Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester United - the fans' verdict — and more

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Premier League game between Newcastle United and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Newcastle fans

Keith: This was the best performance by Newcastle for a long time and it should motivate the team to perform in this fashion for the rest of the season.

Phil: Only a few things more satisfying than beating Man United, but a last minute winner with 10 men vs 12. This can be the momentum builder for a big end of season finish.

David: Absolutely outstanding 10 men win. Bankes has got previous several times for us, no way was that a dive by Ramsey, poetic justice in the end.

Michael: Tremendous resilience to be even level on 90 minutes. Terrible red card decision and then the equaliser in "Fergie time". Despite being one man down and the top class Ramsdale saves we were the better team in the second half and then Osula scores a worldie!! Sweeter than Apple pie.

Robert: Newcastle looked like the were hungry for the win tonight. Trippier, Linton and big Dan burn looked possessed tonight. Sending off seemed to make us want the win more. Eddie Howe is a man who is calm in everything he does and says and that keep the team together. Howay the lads.

Man Utd fans

Graham: Defeat has been coming when you look at the previous games poor individual performances and woeful passing pressing and covering leaving huge gaps for the opposition let's see how Carrick responds.

Jonathan: This was always going to happen, so in that no need to panic. However, once again showed the bench to be nowhere near good enough. Malacia and Ugarte in particular were awful. Still 4-6 players away from really competing.

John: Too much 'booting' the ball around, not enough strategic passing. Goal keeper constantly putting the ball back in play directly to a Newcastle player.

Bernard: Lacking in energy. A common complaint. Far to slow in build up and coming out of defence. Not enough running off the ball. Sharp contrast in how Newcastle players received the ball in space whilst United received the ball in tight situations.

Steven: This has been coming the last three matches no energy can't pass to one another play so slow which surprises me because Carrick has been in utd team's that play with pace we use to get the ball out quickly now it's passing from side to side and backwards even when we are behind there is just no urgency what so ever anybody would have thought we was playing with 10 and been playing in the midweek from the start of the season for me Carrick should not be the new manager at all.

Am Wochenende startet die Formel 1 in die neue Saison. Zeit, einen Blick auf die Favoriten zu werfen.[mehr]

Here's how you can get tickets to the 2026 World Baseball Classic semifinals in Miami with the best prices and game schedule.

Richard Hughes’ big gamble has paid off and looks like a genius move. Even if Arne Slot is sacked at the end of it.

Richard Hughes took an enormous chance in the summer as he twice broke Liverpool's transfer record in the biggest summer spend we've ever seen at Anfield. Over £400m went out on new players, with £200m coming in for those sold.

Just an overwhelming overhaul of the playing squad as Liverpool sought to build around their title-winning coach in Arne Slot. But as we come to the end of the season, has that worked?

The Reds are unquestionably worse than last season. Despite the lavish spend, things have moved backwards and Liverpool haven't come close to retaining their crown.

But we still stand by what Hughes did. In fact, it was a genius move in all truth.

Richard Hughes: Situation Summary

Current Role and Strategic Review

As of March 4, 2026, Liverpool Sporting Director Richard Hughes is currently leading a comprehensive "analysis and review" of the club's direction. Following a massive £450 million investment in the summer of 2025, the team is currently sixth in the Premier League and fighting for Champions League qualification. Hughes is reported to be evaluating head coach Arne Slot’s performance based on team development data and progression metrics, with no definitive decision yet made regarding the manager’s long-term future beyond this season.

Recent Transfer Activity

Hughes has already moved to secure future reinforcements, notably finalizing a £60 million deal for Rennes center-back Jérémy Jacquet, who will join this summer. He has also overseen the integration of goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, though reports from late February suggest Hughes now faces a decision on a potential loan request for the player. Additionally, Hughes is reportedly working on "refreshing" the club's wide options, with RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande identified as a marquee target for the upcoming summer window to provide competition or a succession plan for the attack.

Contract Management and Squad Depth

A primary focus for Hughes remains the resolution of several high-profile contract situations. He is currently navigating negotiations with Ibrahima Konaté, whose deal expires in June 2026, and is managing the "bold decision" regarding Mohamed Salah, who enters his final year in 2027. Hughes is also monitoring the midfield market, with West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes linked as a potential target should first-team regulars like Dominik Szoboszlai or Alexis Mac Allister attract serious interest from Real Madrid.

The Genius Move

Strengthen when you're at your strongest. That's the old saying and one that Liverpool haven't always adhered to - they signed absolutely no one in 2019 after winning the UEFA Champions League, after all, and subsequently won the Premier League.

But this time around, Liverpool and Hughes spent massive amounts. It was the right call, even if that kind of spend comes with risk.

Liverpool were able to attract the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak to the club on the back of that title win. Given the struggles of this season, would they be able to do the same in 2026?

Almost certainly not. The atmosphere around the club, publicly at least, is one of struggle and elite players are less inclined to jump to that ship. We've already seen that with Marc Guehi, who was eager to join last summer but opted against it come January.

Hughes, though, ensured that Liverpool would have elite players to build around by doing the overhaul when he did. Be it Slot or anyone else next season, they'll have someone like Wirtz to build their attack around. They'll have new full-backs who are heading towards their prime years.

It's something that only could have happened after a major win when the atmosphere was as positive as it was. We've seen how quickly that can change - getting it done last summer was the perfect move.