Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 32.
Player analysis: Jacob Murphy (Newcastle)
It is unusual for a Premier League player to enjoy a "breakthrough season" at the age of 30, but in 2024/25 it feels as if Murphy has bucked that trend.
Since the start of December, Newcastle's in-form right winger has been one of the division’s leading lights.
Murphy's first-half brace at Leicester City on Monday took his total of direct goal involvements to 14 across that period, with only Mohamed Salah (28) and team-mate Alexander Isak (19) producing more.
Manchester United, who are looking to avenge a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford earlier this season, will face a Magpies side containing multiple on-song performers.
Most PL goal involvements since December
| Player | Goal involvements |
| Mohamed Salah (LIV) | 28 |
|---|---|
| Alexander Isak (NEW) | 19 |
| Jacob Murphy (NEW) | 14 |
Stepping up to be a starter
Until this season Murphy had never started more than 17 Premier League matches in a single campaign, but his outstanding end product has convinced Eddie Howe to consistently name him on the teamsheet.
With seven matches remaining, the winger has made 23 starts and only four substitute appearances.
He has broken his previous best totals for scoring and assisting, coming up with as many direct goal involvements as he did in the two previous campaigns combined.
Murphy's season-by-season goal involvement progress
| Date | 20/21 | 21/22 | 22/23 | 23/24 | 24/25 |
| Apps | 17 (9) | 13 (19) | 14 (22) | 14 (7) | 23 (4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goals + Assists | 5 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 16 |
| Goals | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Assists | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Mins per direct goal involvement | 324.2 | 480.7 | 207.7 | 119.4 | 114.3 |
Newcastle's growth as a side has played a part in his development of course, as has the arrival of Isak, one of European football’s most lethal finishers.
Yet Murphy also deserves credit for raising his own levels to stay in Howe’s starting XI.
A special connection with Isak
Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes provide the former Norwich City and Sheffield Wednesday wide man with stiff competition, but Murphy’s understanding with Isak gives him a potential edge over both players.
Sharing an intuitive connection, no top-flight individual has created more goals for a team-mate than Murphy has for the prolific Swede this season.
Producing seven assists for Isak, he is part of one of the most productive pairings in the Premier League.
Most productive PL pairings 24/25
| Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 1 to Player 2 assists |
| Murphy | Isak (NEW) | 7 |
|---|---|---|
| Eze | Mateta (CRY) | 6 |
| Savinho | Haaland (MCI) | 5 |
| Elanga | Wood (NFO) | 4 |
| Jackson | Palmer (CHE) | 4 |
| Palmer | Madueke (CHE) | 4 |
| Robinson | Iwobi (FUL) | 4 |
| Son | Johnson (TOT) | 4 |
| Watkins | Rogers (AVL) | 4 |
How does Murphy click with Isak?
Howe encourages his right winger to stay wide, stretching the pitch out as much as possible.
Murphy is excellent at staying in space, avoiding the temptation to make forward runs too early, or to float inside when Newcastle get on to the front foot.
We saw this when he delivered a pinpoint cross for Isak to bundle home against Brentford in their last home fixture.
Murphy’s patience has been rewarded many times this season.
He has learned how to spring into life at the right time by holding back his runs, waiting for the right moments to advance.
His assists for Isak against Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur were good examples of that tactical awareness.
Murphy's assist for Isak v Villa
The Opta graphic below illustrates how similar the bulk of Murphy’s assists for their leading marksman have been.
Isak heads towards the centre of goal or far post whenever Murphy gets the ball - and is regularly picked out with accurate deliveries.
They do not look for each other all the time, but when they do so, it is usually impactful.
An impressive seven out of 14, or 50 per cent, of Murphy’s key passes have produced goals.
How else has Murphy improved his play?
Early on in his Premier League career, Murphy was not always as cool in front of goal, but this aspect of his game has improved with age and experience.
His precise finish from a well-worked corner against Leicester at St James’ Park was outstanding, as was his rasping strike in a 4-0 win at Ipswich Town.
Murphy's brace v Leicester (H)
Indeed since joining Newcastle in 2017, Murphy's 18.92 per cent conversion rate this season is his best yet.
Playing for a faster, stronger Magpies side has helped Murphy get better quality opportunities to score.
This season he has got on the end of a big chance once every two matches; a major leap from previous campaigns.
As his confidence has grown, we have seen Murphy pop up at the far post with greater regularity too, just as he did when converting his opener against the Foxes on Monday night.
Murphy's opener v Leicester (A)
When you study his numbers, Murphy is touching the ball less inside the box, as well as making fewer crosses and chances than he did in the previous two seasons.
Yet the quality of his final pass or shot, and of those around him, has improved.
Murphy's season-by-season attacking threat progress
| Statistic | 20/21 | 21/22 | 22/23 | 23/24 | 24/25 |
| Big chances | 0.06 | 0.25 | 0.29 | 0.30 | 0.49 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shots from fast breaks | 0.11 | 0.25 | 0.14 | 0.15 | 0.30 |
| Shot conversion % | 6.67 | 3.70 | 13.79 | 10.00 | 18.92 |
| Shots | 1.67 | 1.67 | 2.10 | 2.26 | 1.82 |
| Shots in box | 0.56 | 0.99 | 1.52 | 1.43 | 1.08 |
| Touches in opp. box | 1.50 | 3.82 | 5.79 | 4.15 | 3.59 |
| Chances created open-play | 0.89 | 1.11 | 1.38 | 2.04 | 1.48 |
| Succ. open-play crosses | 0.78 | 0.49 | 0.80 | 0.90 | 0.64 |
*rotate mobile device to see table in full
Man Utd have made some progress since they were outplayed by Howe’s men in late December, but Newcastle will fancy their chances of completing a win double on home soil.
Murphy will target pockets of space between left wing-back Patrick Dorgu and their left-sided centre-back on Sunday afternoon.
From those positions Ruben Amorim’s side must be watchful of Murphy hurting them, and they must never take their eyes off Isak, who will be lurking inside the box.
When Murphy picks him out with a precise pass, the ball often ends up in the back of the opposition’s net.
