Quickfire goals from Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva helped Man City come back from a two-goal deficit and level the scoreline 3-3 against Newcastle United in an exciting Premier League clash at St James’ Park on Sunday. Two rapid-fire goals, courtesy of Erling Haaland and the fanciful pairing of Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, left Newcastle United on the ropes. After an uncharacteristic one-on-one chance by Erling Haaland, Man City was on the counter again as Kevin De Bruyne sliced through Newcastle United’s defence, with Bernardo Silva slotting home the ball easily past Nick Pope.
Newcastle held out only six minutes from free-kicks, Erling Haaland hitting a volley into the closed-door box following Rodris’s deflection from a cross at the back post. However, he did inspire City’s title challenge; Haaland struck a post before pulling a goal back at the hour mark. Newcastle United’s systematic improvement under Eddie Howe’s guidance looked likely to yield the win on press time, as a Kieran Trippier free-kick added to Miguel Almiron’s strike and a Callum Wilson tap-in set up a two-goal advantage early in the second half.
When Kieran Trippier curled an incredible free-kick into the top corner to give a rampant Newcastle 3-1 lead in the 54th minute, it looked like Man City were going to stumble to one of their heaviest defeats in the Premier League under Pep Guardiola. While this result would undoubtedly prove unremarkable to City’s bid to keep the title, it meant far more to Newcastle United. City won both meetings with Newcastle’s team last season by a combined 9-0, and in this early phase, it looked like the kind of victory that Guardiola’s team are adept at. Newcastle’s intensity and energy quickly took over in town, and the pace of Allan St-Maximin caused chaos.
Saint-Maximin has only scored 11 goals in more than 80 league games; thus, they haven’t always been an explicit goal threat. On Sunday, however, City had no response for him, and John Stones was cautioned for the tackle that led to Trippier’s goal. As a result, Arsenal, who easily defeated Bournemouth, will conclude the weekend in first place in the Premier League standings, overtaking City. On the other hand, Newcastle is in the sixth position after winning one game and drawing the other two.
Manchester City somehow managed to get the point out of the game, and now they shift their focus to the next match where Crystal Palace will visit them on Saturday afternoon, but before that, they have a friendly match lined up against Barcelona at Camp Nou.
