Manchester City delivered a commanding performance against Newcastle United on Saturday, securing a resounding 4-0 victory in the Premier League. The standout performer was Omar Marmoush, whose lightning-fast hat-trick in just 14 minutes stunned the Magpies and set the tone for an emphatic win at the Etihad Stadium.
A Ruthless Display by Marmoush
While some might have expected Manchester City to hold back ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Real Madrid midweek, they instead showcased their quality and professionalism from the outset. In the first half, it was all about Marmoush, who became the hero of the hour with his clinical finishing.
The Egyptian forward opened the scoring with a clever chip over Martin Dubravka after receiving a precise through ball from goalkeeper Ederson. He then doubled and tripled City’s lead with two powerful strikes, leaving the Newcastle defense helpless. By halftime, Marmoush had completed his hat-trick, putting City in complete control of the match.
Second Half Stability
This season, City have been known for late collapses, but there was no such drama against Newcastle. Instead, they added further gloss to the scoreline late in the game when substitute James McAtee tapped in from Erling Haaland’s flick-on following a corner kick.
However, the evening wasn’t without its concerns. Haaland limped off near the end of the match after tweaking his knee, raising doubts about his fitness for the upcoming European showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu. Despite this setback, the victory propels City above Chelsea into fourth place in the Premier League table, thanks to Brighton’s earlier win over the Blues.
Player Ratings: Manchester City (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Ederson – 8.4/10
Showcased excellent vision and passing ability while making key saves when needed. - RB: Rico Lewis – 7.3/10
Solid defensively and provided good support going forward. - CB: Abdukodir Khusanov – 7.4/10
Calm under pressure and reliable in defensive duties. - CB: John Stones – 7.4/10
Dominant in the air and composed in possession. - LB: Josko Gvardiol – 7.5/10
Outstanding defensively and contributed well offensively. - DM: Nico González – 7.5/10
Anchored the midfield effectively and distributed the ball intelligently. - DM: Ilkay Gündogan – 8.0/10
Controlled the tempo and created numerous chances for his teammates. - RW: Savinho – 7.9/10
Energetic and dangerous throughout, constantly troubling the Newcastle defense. - AM: Phil Foden – 7.3/10
Played a supporting role and worked tirelessly for the team. - LW: Omar Marmoush – 9.6/10 (Player of the Match)
An unforgettable performance; his hat-trick within 14 minutes defined the match. - ST: Erling Haaland – 7.5/10
Contributed indirectly with an assist before being substituted due to injury concerns.
Subs:
- James McAtee (for Foden, 76′) – 7.3/10
Added a fourth goal with a cool finish. - Jeremy Doku (for Marmoush, 76′) – 6.1/10
Brought fresh energy but lacked impact. - Mateo Kovacic (for Gündogan, 87′), Nico O’Reilly (for Gvardiol, 87′), Matheus Nunes (for Haaland, 87′) – Not rated.
Player Ratings: Newcastle United (4-3-3)
- GK: Martin Dubravka – 5.3/10
Struggled to deal with Marmoush’s shots and conceded four goals. - RB: Kieran Trippier – 5.4/10
Below-par display both offensively and defensively. - CB: Fabian Schar – 5.1/10
Failed to provide leadership or stability at the back. - CB: Dan Burn – 5.1/10
Lacked composure and was easily bypassed by City attackers. - LB: Lewis Hall – 5.7/10
Offered little going forward and struggled defensively. - CM: Bruno Guimarães – 6.7/10
One of Newcastle’s better performers but couldn’t turn the tide. - CM: Sandro Tonali – 6.2/10
Tried hard but lacked influence in midfield. - CM: Joe Willock – 6.1/10
Quiet and ineffective throughout. - RW: Jacob Murphy – 5.7/10
Showed glimpses of promise but ultimately ineffective. - ST: Alexander Isak – 6.1/10
Worked hard but isolated up front. - LW: Anthony Gordon – 6.1/10
Created few chances and faded as the game progressed.
Subs:
- Tino Livramento (for Trippier, 46′) & Lewis Miley (for Willock, 46′) – 6.8/10 and 6.7/10 respectively.
- Callum Wilson (for Gordon, 72′) – 5.9/10
Introduced too late to make a difference. - Sean Longstaff (for Guimarães, 72′) & Emil Krafth (for Isak, 90′) – Not rated.
Key Takeaways
- Omar Marmoush emerged as a star with his stunning hat-trick, proving he can be a reliable option for Pep Guardiola.
- Manchester City demonstrated their ability to focus on domestic competitions despite upcoming European challenges.
- Concerns remain over Erling Haaland’s fitness ahead of the vital clash against Real Madrid.
- With this win, City leapfrogged Chelsea in the league standings, keeping their top-four hopes alive.
