Manchester City headed into the game having enjoyed a perfect start to the campaign, picking up wins over West Ham and Bournemouth whilst not conceding a single goal.
As for Newcastle, they beat Nottingham Forest on the opening weekend and drew 0-0 with Brighton last time out.
So, a tightly contested affair was expected. But when all was said and done at St James’ Park, a high-scoring clash that has the potential to be one of the games of the season played out.
Manchester City took the lead after just five minutes via Ilkay Gundogan.
GUNDOGAN!! “Too easy, far too easy!” ⚡
City strike and take an early lead!! 🔵 #NEWMCI pic.twitter.com/zhu4kIk1qm
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 21, 2022
After the goal, though, Newcastle took the game to City, who were all over the place defensively. The Magpies got their reward 28 minutes in after a VAR check thanks to Miguel Almiron poking in a Saint-Maximin cross.
Newcastle kept the pressure on City after their equaliser and added a second 38 minutes in, this time via Callum Wilson.
The ‘Bury Beckham’!! WHAT A GOAL!! 🤯💥
Kieran Trippier with an UNSTOPPABLE free-kick! ⚫️⚪️ #NEWMCI pic.twitter.com/XhkldDZJIh
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 21, 2022
City eventually responded an hour in as Erling Haaland stabbed in a loose ball in the Newcastle box.
The Sky Blues then made it 3-3 after 64 minutes after Kevin Be Bruyne played a sublime pass into Bernardo Silva.
City went on to dominate the rest of the game but could not find a winner.
📰 Table Of Contents
Newcastle player ratings
Nick Pope (7.5) – Made countless quality saves throughout the match.
Kieran Trippier (6.5) – Poor tracking of Gundogan for the first goal. Superb free-kick for Newcastle’s third. Lucky not to be sent off for a lunge on KDB.
Fabian Schar (5) – Struggled to deal with Haaland.
Sven Botman (5) – Was not great at tracking Haaland.
Dan Burn (5) – Had a tough time marking Bernardo Silva.
Joe Willock (5) – A decent showing but his tracking of De Bruyne wasn’t great. Off after 70 minutes.
Bruno Guimaraes (5.5) – Passing was decent but nothing to write home about.
Joelinton (7) – Could have closed Silva down quicker before his assist for Gundogan. Was excellent apart from that.
Miguel Almiron (7) – Poked in the Newcastle equaliser and made a few more good runs that caused City issues.
Callum Wilson (6.5) – Great first touch and then finish for his goal.
Allan Saint-Maximin (9) – Caused Kyle Walker issues throughout the match and was unlucky he did not score 22 minutes in. Got the assist for the Newcastle equaliser and for their second goal. Was unplayable at times.
Substitutes
Chris Wood (3) – Had little impact up top.
Sean Longstaff (3) – Struggled to deal with Man City’s midfield.
Jacob Murphy (N/A)
Matt Ritchie (N/A)
Emile Krafth (N/A)
Manchester City player ratings
Ederson (4) – Great save to deny Saint-Maximin. Questionable decision to run out of his box 37 minutes in which nearly handed Newcastle a second.
Kyle Walker (2) – Spent 90 minutes being run ragged by Saint-Maximin.
John Stones (3) – Really struggled to deal with ASM. Hard to see him maintaining his spot next week if Aymeric Laporte or Ake are fit.
Nathan Ake (5) – Made an excellent interception to deny a likely Newcastle goal after 13 minutes. Forced off a few minutes later due to injury.
Joao Cancelo (5) – Poor tracking of Almiron for his goal but made a good block to cover for Ederson who was miles off his line shortly after that.
Rodri (5) – Very sloppy opening to the game, giving the ball away several times. Got the assist for Haaland’s goal.
Ilkay Gundogan (5.5) – Clever run into the box for his goal.
Kevin De Bruyne (7) – His passing ability was on full show yet again, setting up Haaland who should have scored and Silva who did.
Bernardo Silva (7) – Excellent cross to set up Gundogan for the opener and scored City’s third.
Phil Foden (5) – Should have squared the ball to Haaland for a likely goal 15 minutes in.
Erling Haaland (6.5) – Nearly had an assist early on but Pope saved well vs KDB. Denied a goal by Pope 51 minutes in. Got his goal on the hour but missed a one on one just minutes later. Big miss after 76 minutes.
Substitutes
Ruben Dias (4) – Should have done better with the Saint-Maximin cross for Almiron’s goal and for the Wilson goal.
Fan reaction
Kyle Walker getting Cooked by a French Skhwama sa Mantariana 😭#NEWMCI pic.twitter.com/xOXq3D932B
— Watch The Throne (@Ntebogeng___) August 21, 2022
ASM is a baller, @ChelseaFC get him to the bridge ‼️
— Asha (@_3shak) August 21, 2022
If the rest of the premier league can show some balls like Newcastle have, you’ll find that even Manchester City are vulnerable
— 💊 (@Trentslegacy) August 21, 2022
Remember The Name
Kevin De Bruyne❤️
One of the most complete midfielders of all times.#Newcastlevsmancity pic.twitter.com/X1KRzZcahS— 𝖄ᥲsһᥲr𝗍һ 𝖀⍴ᥲძһᥡᥲᥡ (@jeene_bhi_de) August 21, 2022
Expert view
Newcastle are out playing Manchester City. Incredible so far.
— DaveOCKOP (@DaveOCKOP) August 21, 2022
Nightmare start from #NUFC who were rocking for a minute or two, but damn what a recovery. Howe repeatedly called for them to stay up the pitch when they crossed the halfway line and they’ve taken the game to City, putting them under pressure and forcing chances.
— George Caulkin (@GeorgeCaulkin) August 21, 2022
Absolutely stunning freekick by @trippier2. Gorgeous!
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 21, 2022
Allan Saint-Maximin in the first half vs. Man City:
100% cross accuracy
21 touches
4 chances created
4x possession won
3 duels won
3 touches in opp. box
2 crosses
2 take-ons
2 big chances created
2 assistsThey just can’t handle him. 💪 pic.twitter.com/6AcPGW8Lwe
— Squawka (@Squawka) August 21, 2022
Allan Saint-Maximin is always worth his quieter games (and inconsistencies) when he is capable of producing a 45 minutes like that. Arguably #mcfc one of the the 3/4 best sides in Europe and he’s torn their defence apart.
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) August 21, 2022
Kevin De Bruyne has been directly involved in 9 goals in his last 6 Premier League games:
⚽⚽⚽⚽ vs. Wolves
❌ vs. West Ham
🅰️ vs. Aston Villa
🅰️ vs. West Ham
⚽🅰️vs. Bournemouth
🅰️ vs. NewcastleHe is inevitable. 👌 pic.twitter.com/HCT0UiR0d1
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) August 21, 2022
