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Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres struck in each half as Manchester City claimed a comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle in the Premier League.<\/p>\nIlkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres struck in each half as Manchester City claimed a comfortable 2-0 win over Newcastle in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
Gundogan put Pep Guardiola\u2019s side ahead on a wet St Stephen’s Day night after fine work from Raheem Sterling with 14 minutes gone at the Etihad Stadium.<\/p>\n
Torres added the second early in the second half and Bernardo Silva hit the post as City, who face a trip to Everton on Monday, eased to victory.<\/p>\n
Both sides were without key players following positive Covid-19 tests, with City\u2019s Gabriel Jesus and Kyle Walker following Newcastle pair Allan Saint-Maximin and Jamaal Lascelles into self-isolation.<\/p>\n
Not surprisingly, it was star-studded City who coped with the absences better. Again manager Pep Guardiola saw no need to rush record goal scorer Sergio Ag\u00fcero into his starting line-up, naming the Argentinian on the bench as he eases back into action after knee trouble.<\/p>\n
Steve Bruce tried to shake his Newcastle side up after their Carabao Cup quarter-final loss to Brentford. Federico Fernandez, Fabian Schar, Joelinton and Matt Ritchie came in while Callum Wilson was on the bench and Jonjo Shelvey was left out altogether.<\/p>\n
The Magpies started positively but they failed to catch City cold and a couple of promising early attacks fizzled out. The hosts soon took control of possession and almost went ahead when Schar sliced a clearance over his own bar.<\/p>\n
They continued to play patiently and took the lead from the first clear-cut opportunity they carved out.<\/p>\n
Joao Cancelo played Raheem Sterling into the area with a fine ball, and the England forward showed great footwork to turn inside and cut back for Gundogan to sweep home from close range.<\/p>\n
Kevin De Bruyne went close to adding a second when Karl Darlow was forced to claw away a cross-shot from under the crossbar and the Belgian spurned an even better opportunity before the break.<\/p>\n
Torres put the playmaker one-on-one with Darlow with a superb ball but the Newcastle keeper did well to stand up and block the shot.<\/p>\n
Newcastle offered little but had a chance just before half-time when Miguel Almiron curled in a good cross but Joelinton did not make firm contact with his diving header.<\/p>\n
City doubled their lead on 55 minutes after Almiron gave the ball away just outside his own box.<\/p>\n
Cancelo pressed forward and despite a desperate attempt by Fernandez to clear his cross, the ball went straight to Torres and the Spaniard rifled in.<\/p>\n
The hosts then threatened to take the game away from the Magpies. A cross from Torres struck Sterling in front of goal and rolled invitingly for Silva at the far post. The Portuguese raced in and unleashed a powerful strike but it rebounded off the woodwork.<\/p>\n
Sterling also appealed for a penalty after a challenge from DeAndre Yedlin but nothing was given.<\/p>\n
Ag\u00fcero came on with 13 minutes remaining and almost immediately got on the score sheet as Cancelo played a superb ball in behind the defense. The striker made good contact and looked certain to score, but Darlow slid across the wet surface and made a brilliant block on the line.<\/p>\n
Ag\u00fcero wanted a penalty after tangling with Darlow soon after but the keeper just beat the City forward, who may also have been offside, to the ball.<\/p>\n
Newcastle\u2019s best effort saw Jacob Murphy test Ederson with a curling shot from distance but the Brazilian saved low to his left.<\/p>\n