Newcastle United simply had no answer for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side on Saturday afternoon.
Omar Marmoush stole the headlines by scoring a hat-trick as Newcastle United lost 4-0 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.
After the highs of reaching the Carabao Cup final, Newcastle were quickly reminded that there is plenty of work still to do in the Premier League.
A return to the Champions League will be Newcastle’s aim, but the Magpies have now slumped to seventh in the Premier League table.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 7 |  NewcastleNewcastle | 25 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 42 | 33 | 9 | 41 |
Eddie Howe did not like what he saw from his side in Manchester. Defensively, Newcastle made too many mistakes and could not handle Marmoush. Up the other end, Alexander Isak was starved of service against a Man City defence that included Newcastle target Abdukodir Khusanov.
Pep Guardiola praises Newcastle target Abdukodir Khusanov
Over the January window, Newcastle were close to signing Khusanov but eventually pulled out of a deal.
Newcastle staff were disappointed at failing to sign Khusanov, with the 20-year-old centre-back instead completing a £34m move to City.
The Profit and Sustainability Rules limited Newcastle’s transfer budget, meaning the Magpies ended the winter window without any major signings. Instead, Paul Mitchell plans to wait until the summer.
But City pounced while Newcastle waited, and Khusanov impressed on Saturday up against Isak.
After the match, Pep Guardiola piled praise on Khusanov.
“It’s really good for him, for all of us,” Guardiola said. “The potential that we visualise in the second half.
“His composure on the ball, and he is so extremely fast. At the back, when he has to run with Isak, he could handle it.
“Decision making has to improve, but it’s a question of age. But most importantly, he has settled down really well.”
Newcastle United continue centre-back search
After missing out on Khusanov and Vitor Reis and allowing Lloyd Kelly to join Juventus, Newcastle’s defensive department is alarmingly thin.
Newcastle have wanted to sign a top-class centre-back since last summer, when several bids were submitted for Marc Guehi.
The search for a centre-back continued into January, but Newcastle will now have to wait until next summer to add a centre-back to their squad.
Newcastle have shown interest in Ousmane Diomande as a potential defender target, although the Sporting Lisbon star could cost as much as £50m.
Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is also on Newcastle’s radar after his impressive start in the Premier League.
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