Manchester City delivered a champion’s performance to swat aside a faltering Newcastle United side thanks to goals from Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva on either side of half-time.
Having posted just one win in their previous seven games, Newcastle needed a positive result to restore confidence in their European ambitions.
However, fresh off the back of a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup, the Magpies had no time to lick their wounds before facing the daunting task of taking on the reigning champions at the Etihad Stadium.
Newcastle had lost 13 consecutive matches at the Etihad, and early signs suggested it would be another long afternoon for Eddie Howe’s side.
As expected, City started on the front foot and nearly opened the scoring within minutes of kickoff when Jack Grealish’s cross was headed inches over the crossbar by İlkay Gundogan.
After the early scare, Newcastle grew into the game. But their conservative approach gave Foden space to dart past four defenders to unleash a deflected strike past Nick Pope – the Englishman’s fourth goal in three consecutive matches.
City controlled possession, but Newcastle looked dangerous on the counter. Callum Wilson had a golden opportunity to restore parity from Kieran Trippier’s knockdown, but the striker fluffed his lines and the chance went begging.
Newcastle piled forward, looking for an equaliser. But their bravery soon sealed their demise as City took advantage when the league’s top scorer Erling Braut Haaland cut back for Silva to fire past Pope, establishing a two-goal lead for the Cityzens.
Newcastle stood no chance of a comeback as City saw the game out in the closing stages. Goalkeeper Ederson claimed his 100th Premier League clean sheet, becoming the fastest player to reach that feat in the competition’s history.
Victory for City, which handed Newcastle back-to-back league defeats for the first time since May last year, puts pressure on league leaders Arsenal after reducing the gap to two points.
Meanwhile, defeat for Newcastle means they are in serious danger of being left behind in the top-four race. They have now posted just one win in their last eight games.
