PL Collection: Best games v Newcastle

The Magpies have spent just three of the 30 seasons since 1992 outside of the top flight, meaning there are 54 games to look back on.

We’ve scored 113 Premier League goals against the north-east side – more than anyone else – and there a number of encounters we can look back fondly upon.

Our review starts with a crucial win from Christmas 1995…

UNITED 2 NEWCASTLE 0 (1995/96)

After a 4-1 reverse at Leeds on Christmas Eve, we trailed the Magpies by 10 points at the halfway stage of the Premier League season, making this quite simply a must-win game. On a freezing night at Old Trafford, a raucous crowd was up for it from the word go and Andy Cole quickly gave them something to celebrate as he latched on to Ryan Giggs’s pinpoint pass to find the bottom corner. The Reds had something to defend but the remainder of the first half was nervy, with Peter Schmeichel denying the dangerous Les Ferdinand. Giggs hit the bar after the break but it wasn’t until Roy Keane evaded attention at the far post that United could breathe a little more easily – and really begin the task of overhauling that Newcastle advantage at the top.

NEWCASTLE 2 UNITED 6 (2002/03)

Seven seasons later, the Magpies were revitalised under Sir Bobby Robson, sitting six points behind Arsenal and United with six games remaining. Despite losing 5-3 at Old Trafford, they were unbeaten at St James’ Park since September and when Jermaine Jenas struck a stunner it looked as though we would drop crucial points in the title race. What followed was a complete evisceration, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s side scoring six times within 26 minutes either side of half-time. Paul Scholes, with a hat-trick, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Giggs and Ruud van Nistelrooy all made it on to the scoresheet as we well and truly ended any hopes Newcastle had of a first league triumph since the 1920s.

UNITED 6 NEWCASTLE 0 (2007/08)

Another demolition job, although this time most of the action arrived after the interval. Cristiano Ronaldo rolled home a free-kick on 49 minutes to start the glut and when Carlos Tevez capitalised on a defensive mistake moments later, the visitors’ chance of a positive result was gone. The Reds smelled blood and Ronaldo arrowed in his second, before a rare Rio Ferdinand goal made it 4-0. Cristiano completed his first United hat-trick with two minutes to spare and there was still time for Tevez to complete his brace.

UNITED 4 NEWCASTLE 1 (2021/22)

Another Old Trafford clash with Newcastle which was all about Ronaldo, with our no.7 returning in the grand manner after a dozen years away. Inevitably, Cristiano broke the deadlock when tapping home from close range, although the Magpies’ Javi Manquillo briefly threatened to spoil the party. Not on Cristiano’s watch. The Portuguese forward raced on to Luke Shaw’s pass and fired into the net to restore our lead and Bruno Fernandes and Jesse Lingard scored late stunners to put some gloss on the scoreline.

UNITED v NEWCASTLE: PL RECORD

Games played: 54
United wins: 32
Draws: 15
Newcastle wins: 7
United goals: 113
Newcastle goals: 55
Top scorer: Wayne Rooney (13)