Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, speaking to BBC Match of the Day, on his side's recent good run of form that has seen them win five consecutive games in all competitions: "Early in the season we were on the other end of it by conceding early goals and it makes such a difference [reversing it]. We gave ourselves mountains to climb at times, particularly on the road, and it is great to reverse it the last few games.

"Confidence is the ultimate thing that makes the difference. The players are playing in their best positions and look happy and comfortable and our injury record has also improved from last year."

Right, we have been through the match reports from Monday night's matches:

• Manchester United 0-2 Newcastle
• Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea
• Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton

Let's have a look at some of the reaction to those games before analysing them in more detail.

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It is a case of 'as you were' in the Premier League table for Aston Villa and Brighton following Monday's night's 2-2 draw at Villa Park.

The hosts stay ninth, three points off fifth spot, which might be enough for Champions League qualification this season.

While Brighton, who have won just once in 15 away games at Villa, remain in 10th place.

Joe Rindl
BBC Sport

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Ollie Watkins celebrated his 29th birthday with a goal and an assist but his Aston Villa side were held by Brighton in a hard-fought Premier League encounter.

The draw extended Brighton's seven-match winless run, despite the Seagulls scoring first in the 12th minute through Simon Adingra's curling effort on the break.

Villa were awarded a penalty in the 36th minute after a four-minute video assistant referee (VAR) check.

Referee Craig Pawson was called to the pitchside monitor to confirm Brighton forward Joao Pedro had caught Morgan Rogers in the area.

Watkins sent keeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way with a confident spot-kick to equalise then, two minutes after the break, chipped a lovely ball over the top that Rogers buried into the bottom corner.

But Villa were unable to hold on to a fifth win in seven in all competitions as Brighton full-back Tariq Lamptey levelled in the 81st minute with a driven finish past Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez.

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Ipswich moved above Leicester City into 18th place in the Premier League table following their first home league win of the season - Kieran McKenna's side are now just one point behind Wolves as they look to move out of the bottom three.

Chelsea, meanwhile, remain fourth in the Premier League, but are 10 points behind leaders Liverpool having played a game more than Arne Slot's pace-setters, meaning a sustained title challenge now looks unlikely.

It was a second consecutive defeat for Enzo Maresca's side, following their 2-1 loss at home to Fulham on Boxing Day. They went into the festive period on the back of a goalless draw at Everton, which ended an eight-match winning run in all competitions.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Liam Delap's exceptional performance helped Ipswich earn their first home win of the season as Chelsea's title hopes dwindled.

After scoring a 12th-minute penalty, the 21-year-old striker set up former Chelsea winger Omari Hutchinson for Ipswich's second eight minutes after the break.

Chelsea dominated possession but were wasteful and the video assistant referee (VAR) ruled out a Joao Felix first-half equaliser after a long check for offside.

Earlier, ex-Manchester City striker Delap powered in a penalty that he won himself after VAR judged that there was "sufficient contact" by goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen after the Ipswich man had dribbled past him.

Delap later capitalised on Axel Disasi's poor back pass to set up Hutchinson to make it 2-0.

Before we delve deeper into reaction to last night's games, let's have a look at the match reports from Ipswich's long-awaited home win and Brighton's battling point at Aston Villa...

So what do you think Manchester United fans? Are you in a relegation battle? What does Ruben Amorim need to do to turn things around?

We would also love to hear the views of Newcastle supporters on your ambitions for the season after a fifth straight win in all competitions.

And Ipswich, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Brighton fans - what are your views after last night's matches?

Get in touch via X, WhatsApp or text using the contact details above, and remember to leave your name.

Thanks.

Here is what Ruben Amorim had to say after Manchester United's 2-0 loss at home to Newcastle:

"It is really hard, I think it is one of the worst moments in the history of our club. Another loss in front of our supporters. Newcastle were better. It was really tough."

He added: "We have to change something. This season it will be really hard on everybody. It can make us stronger and we have to fight."

The league table will certainly be a sobering sight for Manchester United fans, even on New Year's Eve.

United end 2024 in 14th place, their lowest league position at the turn of a year since 1989, when they ended in 15th, eventually finishing 13th.

Manager Ruben Amorim's warning that the club was in a relegation battle may seem far fetched at this point, but four teams who were 14th at the turn of a year have been relegated from the Premier League - Newcastle in 2008-09, Burnley in 2009-10, Norwich in 2013-14 and Leeds in 2022-23.

And United are certainly showing relegation form - they lost six games in all competitions in December, only the third month in their history which they have lost that many. They also conceded 18 goals in December, their most in a month since March 1964 (also 18).

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Elsewhere, Ipswich claimed a first home win of the Premier League season with a 2-0 victory over Chelsea that left Enzo Maresca's side 10 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool having played a game more.

And Brighton salvaged a point at Aston Villa with a late Tariq Lamptey equaliser but remain seven games without a win.

Full reports and reaction from all three games coming up, but here is a look at the latest league table...

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim was left to fend off questions about relegation as he pondered a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions and third straight loss at home.

Asked by BBC Sport if United were in a battle to avoid the drop, Amorim said: "I think that it is a possibility. We have to be clear with our fans."

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Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter at Old Trafford

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Newcastle beat Manchester United in a league game at Old Trafford for only the second time since 1972 - and condemned their hosts to a third straight home loss for the first time in 45 years.

And not since Sir Matt Busby's days, in September 1962, have Manchester United lost five times in the league in a calendar month.

Early goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton gave Eddie Howe's men a thoroughly deserved victory that left them fifth in an impressive end to 2024.

Newcastle have won their past four Premier League games, with the excellent Isak taking his tally to 12 and his recent strike rate to eight in six games, with six in successive games.

In contrast, the home side - who last lost three successive home league games in 1979 - were abysmal.

• Read Simon Stone's full match report.

Jimmy Greaves used to say that football was a "funny old game".

Well there was only one team laughing at Old Trafford last night...

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