Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United Review

Premier League GW27

Relief at full-time from many of the players, as Newcastle had a final push for an equaliser from a corner denied. This was a game the team needed to stay focused until the very end to secure the three points and take advantage of Arsenal drawing against Wolves midweek. Not that Newcastle created a lot of chances, but when you don’t take the ones you had, it’s always going to be tough in the Premier League to keep the opposition at arm’s length for ninety minutes.

MOTM: ERLING HAALAND

One of the best all-around performances from Haaland in recent times. Only Rodri (13) won more duels than Haaland did with 12. 2/4 dribbles successful. 1/1 crosses completed, which was his assist for O’Reilly. Flick on in the lead-up to the opening goal.

He had the chances to score, but when you don’t have or take them, you still want to see your striker lead the way up front, and that’s exactly what he did. To drive Newcastle back, be a constant threat in behind, supporting with his runs, and contesting every duel with Dan Burn. We’ll need plenty more of these performances if the team wants to be successful this season.

Notable Stats:

• Erling Haaland won 12 duels yesterday against Newcastle, his most ever in a match in Europe's top-five leagues.

• Manchester City (9) are joint-top with Brentford for the most counterattack goals in the Premier League this season. Liverpool (4), Arsenal (3), and Aston Villa (1) are all behind. By comparison to previous seasons, three in 24/25, two in 23/24, and seven in 22/23. Clear of all three with 11 games still left to play.

• Against Newcastle, Manchester City scored their 10th buildup goal of the season, the most in the Premier League. Liverpool, Chelsea, and Burnley are joint-second with 4 goals.

Game Stats:

Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United

• xG: 1.96 - 0.68

• xThreat: 1.4 - 1.21

• Possession: 54.8% - 45.2%

• Field Tilt: 64.0% - 36.0%

• Penalty Box Shots: 9 - 8

• Deep Entries: 19 - 8

• PPDA: 7.5 - 8.4

• High Turnovers: 4 - 4

Manchester City have won their last five games across all competitions. Their 2nd longest winning streak of the season.

Erling Haaland (3,010) is the first City player to cross the 3,000 minutes mark this season. Nico O'Reilly (2,901) is next up.

Semenyo (6) and Guehi (5) have started every single Premier League game they've been available for since arriving in January.

In the last seven games, Phil Foden has started three, Reijnders and Nico Gonzalez two, and Rico Lewis one.

No outfield player has completed more full 90s than Matheus Nunes (25) this season.

If you want to stay up-to-date on individual player minutes, back four combinations, underlying numbers, and more, check out the live Google sheet below. 👇

When Manchester City did get settled possession in the Newcastle half, it was close to this, although the four in the buildup were quite fluid as they looked to draw Gordon and the midfield line-up to then find the attackers through the lines. Like we saw with the chance Haaland has, holding off two players, and dribbling his way to a shot on the top of the box.

Full-backs holding the width on either side, Semenyo and NOR moving inside. Silva would push into the space between the lines at times. Neither Marmoush nor Haaland is too fixed on one side or with a role. Sometimes they’re pinning a defender, other times they’re running in behind or dropping to receive.

The press is a 4-4-2 diamond with the opposite side winger (Semenyo) tucking inside. O'Reilly is covering Ramsey, then jumps to Trippier when the pass is played out. Rodri ends up with a more zonal role that changes depending on what the opposition is trying to do. Whether it be forwards dropping deep or overloading the backline.

Two forwards ready to press the central defender on their side. Silva is a key part of making this work, organising it, and splitting (when played) the double pivot of an opposition. Making sure the centre doesn't get exposed. Unlikely we use this press without him.

Particularly in the first half, Newcastle struggled to find an answer for the City press. Thiaw has been good on the ball in previous games, but Marmoush gave him no time, and if O’Reilly times his jump to Trippier well, it’s an easy pass inside for Rodri to cut out, or over the top for the defenders to win.

