MANCHESTER CITY DEFEAT NEWCASTLE TO CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN THEM AND THE LEAGUE LEADERS ARSENAL

Manchester City came into this game hoping to get the three points to reduce the gap between them and league leaders Arsenal to two points. The last time these two sides met they shared the points. Manchester City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Ederson was in goal, Rúben Dias and Manuel Akanji were in defence and the unstoppable Erling Haaland led the attack.

The match was Newcastle’s first match since they were defeated in the league Cup final in Wembley last weekend, Newcastle needed a win to close the gap between them and fourth-place Spurs. Eddie Howe lined his side up in a 4-3-3 formation, Nick Pope started in goal, he was back after missing the league Cup final due to suspension, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles started in defence, England international Kieran Trippier started in right back, Bruno Guimaraes started in midfield and Callum Wilson led the attack.

Manchester City started on the front foot and didn’t have to wait to long to break the deadlock as it came fifteen minutes into the game, Phil Foden gave Mancity the lead he was assisted by Rodri, Newcastle almost equalised two minutes later but Sean Longstaff's shot was blocked. Haaland almost doubled Manchester City‘s lead in the 34th minute but the header went wide. Callum Wilson should have drawn Newcastle level but he played his shot wide. City kept attacking but couldn’t double their lead the first half ended with Mancity in Infront, Manchester City controlled the first half, they had the majority of the ball.

Manchester City continued their dominance in the second half, City’s first shot of the second half was in the 53rd minute, Jack Grealish shot the ball from outside the box but his shot went wide, Manchester City kept attacking and it finally paid off in the 67th minute as they doubled their lead, Bernardo Silva shot the ball from the centre of the box to the right corner, he was assisted by Haaland.

Newcastle tried finding a way back into the game but couldn’t pass the rigid City defence. Foden almost got his second of the game but was denied by Pope in the 86th minute, Trippier almost scored a beautiful goal late into stoppage time but his shot was denied by Ederson.

The game took Manchester City two points behind league leaders Arsenal and meant Ederson reached a landmark of 100 clean sheets in the Premier League, a remarkable achievement for the Brazilian.

Newcastle is four points behind fourth-place Spurs and will need to get back to winning ways in their next game to keep their UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE dream alive.

📸 via The Guardian