Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva struck either side of HT to move Man City two points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race as the Citizens handed Newcastle United back-to-back league defeats for the first time since May 2022.
Fresh off the back of a disappointing 2-0 EFL Cup final defeat to Man United, Newcastle had no time to lick their wounds before the daunting task of facing Man City at the Etihad, where the Magpies lost 13 consecutive matches.
Early signs suggested it would be another long afternoon for Newcastle and City nearly struck in the first minute when Jack Grealish’s cross was headed inches over by İlkay Gündoğan.
After the early scare, Newcastle settled into a solid shape that helped them to concede a league-low seven goals on the road this season.
But the Magpies were perhaps too conservative and gave Foden space to dribble into the area past four defenders and strike a deflected shot past Nick Pope for a fourth goal in three matches.
Despite Citizen’s subsequent domination, Newcastle looked threatening on the counter and Callum Wilson had a glorious opportunity to fire in Kieran Trippier’s knockdown, but the striker mis-cued his effort.
Having failed to win after falling behind in the Premier League this season, Newcastle’s chances of securing a comeback victory were slim.
Eddie Howe made a triple substitution in an attempt to claw a goal back.
As Newcastle piled forward, City took advantage and showed the ruthlessness of a side on a five-match winning streak at home as Erling Haaland cut back for Silva to fire past Pope.
City managed the game expertly in the closing stages and Ederson claimed his 100th Premier League clean sheet as the Citizens sealed a second consecutive league win to keep the pressure on Arsenal.
Despite a serious top-four push in the first half of the season, Newcastle’s campaign is in danger of faltering further as Eddie Howe’s side have taken just three points from their last 15 available.