Playing out from the back, City wanted to entice the Newcastle M2M press. Semenyo drops inside, with NOR, pulling both FBs with them, and leaves you two 1v1s to find in Marmoush/Thiaw and Haaland/Burn.

Semenyo, if left free to receive, has the quality to turn and carry the ball through the final third. Should Newcastle win the ball in these positions, between him and O’Reilly, you have two players excellent at competing in those duels and winning second balls.

The change when Cherki came on, they played shorter, baiting the press in further as he gave you the +1 in the buildup, before finding a long pass into Haaland. Although Newcastle generally kept a +1 on the backline at this point.

N. O'Reilly 14' 1-0
Rodri wins the ball, Haaland flicks it on, and O'Reilly touches it into the path of Marmoush to run onto. He then does well to hold off challenges from players on either side as he dribbles at the Newcastle backline, before getting his head up and laying it off to O'Reilly, who is running beyond him.

The run by O'Reilly, from right-to-left, the moment Trippier moves inside to try win the ball off Marmoush. Excellent.

Doesn't take a touch for this one; he sets his feet, ready for the shot, first-time into the bottom-left corner. Opening the scoring. Along with the second goal in this match, O'Reilly (11) becomes the 6th City player to have 10+ goal contributions across all competitions this season.

L. Hall 22’ 1-1

Newcastle got themselves level, and although it comes after a series of corners, the issue begins with the short corner Manchester City play the other end, forcing it inside to O’Reilly and conceding the fast break. Ait-Nouri defends that 1v1 well, but it’s unnesscary risk from City in that situation.

From there, you’ve given up corners for Newcastle to attack, and get a bit unfortunate as the shot is deflected off Ait-Nouri, and Donnarumma doesn’t see the shot until late.

N. O'Reilly 27' 2-0
Manchester City is in settled possession, Dias passes to Semenyo, who beats Woltemade inside, and with an outside-the-boot pass, finds Erling Haaland inside the box.

When Lewis Hall jumps up is when Haaland makes his run into the box. Joe Willock is keeping tight to Nunes, which is why he's slow to get back and support.

Cross to the back-post for the late run of Nico O'Reilly, heading back across goal to the bottom right corner. Now, only Bruno Fernandes (12) has more Premier League assists than Erling Haaland (7) this season.

Disappointing not to make it 3-1 at half-time after Marmoush has a late chance off a fast-break, cutting inside and having his shot saved. That would have gone a long way to putting Newcastle out of the game, but they were still in it at half-time, and credit to Manchester City for getting back ahead shortly after Hall scored. Not letting that throw them off.

Khusanov came on for Dias (46’) at half-time, who had a couple of close calls with Gordon, picking up a yellow. It was a foul he had to make. Semenyo and Ait-Nouri were too slow to stop Woltemade from finding that pass into Gordon, but when you have the ready-made option in Khusanov. You’re a fool not to use him.

As we saw in the second half, Khusanov near enough elimates the threat the opposition can have by playing long balls behind, into the channels, for the wingers to chase. Removes that option and forces them to find another way. Leaving the only real option Newcastle had was to generate chances with the deep crosses. Short corners pulled back, free-kicks, and the wingers moving it back to Trippier after progressing down the flank, and City was able to clear its lines in the second half.

A couple of promising attacks and shots for Marmoush to start, Newcastle only had one shot in the first 20 minutes of the second half, which was the free-kick by Lewis Hall (52’). The team in that period had three different misplaced passes, stopping them from moving into settled possession inside the Newcastle half. Shortly after that, Guardiola made his first change. Cherki on for Marmoush (58’). He came on to be the extra player to support and help the team settle on the ball in moments, as well in the buildup be the +1 as they now played short to bait the press in further, and then looking for the long pass into Erling Haaland. Rather than directly from Donnarumma.

Newcastle is also pushing for the second goal with their changes. Barnes and Joelinton on for Willock and Woltemade (60’). Adding in Joelinton, another player to compete better in the duels, where Woltemade was struggling, and pushing up to win the initial long ball.

