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Manchester City rescued a point away to Newcastle United at St James' Park.
Sunday afternoon’s game began with an early goal for Manchester City thanks to Ilkay Gundogan linking up with Bernardo Silva. The latter sent in a wonderful ball to the German and City’s new captain took it under control and finished with confidence.
The game soon turned end to end with chances for both sides. Kevin De Bruyne stung Pope’s hands with a well struck free-kick before Ederson saved from Allan Saint-Maximin.
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Newcastle levelled through Miguel Almiron from close range after the Paraguayan was found to be onside following a VAR check.
The home side then took a shock lead through Callum Wilson, rewarding their pressure on City’s goal. John Stones backtracked but was unable to stop Saint-Maximin from playing in Wilson to tap home.
The second half began the same as the first ended with heavy pressure from the Newcastle attack on City’s backline. The Magpies won a free-kick in a shooting position after John Stones’ cynical challenge.
Kieran Trippier smashed the ball into the top left corner of Ederson’s goal to give Newcastle a third goal.
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City did then wake up and halved the deficit thanks to a smash and grab goal from their new striker Erling Haaland.
A true poacher’s goal, the Norwegian renewed hope for the reigning Premier League champions.
The comeback was fully on minutes later when De Bruyne provided an audacious assist, nutmegging Joe Willock, to assist Silva and level the scores at St. James’.
The drama continued as Newcastle’s captain and third goal scorer, Trippier, was initially sent off for a cynical challenge on De Bruyne which was high on the Belgian’s knee. This was then reversed to a yellow card following a VAR check.
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City could not find a late winner despite heavy pressure, leaving the Premier League champions to drop points for the first time this season.
Given what the score was early in the second half though, Pep Guardiola’s side will be happy that not all three points were dropped on Tyneside.
The result puts the Premier League champions in second position in the table behind leaders Arsenal who remain the only side to win all of their matches. City are next in action in a midweek friendly with Barcelona at the Nou Camp this Wednesday night.
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Here's how we rated the players from Manchester City's contest with Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon!
Ederson- 6
He conceded the opener from Almiron but could do very little about the goal given how close range the attempt was. Poor from him on the second goal with a very late reaction to the shot. Trippier’s free-kick goal was wonderfully hit and the Brazilian could do very little to deny the England international from grabbing Newcastle's third. Despite conceding three goals, it is arguable that only the second was poor from the keeper.
Kyle Walker- 5
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Looked well off the pace today. This was capitalised by a poor pass back to Ederson on the stroke of half-time, leading to the ball going out for a corner. Walker continued to make mistakes and rash challenges until City started to get back into the game.
John Stones- 5.5
Starting his first match of the season and his lack of game time showed much to City’s detriment. He was weak for Wilson’s goal, backtracking but failing to put a challenge in on the Newcastle attack.
In the second half, he cynically chopped down Saint-Maximin, gaining a reckless yellow card to add to his troubles. This led to Trippier’s free kick goal which wounded City severely.
Nathan Ake- 6.5
Had to go off early with an injury but looked his usual imperious beat up until then. He acrobatically defended a Newcastle attack too albeit that it was called offside moments later.
Joao Cancelo- 6
Poor from the whole defence to concede three goals today. Cancelo was not at the heart of the errors but the whole defence looked out of sorts to allow for Newcastle to take a large lead over the Premier League Champions. The fullback’s attacking prowess was needed though as City went in search of a dramatic comeback.
Rodri- 6.5
A couple of passes astray did not help City’s mentality as they looked to recover from the deficit. He soon got these nerves under his belt to help City regain their commanding playing style, allowing the attackers to go up the other end and score the much-needed goals.
Ilkay Gundogan- 7.5
On the scoresheet for back to back weeks, City’s new captain is showing revitalised signs of his iconic 2020/21 form which led the Citizens to the title. The rest of his match was decent but never looked as electric as he did in the opening 10 minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne- 8.5
Looked his lively self all game and tested Pope with a brilliantly struck first half free-kick. Turned up when City needed him grabbing the assist for Silva’s dramatic equaliser and then every single attack went through the Belgian after this as the Citizens went in search of a winner.
Phil Foden- 6.5
Just like last week, the England winger failed to square the ball to Haaland. This lack of passing to their new number 9 needs to be addressed by Guardiola. He was quiet in the second half until the final 15 minutes and then gave it his all to get City a positive result.
Bernardo Silva- 8.5 (MOTM)
Now that the Barcelona rumours have been put to bed for at least another season, Silva was afforded his first start of the season. The media talk has not fazed him as he had himself an assist inside the opening minutes following a wonderful pass to Gundogan for the game’s opener. A well taken goal from the Portuguese midfielder levelled the score for City having earlier trailed by two goals.
Erling Haaland- 8
After a relatively quiet first half, the Norwegian strook the post after a dicy run into the Newcastle backline. He then smashed City's second goal of the day past Pope with a brilliant poacher’s goal. Minutes later he looked to be on the verge of getting a second goal after being one-on-one with the goalkeeper but City’s striker lost the duel.
Substitutes:
Ruben Dias- 6
Had to come on early in the first half due to an injury to Ake. Looked uncomfortable like the rest of the defence as Newcastle smashed goal after goal past the City defence. He, like a couple of others on the team, critically regained composure when City needed it most, calming his defence down as things were starting to get out of hand.
Featured Image Credit: PA Images / AlamyTopics: Manchester City, Newcastle United, Premier League