Premier League champions dig deep to rescue a point in thrilling 3-3 draw with Newcastle
Intensity? Check. Quality? Check. Brilliant entertainment? Check.
Newcastle United and Manchester City played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at St James’ Park on Sunday – and it was about as good as Premier League football can get.
Eddie Howe’s new-look side were superb as they raced to a deserved 3-1 lead with a brave and breathless performance and goals from Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier, the latter player striking a phenomenal free-kick.
City, who had been ahead early through Ilkay Gundogan’s instinctual strike, looked beaten until a late, Erling Haaland-led turnaround. He cut the deficit to one before Bernardo Silva’s equaliser four minutes later.
Trippier’s high tackle on Kevin De Bruyne earned him a red card, only for it to be controversially overturned by VAR.
Fabulous entertainment from the first minute to the last, this was a game that people will remember for a long time.
Getty ImagesThe Winners
Erling Haaland:
He was brought in to the club to finish off chances, but this was Haaland leading from the front and driving City forward when they were struggling for a response. He's more than a poacher.
The Norwegian striker was looking dangerous even when City were trailing, setting up a good chance for Kevin De Bruyne with his strength and vision before Nick Pope brilliantly tipped a low shot onto the post from a chance that he created himself.
Instinctively he was in the right place to snatch a goal that gave City hope and, after a week questioning why he wasn’t involved enough, this was Haaland front and centre making a huge impact.
Miguel Almiron:
Why the Newcastle midfielder was brought up in the City parade was bizarre, and the question has even greater weight after he took out his revenge at St James’ Park.
In the midst of the champions’ bus parade around Manchester following the dramatic last-day victory over Aston Villa, Jack Grealish commented that Riyad Mahrez was substituted because he had “played like Almiron”.
The Paraguayan will have ringed the visit of City on his calendar, and kept a cool head to make them pay for their insult.
Premier League rivals:
With Liverpool dropping four points from their opening two games of the season, Chelsea losing at Leeds and an uncertainty that Tottenham and Arsenal can maintain a season-long title challenge, there was a fear that City could go run away with it.
But this was a game that showed City are not invincible and that with the right tactics and players, they will be pushed onto the back foot.
Newcastle’s performance was all about passion and desire. For long periods they had the champions seriously rattled and showed that City are beatable on their own terms.
AdvertisementThe Losers
Nathan Ake:
The Dutch defender has started the season in outstanding form and it will be a huge blow that he had to go off in the 21st minute with a muscle injury.
Ake has been patient for his opportunities at City with Guardiola having such a strong quartet of central defenders to choose from.
He was the only centre-back to start the opening three matches of the season, without putting a foot wrong and he has to hope the setback isn’t too serious.
Jack Grealish:
The midfielder has been determined to make an impact but was forced to miss the trip to Newcastle after suffering a knock in the defeat to Bournemouth.
On the bright side it could have been worse, but it’s still an unfortunate setback and he’s unlikely to be risked for the midweek friendly in Barcelona with competition fierce after City’s good start to the season.
“We're lucky it was just a little, little, little damage to his ligament, but not much. He feels better, but not ready for today,” Guardiola said ahead of the game.
Barcelona:
The Spanish giants continue to be linked with Bernardo Silva and may have been some encouragement that he was left out of the starting line-up for City’s two opening games of the season.
But his absence was tactical against two sides in West Ham and Bournemouth that like to pack the defence, with Ilkay Gundogan seen as a better option to make the right strategic runs.
Against a more open Newcastle, Bernardo was straight back into Guardiola’s team and he scored the equaliser in a busy performance.
Getty ImagesRatings: Defence
Ederson (6/10):
No chance with any of the goals, made a couple of decent saves to keep the score down but got caught in no man’s land when Almiron sprinted clear.
Kyle Walker (4/10):
One of his most uncomfortable afternoons in a City shirt, outstripped by Joe Willock in a footrace, bullied by Joelinton and unable to stop Saint-Maximin.
John Stones (4/10):
Look terrified every time Saint-Maximin ran at him, which was far too often, as Newcastle overloaded on the left wing. His foul led to Trippier’s free-kick strike.
Nathan Ake (7/10):
Made a strong start to the match after a strong start to the season and look gutted to be forced off midway through the first half with an injury when City were leading.
Joao Cancelo (6/10):
Was caught in two minds for the opening goal and left Almiron unmarked to score Newcastle’s equaliser but helped bring City back into the game.
Getty ImagesMidfield
Rodri (6/10):
Swamped in the first half by the hard running from Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton as he struggled to give City their usual control.
Ilkay Gundogan (7/10):
Found space intelligently for the opening goal and took up strong positions when City broke quickly and was close to adding to his tally.
Kevin De Bruyne (6/10):
Not his most influential performance although looked dangerous when he got onto the ball high up the pitch and his slide rule pass created one great opportunity for Haaland and the equaliser for Bernardo.