Gary Neville was less than complimentary about Manchester United's current situation following their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Monday. 

It was United's fourth straight defeat in all competitions and sixth in eight matches, while it marked the first time since 1979 that they have lost three straight home games.

Since Ruben Amorim's first game in charge against Ipswich in November, only Southampton (seven) have lost more matches in all competitions among Premier League clubs. 

United will enter 2025 in 14th in the Premier League – their lowest end-of-year position since 1989.

The Red Devils also lost six games in all competitions in December, only the third month in which they have lost six games, after April 1926 (six) and September 1930 (seven).

They also conceded 18 goals in the final month of 2024, their most in a single month since March 1964 (also 18). 

"It is grim, it really is. You always look forward to a game at Old Trafford, but I woke up this morning and felt that United were going to lose," Neville said. 

"I didn't think they would win as Newcastle have a better team, with better players, and they have a manager with more experience in this league. 

"I don't always think like that as I'm not always great at predictions, but when I saw the midfield of Casemiro and Eriksen, and the back three of De Ligt, Martinez and Maguire, defensive wing-backs and Zirkzee in that left pocket, I thought there was no balance.

"We know there's no attacking threat from the wing-backs, and that's not their fault. They're full-backs, playing wing-back. I was put there once or twice, and it was a bloody difficult position to play. The energy-level requirements are different.

"The midfield pairing of Casemiro and Eriksen is never going to work up against Joelinton, Tonali and Guimaraes.

"You cannot play them two. Ruben Amorim should have known that. He changed it after 25 minutes. Mainoo is not in the best form at this moment in time, but you can't play those two against their three.

"It was embarrassing, and it was as bad as it gets. It improved when Mainoo came on, and it's not the fault really of Casemiro and Eriksen. They'd have looked at each other and wanted someone quicker alongside them."

Things are not about to get any easier for United, who are just seven points above the Premier League relegation zone and trail the top six by nine points. They travel to league leaders Liverpool on Sunday, having been beaten 3-0 by them at Old Trafford in September.

The Red Devils have not won any of their last eight league away games against the Reds (D4 L4), their longest such run since a run of nine between 1970 and 1979.

They have also scored just one goal in their last eight Premier League away games against Liverpool, failing to score in each of the last five. Only at Everton have they had a longer run without scoring in their league history (six between 1969 and 1974).

"Do we have to go to Anfield on Sunday? Do you remember in the old days when Sunday League teams wouldn't turn up because they said the traffic was bad or a few players were unwell? Obviously, joking aside, I've no idea how they approach this game on Sunday," said Neville.

"Manchester United have found this fixture very tough in recent years. The 7-0. I was there watching it to the bitter end like many Manchester United fans were.

"You're fearing not necessarily of that, but you're wondering what Ruben Amorim can do? He can point to the Manchester City performance, but I genuinely don't know.

"Some players may come back. Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford haven't been showing their application in training, but they are better than the players out on the pitch currently.

"They've got legs and if Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are lining up against Zirkzee or Bruno [Fernandes] in wide areas, they would probably prefer that to Garnacho and Rashford.

"That will be difficult for Amorim as he wants to set a new culture and standard in the dressing room of what's right. He's not liked some of the things he's seen in the past month or so, but right now, it's needs-must, and it's desperate."