Manchester City 4 Newcastle United 0: match report

New signings impress with Marmoush hat trick as City hit Newcastle for four

After Champions League disappointment midweek, Manchester City welcomed Newcastle United to the Etihad in what was 5th vs 6th in the Premier League. City had the opportunity to go fourth with a win. It was a much different team to the one fielded on Tuesday night. Ederson kept his place between the sticks. Khusanov and Stones were the centre halves with Lewis and Gvardiol the full backs. Nico Gonzales was back in the starting XI in his home Premier League debut alongside Ilkay Gundogan in midfield. Savio, Foden, and Marmoush were the attacking midfielders with Haaland the striker.

In general, City looked much more controlled this match. Nico Gonzales was everywhere on the pitch and a major presence, something City had missed greatly when Rodri initially got injured. City’s first attacking chance came around the 10th minute mark, a near range shot that was blazed over the bar by Marmoush. In the 19th minute, City would take the lead from a first goal for Marmoush after a ball up the field fell to the Egyptian who chipped the ball over Dubravka to make it 1-0 to the Blues. An excellent way to register his first goal for City. There were no signs of stopping for City and Marmoush either, just five minutes later, a ball from Gundogan found Marmoush again, who’s shot took a deflection of Dan Burn to double City’s lead and give the Egyptian a brace in just five minutes. Newcastle threatened moment’s later after a mistake from Gvardiol had Isak practically through on goal. Surely it should’ve been 2-1 but Isak’s shot was marginally saved by Ederson.

In the 32nd minute, City were in once again. Savio made an excellent run into the box and knocked the ball to Marmoush who had the ball in the back of the net to make it 3-0 to City and give him his first ever career hat trick. It had been some game for him to score his first goal, let alone three.

The score remained 3-0 at half time and it had been a very impressive performance from the Blues, perhaps their most impressive this season. They looked strong in most areas, in attack with Marmoush and the presence of Gonzales in midfield. The defence had performed well when needed but it has to be said Newcastle very rarely provided any threat if anything while this might have been a well needed strong City performance it was also a very underwhelming one from the Magpies.

The second half for the most part was quite underwhelming, Newcastle had the ball in dangerous areas for the first 10 minutes and very almost scored but the shot was saved by Ederson. Neither side ever really got out of second gear. Changes were made for City with Foden off for Mcatee and Doku on for hat trick hero Marmoush. In the 84th minute, a corner into the area came off the head of Haaland and into Mcatee who made it 4-0 to completely solidify the afternoon for City. A momentary injury scare occurred for Haaland as he seemingly collapsed holding his knee. He was subbed off following this but was seemingly walking fine and the club have made no reports of a potential injury to the striker.

City’s 4-0 win means they are 4th in the table above Bournemouth and Chelsea while Newcastle dropped to 7th. This was a well needed strong performance for the Blues who will look to use the same energy for the remainder of the season to try and salvage as much as possible. Meanwhile, Newcastle were incredibly underwhelming and will be aware that they must be far better than that if they are to head for European qualification and win the carabao cup final against Liverpool.