Semenyo had a great chance inside the box (64’) to make it 3-1 and kill the game, but his left-footed shot was saved. Didn’t manage to get a great connection on it. But through to the end, both teams were pushing for the next goal. Newcastle with the press, and keeping the front line fresh through substitutions. More followed with Osula and Murphy on for Gordon and Elanga (78’). In the final ten minutes, Guehi and Khusanov were still getting put under pressure.

Haaland (90’+1) and Foden (90’+1) had chances right at the end to score the third, saved by Pope, before the keeper went up the other end for a corner with what was their best chance of the second half. Saved by Donnarumma, and eventually cleared by Silva to reach full-time.

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Moving Forward

A few good moments were playing short under pressure from Donnarumma, whether it was to Rodri inside the box, or chipping it out to Khusanov. Quite a clear improvement in his composure on the ball, under pressure, baiting the run of Gordon, and waiting for Semenyo and O’Reilly to draw the full-backs in to leave the 2v2 up top.

From the team as a whole, there is work to do on the execution and success of the plan, but you can see the improvement made in the last few weeks. It wasn’t a second half of earlier in the season, dropping off, struggling to play through an M2M press, or needing to drop into a low block to defend a lead. There was a clear approach through the game, and they tweaked it when Cherki came on, but kept competing throughout the ninety minutes. In part, because they didn’t take their chances, and that is where we’ll need to see changes in the next couple of games.

With Arsenal dropping points, they had to take advantage and win this game. As much as the record tells you a win was on the cards, Newcastle were absolutely there to win and competed off the ball throughout the ninety despite the travel midweek. Lacking the cutting edge in the final third, but if the team wasn’t switched on, an upset was possible.

Haaland was exceptional, but Nico O’Reilly could have easily picked up the MOTM award for his performance. Scoring those two goals. The step forward he’s taken in midfield, not lacking confidence anymore, brings those physical qualities the team lacks. As I mentioned earlier, when you play long and don’t win the initial duel, you need plays capable of winning the second ball. That’s what O’Reilly and Semenyo provided by moving inside. He had to cover plenty of ground to track Ramsey, then jump to Trippier when pressing high. He’s on track for a spot in the WC team this summer, and a serious contender for Young Player of the Season.

Bernardo Silva was all over the pitch tonight. Completed the most passes (66) and had the second most touches (93) behind Rodri (94). Two chances created. He’s not able to deliver the top performances every three days as he used to, but being rested and surrounded by the amount of pace and power in the team now allows his technical quality to shine.

Not near his best, but that was Rodri taking a big step back towards his best. Made the most defensive actions (17) and created the most chances (3). 5/8 long balls completed. 11/12 ground duels won. 2/2 aerial duels won. We’ve seen across games his different qualities, but not the full package. This was a performance putting it all together. Much more mobile in a game that was being contested throughout the full 90. Returning to his level pre-injury at the right moment in the season.

In the last press conference, Guardiola mentioned that Jeremy Doku was close to returning, so it wouldn’t surprise me to see him back training this week and on the bench in the next couple of games. Savinho was back on the bench against Newcastle. Those attacking options off the bench are all coming back. Of all of them returning or on the bench right now, Jeremy Doku is the one I think will come to be a starter as the schedule picks up for the final games of the season.

Next up for Manchester City is Leeds away from home on the 28th of February at 17:30 (UK time). The week off will allow the team to be fully rested ahead of the fixture, and before the schedule begins to ramp up. Also allows injured players the time to return.

Under the lights at Elland Road is not an easy game for any team. There is no doubt that, being born in Leeds and his father playing there for years, Erling Haaland will be up for this one.

At home in the Premier League this season, Leeds United have only lost to Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur. None of those was evening kickoffs. They’ve beaten Chelsea and picked up draws against Manchester United, Liverpool, and Newcastle.

If you’re looking for more thoughts on the match, you can find my appearance on the 9320 podcast linked below. 👇

You can also find my appearance on The Shades of Blue Choppin’ It Up linked below. 👇