Manchester City 4, Newcastle United 0
Omar Marmoush scored his first senior hat trick as Manchester City thrashed a passive Newcastle United to go fourth.
But they may be sweating over the fitness of Erling Haaland for next week’s Champions League showdown with Read Madrid after the Norwegian went down with a knee injury late in the game.
Three points moved the Blues back into fourth place, a point clear of Bournemouth and Chelsea in 5th and 6th as City left the Magpies in 7th on 41 points.
City might have been at a low ebb after the midweek late defeat to Real Madrid but the visitors were generous and did not choose to overcommit themselves at the Etihad until much later in the game.
But perhaps there was a reason for this as City broke the deadlock when Ederson spotted a gap and fired the ball into unoccupied Newcastle defence with Omar Marmoush all too happy to race onto it, lifting the ball over Martin Dubravka after Keiran Trippier was deceived by the bounce to open his account for City.
The Etihad duly erupted and 5 minutes later the Egyptian was scoring his second goal when Ilkay Gundogan’s through ball released him.
And the hat trick was complete after 33 minutes when Savinho cut the ball back from the right and Marmoush picked his spot from 12 yards out to complete the first senior hat trick of his career.
Marmoush was always on the move, and got on the end of another big Ederson punt in the second half only to be upended by Dan Burn to win a free kick.
At this point thoughts might have turned towards a Newcastle comeback or some sort of mental weakness to allow the Magpies back into the game but City were buoyed by a steady midfield performance by Nico Gonzalez.
And they made the game as safe as City can expect this season when James McAtee escaped his marker and tapped in City’s fourth of the day when Ilkay Gundogan’s corner was flicked on by Haaland.
Haaland had to come off shortly after this as he landed awkwardly and indicated a knee issue which could be a blow ahead of the crucial return leg against Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 4, Newcastle United 0
Ederson: 7. Nervous start and put under pressure for some clearances but will have calmed nerves with a cool punt up to Omar Marmoush to open the scoring. It was the third assist of the season – and sixth assist of his Premier League career – the most of any goalkeeper. Good save from Lewis Miley to keep clean sheet intact.
Rico Lewis: 6. Under the microscope but acquitted himself well. Headed away the danger during one Newcastle attack but always worried about the pace of Anthony Gordon.
Abdudokir Khusanov: 7. Did well in a duel to stall the Newcastle attack when Alexander Isak had the ball. Also helped Rico Lewis with Anthony Gordon. Gave away a late free kick to Pep Guardiola’s dismay but City survived.
John Stones: 8. Last line of defence. Big block to deflect Alexander Isak’s shot after Newcastle found a gap and helped Rico Lewis deal with Joe Willock. Clearance from Jacob Murphy prevented a cross going into the area.
Josko Gvardiol: 7. Had to do some agricultural defending at times, pushed up high and wide on the left as Omar Marmoush drifted inside.
Nico Gonzalez: 7. Won the ball tidily in midfield and recycled it. Helped by Ilkay Gundogan when he wasn’t raiding forward but his presence made City look a lot more stable on the ball and less likely to cough up chances. Big cheer late in the game when he shielded the loose ball from Tino Livramento to prevent Newcastle from getting clear on the break.
Phil Foden: 7. Almost got on the end of a Haaland cross. Buzzed around midfield and one great through ball for Erling Haaland had just a bit too much on it.
Ilkay Gundogan: 7. Initially sat back to help Nico Gonzalez but wandered into attacking positions and supplied the ball for Omar Marmoush to get his second goal.
Omar Marmoush: 9. Advanced midfield role, pressed well. Blazed over after he found himself with time to pick his spot from a wide position but after his sighter he went into overdrive and bagged his hat trick. Continued causing problems to the Newcastle right flank into the second half.
Savinho: 8. Stayed wide on the right to target Lewis Hall. Eyecatching dribble when he did come inside but Hall denied him a chance to shoot. Had a shot saved by Martin Dubravka when City were on top and then cut the ball back for Omar Marmoush to complete his hat trick. Late shot deflected for a corner.
Erling Haaland: 7. Worried the Newcastle defence with his runs and drew defenders to him to give space to Omar Marmoush to run into. Ball didn’t fall kindly when he was looking to head past Martin Dubravka. Almost set up Phil Foden with the left wing cross into the box. Firm header straight at Martin Dubravka in the second half. His flick on set up the fourth goal before he went off having jarred his knee.
Jeremy Doku (on for Omar Marmoush, 76): No time to mark
James McAtee (on for Phil Foden, 76): No time to mark
Nico O’Reilly (on for Josko Gvardiol, 88): No time to mark
Matheus Nunes (on for Erling Haaland, 88): No time to mark
Mateo Kovacic (on for Ilky Gundogan, 88): No time to mark
TEAM NEWS – Manchester City 4, Newcastle United 0
Injuries took their toll on the Man City side to face Newcastle Utd. Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Ruben Dias, and Oscar Bobb were not named in the squad. Abdudokir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez, and Omar Marmoush started. Erling Haaland was named captain.
GOALS – Manchester City 4, Newcastle United 0
Man City 1, Newcastle Utd 0: 19. Omar Marmoush has his City goal – a delightful chip over Martin Dubravka after getting on the end of a massive punt forward by Ederson – the bounce deceived Kieran Tripper allowing the Egyptian to pick his spot.
Man City 2, Newcastle Utd 0: 24. Omar Marmoush raced onto a through ball by Ilkay Gundogan and slotted inside the near post.
Man City 3, Newcastle Utd 0: 33. Savinho cut the ball back from the right and Marmoush picked his spot from 12 yards out to complete the first senior hat trick of his career.
Man City 4, Newcastle Utd 0: 84. James McAtee slipped Lewis Hall’s marking and volleyed in City’s fourth after getting on the end of Erling Haaland’s flick on from Ilkay Gundogan’s corner.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 4, Newcastle United 0
Man City: Ederson, Lewis, Khusanov, Stones, Gvardiol (O’Reilly 88), Gonzalez, Foden (McAtee 76), Gundogan (Kovacic 88), Marmoush (Doku 76), Savinho, Haaland (C) (Nunes 88)
Man City Subs not used: Ortega, De Bruyne, Silva, Reis
Goals: Marmoush 19, 24, 33; McAtee 84
Newcastle Utd: Dubravka, Trippier (Livramento 46), Schar, Burn, Hall, Guimaraes (C) (S Longstaff 73), Tonali, J Willock (Miley 46), Murphy, Gordon (Wilson 73), Isak (Krafth 90)
Newcastle Utd Subs not used: Pope, Barnes, Targett, Osula
Bookings: Guimaraes 49 (foul on Savinho)
Referee: Andy Madley