Newcastle United have crashed back to earth after being thrashed 4-0 by Manchester City on Saturday.
Hopes were high as Newcastle United travelled to Manchester City off the back of reaching the Carabao Cup final with Liverpool.
However, Eddie Howe’s side were immediately on the back foot and given a harsh reality check as the hosts raced into a three-goal lead.
Omar Marmoush was the star of the show as he bagged a first-half hat trick, though the Egyptian was helped significantly by some abject defending.
Newcastle collected themselves at the break and were actually able to compete but it wasn’t enough to turn things around.
In fact, the misery was compounded late on when James McAtee, who has been linked with Newcastle, added a fourth.
Here’s how the players rated.
Martin Dubravka – 5
Could do little about any of the goals.
Kieran Trippier – 3
Kieran Trippier came back in favour after his excellent performance vs Arsenal but this showed why he has hardly started this season.
He allowed Ederson’s long ball over the top to drop over his head and made it so easy for Marmoush to loft the ball in. He was then tricked by the forward as he slotted in his second.
Unsurprisingly replaced at the break.
Fabian Schar – 4
Fabian Schar earned high praise for his pressing against Arsenal but he was nowhere near as intense at the Etihad and that repeatedly left holes in the defence for City to exploit. Which they did ruthlessly. Trippier was visibly frustrated with him after the second goal.
Far from his best.
Dan Burn – 5
A couple of well-timed challenges and clearances as he played better than the rest of his defence. Yet, even he nearly got caught on the ball by Erling Haaland.
Lewis Hall – 4
Won the first battle against Savinho but that wasn’t a sign of things to come as the winger proceeded to repeatedly rush past him, creating the third goal after doing so. Lewis Hall was given a torrid time by the Brazilian.
A couple of bright spots going forward, with one great pass to Miley Newcastle’s best moment of the game.
Bruno Guimaraes – 3
Couldn’t assert himself with his usual hustle and bustle as City easily passed the ball around him and he went missing. Allowed Marmoush to waltz into the box unopposed as he slotted in his third. You know it’s a bad performance from Bruno Guimaraes if he’s taken off.
Sandro Tonali – 3
Though he had little help from his midfield colleagues, Sandro Tonali offered no protection to the defence as City had the walk of the park. He was made to look ordinary and couldn’t get close to City, especially when Ilkay Gundogan strolled through to create the second.
Completely lost McAtee with some nonsensical defending for the fourth.
Joe Willock – 2
A passenger. Dragged towards the ball, weak in the challenge and disrupted Newcastle’s set-up. Howe may have to revert to 5-4-1 in Joelinton’s absence because the 4-3-3 doesn’t seem to work without him.
Was very wasteful on the ball when Newcastle worked their only really promising position of the first half. Hooked at half-time and it could have been sooner.
Jacob Murphy – 4
Worked hard in the opposite direction but was kept completely quiet by Josko Gvardiol in attack, though the ball rarely came to him.
Alexander Isak – 4
Tried to make things happen with some nice link-up play on the rare occasions Newcastle found him but didn’t get any clear chances.
Anthony Gordon – 3
There were a couple of flashes of his usual brilliance but they were few and far between and changed nothing. A mostly anonymous match.
Substitutes
Tino Livramento – 6
Not brought on just to sure things up but was positive going forward and helped Newcastle start the second 45 brightly. The game would have been different if he started from the off.
Lewis Miley – 7
Brought urgency and some quality on the ball to the middle of the park. Forced Ederson into a save after a good move he was involved in. Did more in just 15 minutes after coming on than the rest of the midfield managed in the first half.
Callum Wilson – 5
Hardly involved.
Sean Longstaff – 5
Likewise.
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