Manchester City twice came from behind to win a Premier League classic against Newcastle in their first game since being confirmed as Premier League champions.
Ferran Torres registered a hat-trick for City and his superb backheeled finish was the highlight of a remarkable game that swung back and forth.
Pep Guardiola, who surprisingly selected Scott Carson in goal – almost a decade on from his last English top-flight game – saw his City side dominate early on but fall behind to Emil Krafth’s powerful header from Jonjo Shelvey’s corner.
Joao Cancelo equalised with a deflected effort into the bottom right corner and when Torres expertly turned home Ilkay Gundogan’s free-kick 185 seconds later it looked as though the visitors could cut loose.
But Steve Bruce, who had called upon his Newcastle side to go toe-to-toe with the champions will have been delighted by the character his players displayed.
While they were forced to soak up considerable pressure, they levelled when City defender Nathan Ake was deemed to have fouled Joelinton, allowing the Brazilian to score from the penalty spot.
A poorly judged tackle by City full-back Kyle Walker handed the Magpies a second penalty just after the hour mark, with Joe Willock following-up to score after Carson had saved his initial spot-kick.
However, Torres and City struck back, with the Spaniard finding the top right corner from Gabriel Jesus’ delivery and becoming the youngest player to score a league hat-trick for a Guardiola team, when turning in a Cancelo shot that came back off the Newcastle post.
It rounded off a captivating encounter and brought up another milestone for Guardiola’s side, who set a new league record with their 12th consecutive victory away from home.
Newcastle step up in class
Bruce’s side delivered a wonderful performance in their win at Leicester a week ago, playing against the newly crowned champions represented another step or two up in class.
And if the complement of players at Guardiola’s disposal was not already a concern, their task was made significantly harder by the absence of the injured Callum Wilson.
Newcastle had not won any of the nine matches in which their England forward has missed this season but the manner in which they pushed a City side that has cantered away at the top of the table so close, offers plenty of encouragement.
Willock, Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin in particular, caused City’s defence problems throughout.
The on-loan Arsenal player surprised Raheem Sterling with this pace in the first half and his acceleration caught Walker out to give the Magpies their second penalty of the evening.
While City’s class eventually told, it was not before they had been put under severe pressure from a side that a few weeks previous were in the relegation conversation.
More to follow.
Player of the match
TorresFerran Torres
Newcastle United
Squad number28Player nameWillock
Squad number10Player nameSaint-Maximin
Squad number9Player nameJoelinton
Squad number11Player nameRitchie
Squad number24Player nameAlmirón
Squad number17Player nameKrafth
Squad number3Player nameDummett
Squad number23Player nameMurphy
Squad number8Player nameShelvey
Squad number1Player nameDubravka
Squad number18Player nameFernández
Squad number36Player nameS Longstaff
Squad number15Player nameLewis
Squad number12Player nameGayle
Line-ups
Newcastle
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Dubravka
- 23Murphy
- 17Krafth
- 18FernándezSubstituted forGayleat 88′minutes
- 3Dummett
- 11RitchieBooked at 36minsSubstituted forS Longstaffat 84′minutes
- 28Willock
- 8ShelveyBooked at 59mins
- 24Almirón
- 10Saint-Maximin
- 9JoelintonSubstituted forLewisat 84′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Clark
- 4M Longstaff
- 7Carroll
- 12Gayle
- 15Lewis
- 16Hendrick
- 19Manquillo
- 29Gillespie
- 36S Longstaff
Man City
Formation 4-3-3
- 33Carson
- 2Walker
- 50GarcÃa
- 6Aké
- 27CanceloBooked at 56minsSubstituted forMendyat 74′minutes
- 20Bernardo Silva
- 16RodriBooked at 44mins
- 8Gündogan
- 21Torres
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 7Sterling
Substitutes
- 3Rúben Dias
- 5Stones
- 13Steffen
- 14Laporte
- 22Mendy
- 25Fernandinho
- 26Mahrez
- 47Foden
- 80Palmer
Live Text
Match ends, Newcastle United 3, Manchester City 4.
Second Half ends, Newcastle United 3, Manchester City 4.
Attempt missed. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Rodrigo.
Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City).
Joseph Willock (Newcastle United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Paul Dummett.
Attempt blocked. Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Bernardo Silva.
Hand ball by Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United).
Attempt blocked. Ferran Torres (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Sean Longstaff (Newcastle United).
Substitution, Newcastle United. Dwight Gayle replaces Federico Fernández.
Ferran Torres (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jacob Murphy (Newcastle United).
Substitution, Newcastle United. Jamal Lewis replaces Joelinton.
Substitution, Newcastle United. Sean Longstaff replaces Matt Ritchie.
Foul by Rodrigo (Manchester City).
Miguel Almirón (Newcastle United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.
Substitution, Manchester City. Benjamin Mendy replaces João Cancelo.
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