NICKY BUTT has brutally slammed Christian Eriksen’s laboured performance during Newcastle’s 4-1 demolition of Manchester United.
The Dane, 33, was outrun and outfought by Newcastle’s superior midfield, who mounted a second-half surge with the score level at 1-1 at half-time.
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Alejandro Garnacho had cancelled out Sandro Tonali’s skilful opener at St James’ Park, but Man Utd were never really in it.
Harvey Barnes scored twice in the second half and Bruno Guimaraes lashed in a fourth after a howler from No 2 keeper Altay Bayindir.
The Turkish international came into the side because Andre Onana was dropped from the squad for his own errors in the Europa League last Thursday.
However, Butt – who was spotted sitting next to Newcastle heroes Alan Shearer and David Ginola during the game – didn’t hold back in his assessment.
Speaking to Premier League Productions, Butt suggested his former club didn’t look like they cared on Sunday, before pointing out a lack of athleticism in Ruben Amorim’s struggling side.
The Treble winner said: “It is easy to sit there and apologise but for me if you go on a football pitch you have to do something about it.
“I did not expect Man Utd to come here and win. Newcastle are a better team, better individuals, better athletically, more power, more pace.
“I don’t know how Man United go on the football pitch and allow it to happen. I came here [as a player] and lost 5-0, so it can happen.
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“But allowing it to happen is something different, I didn’t see one tackle or one bit of aggression. I didn’t see anybody go head to head with anybody.
“You have to at least go and show that we are not going to accept this lying down.
“They just lay down and let themselves get beat too easily. They have no power and no pace. It is sad to see.
“I see Christian Eriksen who was a top player and now he can’t move, can’t run. It’s ridiculous.”
Barnes put in a proper winger’s performance, with Eriksen and shock starter Victor Lindelof unable to lay a glove on him or anybody else.
Roy Keane also blasted the Red Devils as “physically and mentally weak” in the aftermath.
Keane then reignited his feud with club captain Bruno Fernandes over a “meaningless” interview which was “full of sound bites”.
Man Utd ratings vs Newcastle as Zirkzee does well before injury but dropped Onana’s stand-in has a shocker
MANCHESTER UNITED’S worst ever Premier League season was confirmed with a 4-1 defeat to Newcastle.
The Red Devils are now guaranteed to finish on less than 56 points, which is their lowest ever Prem total.
And they can only get that high if they win ALL of their last six games.
If they’re not careful, they could even finish 17th – just one spot above the marooned bottom three.
It was another dark day that reflects a poor campaign for United as Newcastle carved them open with ease in the second-half.
Ruben Amorim dropped keeper Andre Onana after his horror show against Lyon midweek.
But stand-in Altay Bayindir had a game to forget too.
Sandro Tonali’s volley, a double by Harvey Barnes and a Bruno Guimaraes finish cancelled out Alejandro Garnacho’s goal.
Here is how SunSport’s Gary Stonehouse rated the United performances…
Newcastle completed the league double over United for the first time since 1930-31, with Jason Tindall taking the reins in the absence of Eddie Howe.
Man Utd’s 14 league defeats this season is their joint highest tally in a single Premier League campaign, also losing 14 games last season.
They last suffered more defeats in a top-flight campaign in 1989/90 (16 in 38 games).
After being undefeated with Sporting Lisbon before moving to Old Trafford, Amorim has now lost 10 Prem games since joining.
Next up, United host Lyon in the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final – their last chance of qualifying for the Champions League.
Amorim’s side are currently tied 2-2 after two huge errors from goalkeeper Onana, while his spat with Nemanja Matic still overshadows the tie.
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