2-1 NEWCASTLE (CHRIS SMALLING)
Newcastle can't get through to half time as they take the lead in stoppage time through an unlikely source. Ashley Young's delivery, on his weaker left foot, is outstanding and Smalling, who had stayed up following a corner, powers home a header at the back post past Elliot.
CHANCE! The visitors really should be level but Hayden shoots straight at De Gea from eight yards, having worked the opening really nicely for himself. Joselu's rebound deflects off Gayle and wide of the post. Glorious chance for Newcastle as the half comes to an end.
HALF TIME: MAN UNITED 2-1 NEWCASTLE
I told you that this fixture never disappoints! It has been a really entertaining first half at Old Trafford, with Newcastle taking an early lead and Man United fighting back to take a lead into half time, although Isaac Hayden should have put the visitors back on level terms in stoppage time.
After going behind to Gayle's opener, the Red Devils found it difficult to break down Newcastle's two banks of four. It took two outstanding delivieries from Pogba and Young to supply Martial and Smalling with United's replies.
Newcastle had posed as much of an attacking threat as their star-studded host for much of the first half, and should still be able to play on the break in the second as United will come at them looking for a decisive third goal.
A reminder that Manchester City's 16th straight win in all competitions earlier today put them 11 points clear of United, who cannot afford to be dropping any points this evening so will want to kill this one off ASAP.
POGBA REPORT: It has been a pretty seamless return for Pogba so far. He has probably been United's best player and produced a quality bit of skill and cross to set up Martial's equaliser.
LUKAKU REPORT: It hasn't been as good from Lukaku, who has squandered a couple of decent chances as he looks to end his seven-match club drought. The Manchester United striker wanted a penalty at the end of the first half but gave Ciaran Clark as good as he got in the shirt-tugging stakes.
KICKOFF: The action is back underway with both sides unchanged from the first half...
Rashford has moved up top alongside Lukaku and nearly sets up the Belgian immediately with a clever knockdown from Pogba's lofted pass. Elliot is off his line quickly to quell the danger after Manquillo failed to follow the run from Lukaku.
More deviously quick feet from Pogba sends Lukaku to the byline and his cutback finds Martial, but the Frenchman gets himself into a bit of a mess at the near post and Newcastle can clear the danger.
Martial versus Yedlin on the Newcastle right is like watching an Olympic sprint team have a knockabout. The United forward beats his opposite number for pace this time but knocks his left-footed cross too deep and it goes behind for a goal kick.
MAN UNITED 3-1 NEWCASTLE (PAUL POGBA)
Paul Pogba has got the dance moves out to celebrate scoring on his return to action, but this goal is all about the vision and technique of Rashford. Lukaku peels off to the right and crosses to his strike partner, who could go for goal but instead tees up Pogba from four yards with a delightful cushion header.
That Red Devils goal came after Newcastle's first real forward venture of the half. Young made a good interception and then started the attack by spreading it to Lukaku. It was a very classy counter from the hosts.
Pogba tries an overhead kick from a United corner. He is loving this after a couple of months of watching Mourinho park the bus.
Lukaku gets away from Lejeune but this time his cross is a few yards ahead of Rashford who would have had a simple tap-in had the ball been of better quality. A once-solid Newcastle defence is now being pulled all over the place by this pacey and direct United attack.
Mata releases Martial down the left channel and his cross is cut out by Yedlin. United are playing some brilliant stuff in this second half - there will be no complaints from the home fans this evening.
Superb defensive header from Yedlin after United had cut open their visitors again and put another great delivery into the six-yard box.
Good play from Shelvey as he skips past Matic and Smalling on his way into the box, but he slips at a crucial moment and the attack dies with him.
SUBSTITUTION: Newcastle fans have wanted to see more of Rolando Aarons this season and the young winger finally comes on for his first Premier League appearance of the season, with his side trailing by two at Old Trafford. Yeah, thanks for that, Rafa! Matt Ritchie is the player off.
YELLOW! Smalling becomes the first United player to enter the book today for catching Hayden on the ankle. Newcastle had earlier countered with Murphy testing De Gea from long range.
GOAL! MAN UNITED 4-1 NEWCASTLE (ROMELU LUKAKU)
United have a fourth and Lukaku has his goal! He starts the move himself on the right wing, cutting inside and exchanging passes with Mata, before a weak challenge from Clark gives him the freedom of the area to take his time and smash the ball past Elliot from 10 yards.
His teammates and the Old Trafford crowd celebrate with him, and that will be a weight off Lukaku's shoulders after seven games without a goal for United.
SUBSTITUTIONS: A change apiece from the two managers, with Pogba replaced by contract rebel Marouane Fellaini after a dazzling 70 minutes, and Mitrovic on for Joselu up top for Newcastle.
This second half has been a spectacle for the Old Trafford crowd and they are about to get another treat with Zlatan Ibrahimovic stripped and ready to make his first appearance in nine months.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Martial is the man to make way as Zlatan gets a standing ovation from the home fans. Benitez also makes his final change, bringing on Mohamed Diame for goalscorer Gayle.
CLOSE! Shelvey nearly catches De Gea out with a low shot which goes just wide of the post.
United have been electric this second half but are now slowing things down and seeing out this result at a canter. It will have been a busy international break for most of this squad and they can now afford to take their foot off the gas.
SUBSTITUTION: Final change of the game as Ander Herrera replaces Spanish compatriot Mata.
Benitez can't be too disappointed with this display from his side, who matched United in the first half but have been completely cut to pieces by their attacking play since the interval. There is not much that you can do when Pogba, Lukaku, Martial and Rashford are all on song.
SAVE! Nearly a goalscoring return for Zlatan as well as Pogba as the Swede forces Elliot into a very good save with a typically outrageous effort on the volley.
CLOSE! Elliot keeps the deficit at three again by holding Fellaini's close-range header.
FULL TIME: MAN UNITED 4-1 NEWCASTLE)
Three points, some beautiful football and a goal and assist for the returning Paul Pogba makes for a pretty successful evening for Manchester United. Dwight Gayle gave them a brief scare but the comeback was emphatic as the Red Devils prevent Manchester City from going further clear.
That's it for Sports Mole's Premier League coverage on a day when the top six blew their opposition away, with the exception of Tottenham. Check out our report from Old Trafford here, and our summary of the rest of today's action in our results section. Thanks for joining us!
Written by
Joe Fish
Joe Fish
