Omar Marmoush’s first-half hat trick drove Manchester City to a very comfortable 3-0 win over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
WATCH – Manchester City vs Newcastle United full match replay
The hosts ran the midfield with ease as new boy Nico Gonzalez impressed against a Magpies unit missing Joelinton and mojo — Newcastle haven’t won a Premier League game at City in two decades,
City megastar Erling Haaland appeared to suffer a late knee injury but walked off and finished the game on the bench with teammates.
New signings lead City’s nearly-perfect blowout win
Manchester City looked like Manchester City, a welcome sight especially against a top opponent in a four-star demolition. It would be all desserts and drinks for the City faithful were it not for Erling Haaland’s late knee scare but he walked off the pitch for his substitution in no apparent distress to at least grant the illusion of safety on a great day at the Etihad. Omar Marmoush scored three very different and aesthetically-pleasing goals, while Nico Gonzalez was very, very good in the center of the park and Abdukhodir Khusanov showed no signs of the jitters that plagued his City debut. There’s a limitless ceiling on Guardiola’s City when they City play this well, and they’ll need that form with Real Madrid and a rested Liverpool up next, back-to-back.
Manchester City vs Newcastle United player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Manchester City vs Newcastle United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Manchester City vs Newcastle United player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Man City are off to Real Madrid for a Wednesday second leg in the UEFA Champions League. They host Liverpool in the Premier League at 9am ET Sunday Feb. 22
Newcastle host Nottingham Forest at 9am the same day, then go to Liverpool three days later.
How to watch Manchester City vs Newcastle live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: Etihad Stadium — Manchester
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Manchester City vs Newcastle final score: 4-0
Omar Marmoush 19', 24', 33', James McAtee 84'
Manchester City vs Newcastle live updates
James McAtee goal — Man City 4-0 Newcastle (84th minute)
Erling Haaland flicks a corner to the back post and local boy James McAtee cleans it up at the back post.
City subs
Phil Foden and hat trick hero Marmoush are off, with James McAtee and Jeremy Doku taken their places.
As of now, City will be able to completely rest Kevin De Bruyne, Mateo Kovacic, and Bernardo Silva.
3-0, 76'.
Two more subs as game remains settled
There have been a few moments here or there including a Lewis Miley shot saved by Ederson, but it’s stayed mostly settled in Manchester.
Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon exit for Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson. About 20 minutes to go.
Triple sub for Newcastle
Lewis Miley and Tino Livramento enter for Joe Willock and Kieran Trippier.
Not a big surprise, as Trippier was at the center of Marmoush’s first two goals and Willock needs to be sacrificed for a more physical presence in the midfield.
Halftime — Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle United
If we’re honest there could’ve been 5-6 goals in this half, so City will happily take the 3-0.
It’s especially nice because City will be able to rotate and rest players ahead of the UEFA Champions League second leg with Real Madrid on Wednesday.
That said, Newcastle have come back from 3-0 against this opponent before...
Omar Marmoush hat trick! Man City 3-0 Newcastle (33rd minute)
It’s a 14th-minute hat trick and this is the easiest goal of the bunch as the ball is rolled centrally for a point-blank finish. The Egyptian just needed to choose and aim.
John Stones saves City
Alexander Isak is 1v1 with Stones on the right edge of the box, and it takes a John Stones slide to affect the Swede’s shot at goal and limit the damage to a corner. Ederson punches the initial service away and it stays 2-0 to the hosts.
Omar Marmoush goal — Man City 2-0 Newcastle (24th minute)
Marmoush again. He has the beating of a sliding Trippier and it’s a clever, powerful strike.
Omar Marmoush goal — Man City 1-0 Newcastle (19th minute)
A long ball from Ederson is too tall for Trippier, and Dubravka is forced way out of the goal.
Marmoush lobs him for a pretty first Premier League goal.
City look lively
Dan Burn and Fabian Schar have already been called upon for crucial interventions, and Erling Haaland is drifting all over the attack in his hunt for space.
0-0, 7'.
Manchester City lineup
Ederson, Lewis, Khusanov, Stones, Gvardiol, Nico, Gundogan, Foden, Marmoush, Savinho, Haaland
Newcastle lineup
Dubravka, Hall, Burn, Schar, Trippier, Tonali, Guimaraes, Willock, Gordon, Murphy, Isak
Manchester City vs Newcastle preview
The reigning champions blew 1-0 and 2-1 leads to Real Madrid in their UEFA Champions League playoff first leg at the Etihad Stadium, leaving manager Pep Guardiola to ruing “bad decisions” and John Stones in a state of “anger and frustration” (They sure do send Stones out after the rough outings).
Saturday’s match is also City’s first in the Premier League since their second-half implosion in a four-goal loss at Arsenal, the team Newcastle dismissed from the League Cup semifinal stage last time out.
It hasn’t been as rosy for the Magpies in the league, where they’ve lost consecutive home games to Bournemouth and Fulham sandwiched around a win at Southampton.
Newcastle is at risk of throwing away a prime chance to finish in the top four, now level on points with fifth-place Man City and two points behind Chelsea. The Magpies drew City at St. James’ Park earlier this season.
Manchester City team news, focus
OUT: Rodri (torn ACL - MORE) | QUESTIONABLE: Jack Grealish (groin), Manuel Akanji (muscular)
Newcastle United team news, focus
OUT: Harvey Barnes (thigh), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Joelinton (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Sven Botman (knee), Dan Burn (groin), Anthony Gordon (thigh)
Manchester City vs Newcastle prediction
Man City need this just as much as the visitors, but Newcastle is very well-rested after rotating their team for the FA Cup fourth round visit to Birmingham City. There’s a chance for chaos in this one, and maybe we’re due for a true split between these two sides. Man City 2-2 Newcastle.
