MANCHESTER, England – There has been simmering discontent at Manchester United for some time, but a near-mutiny broke out at Old Trafford on Monday night in a defeat to Newcastle United.

When only 30 minutes had passed and Man United were already 2-0 down, Joshua Zirkzee was replaced by head coach Ruben Amorim. Any of the 11 players could have been replaced – they were so poor in a shocking first half hour – but it was Zirkzee who bore the brunt of the angry fans in the stands.

When Zirkzee’s number went up, there were loud cheers in the stadium. The Dutchman, who was only signed by Bologna in the summer, grabbed his coat and jogged through the tunnel to occasional ridicule. A little later he reappeared and took his place on the bench. When the half-time whistle blew there were boos from all four sides at Old Trafford. There were even more during regular time, although many of the fans who had arrived had long since decided it was time to go home.

It is now four defeats in a row for Man United and six in their last eight games. For the first time since the 1978/79 season they have lost three league games in a row at Old Trafford. Three consecutive defeats in the Premier League mean they will start 2025 in 14th place, just seven points above the relegation zone.

Man United’s problems have reached a point where Amorim is being asked about the possibility of relegation.

“It’s really hard for everyone and you can feel it,” Amorim said after the 2-0 defeat. “We showed some improvement in the first few games, especially against (Manchester) City and Tottenham, but we are losing that due to the lack of training and belief after so many defeats. It’s a really tough moment for everyone.”

“It’s a bit embarrassing being the manager of Manchester United and losing a lot of games. I think our club needs a shock and we have to understand that.”

Unsurprisingly, Newcastle were by far the better team and deserved to win their first league game at Old Trafford in more than a decade. Man United managed to calm the anger somewhat with a more competent second-half performance, but by that point the damage had already been done.

Alexander Isak scored 1-0 after just four minutes for the sixth game in a row. Before 20 minutes had passed, Joelinton made it 2-0. It could have been much worse. Isak had a goal ruled out for offside and Sandro Tonali hit the post when he should have scored.

Only then did Zirkzee break away. He was replaced by Kobbie Mainoo and Man United finally turned up to play. By half-time, Newcastle had fired eleven shots at André Onana’s goal. As the game neared its end, the traveling Newcastle fans sang in Amorim: “You will be released in the morning.”

After the initial optimism of his arrival as Erik ten Hag’s successor in November, it has been a painful December for the Portuguese coach, with Premier League defeats against Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves and now Newcastle. Man United have not lost five league games in a calendar month since 1962.

If you include the Carabao Cup defeat against Tottenham, it’s six defeats in all competitions, a low point not seen since September 1930. For the first time in more than 100 years, a Manchester United manager has lost five of his first eight league games.

The question, however, is whether Amorim or the players should take the blame. Amorim is refusing to criticize his team for now, despite evidence week after week that the majority are not good enough.

He is regularly bombarded with questions about his 3-4-3 system and whether he will have to adapt – at some point. But his formation had nothing to do with Isak having a free header six meters from goal after he got between Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martínez and headed past Onana.

It had nothing to do with Joelinton pushing Martinez out of the way to hit his header in the second period. It had nothing to do with the many missed tackles and bad passes.

“I am responsible,” Amorim said. “I don’t like coming here and making excuses. I think the people in this club are tired of making excuses. I never watch a coach win games by not protecting the players. What I have to say to the players, I say to the association.” Zimmer. “I have to sell my idea. If I keep changing, it will get worse. It is a very difficult moment and we have to fight for the next game and also perform.”

In his pre-match program notes, Amorim said he had “no doubt” that the miserable form “will not last forever”. However, it is unlikely to come to an end straight away with United hosting leaders Liverpool next weekend.

A defeat at Anfield would plunge Amorim and his players even deeper into the abyss. The anger is already growing and the mood is worsening day by day.

Even for a club that has made a habit of lurching from crisis to crisis, United are reaching new levels of desperation.