Harvey Barnes snapped Newcastle United out of their slump in a big way, scoring twice in a terrific 2-1 win over bright Manchester City at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
The Magpies had lost two-straight Premier League games and three of their last four to sink close to the bottom three despite sparking performances in the UEFA Champions League.
MORE — Pep Guardiola, Ruben Dias post-match reaction
And Man City had been spectacular, losing just once since the end of August and going into the international break with four-straight wins across all competitions with a combined 13-3 score line.
Ruben Dias briefly had City level in the second half but Magpies goalkeeper Nick Pope and center back Malick Thiaw were particularly strong.
WATCH — Newcastle v Manchester City full match replay
Newcastle move into 14th place with 15 points, three points off eighth and five away from the top four.
City fail to return to second place and remain one point behind Chelsea and four behind leaders Arsenal, who play Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Newcastle’s iron-clad midfield, healthy flanks make the difference
This was a beautiful game of football, and Man City boss Pep Guardiola will know that it could’ve gone either way. And, perhaps, he may understand that having a virtually perfect record against a manager like Eddie Howe couldn’t continue forever. But this win is more about what it could mean for Newcastle. Howe finally was able to use Valentino Livramento and Lewis Hall and right and left back from the start, while Anthony Gordon’s 50:50 status gave Harvey Barnes a richly-deserved start and he delivered the goods. The real heroes, as they are in most Newcastle wins, were in their elite midfield as Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, and Sandro Tonali gave City as challenging a day as they’ll get this season. It as physical, quick, sharp, composed, and a bit angry — the sort of performance that made Newcastle’s Premier League struggles so baffling this season. This will give the Magpies hope of a turned corner as the table remains open for any decent team to make a run toward the European places.
What’s next?
Newcastle go to Marseille for a UEFA Champions League tie on Tuesday, then visit Everton in the Premier League at 12;30pm ET Saturday.
City also have UCL duty on Tuesday, at home to Bayer Leverkusen, then host Leeds United at 10am Saturday.
How to watch Newcastle vs Manchester City live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 12:30pm ET Saturday
Venue: St, James’ Park — Newcastle-upon-Tyne
TV Channel: NBC
Streaming: Watch online via NBC.com
Newcastle vs Manchester City final score: 2-1
Harvey Barnes 64', 70', Ruben Dias 68'
Newcastle vs Manchester City live updates
Man City sub
Foden goes off for Omar Marmoush in the 87th minute.
Newcastle subs
Off go Barnes and Woltemade for Anthony Elanga and Joe Willock in the 85th minute.
Several substitutions!
Newcastle’s Lewis Hall ends his return to the team with an exit for Sven Botman.
Man City remove Rayan Cherki, Bernardo Silva, and Jeremy Doku for Savinho, Tijjani Reijnders, and Oscar Bobb.
All the moves coming by the 77th minute.
Harvey Barnes goal — Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester City
Similar look to the Dias goal in terms of set-up, as Murphy’s hopeful cross and nodded down by Nick Woltemade.
Guimaraes knocks it toward goal and it’s blocked, but Barnes pushes it into the top of the goal.
But is there an offside? No. Two checks reveal very slim onside calls.
Ruben Dias goal — Newcastle United 1-1 Manchester City
Jeremy Doku whirls around to spin a cross to the far post.
Haaland’s header goes off Malick Thiaw, and Dias stays cool with his chance to snap home a low goal.
It’s first Premier League goal since December 2021... vs Newcastle.
Harvey Barnes goal — Newcastle United 1-0 Manchester City
They’ve finally solved Donnarumma.
Joelinton gets the ball to Bruno Guimaraes, who works a 1-2 with Harvey Barnes.
Well, maybe it’s 1-2-3, as the Brazilian turns inside and spurns the chance to go wide, finding Barnes for a smooth finish.
Newcastle corner almost works
Good movement to unsettle City’s defenders, but Tonali can’t find enough of the ball with his lunge in a sea of bodies and it bounds wide of the far post.
Second half promising as much as the first.
Halftime — Newcastle United 0-0 Manchester City
One of the better nil-nils you’ll watch, we’d guess.
Fotmob.com says there have been a total of seven big chances in that 45 minutes including four for the hosts.
Gianluigi Donnarumma and Nick Pope have both been excellent as Man City boast a 1.34-1.18 xG advantage.
Haaland denied 100th goal by Pope
This one looked set for the score sheet but Nick Pope has done so well to deny Erling Haaland.
Nico O’Reilly cuts a pass back to Haaland at the front post on a rush.
The Norwegian’s looking to become the fastest to 100 Premier League goals but he stays on 99 when Pope’s broad chest blocks the ball from burrowing into the back of the goal.
0-0, 36'.
Barnes misses glorious chance
Goodness, gracious.
Murphy slashes a cross to the far post and all Harvey Barnes needs to do is turn it on target.
Donnarumma was coming across in the hopes of a huge save but Barnes doesn’t even challenge him, missing the near post by yards.
Donnarumma again
Woltemade’s played into the box with a cutting through ball from Harvey Barnes
The German takes it himself with Jacob Murphy off this right, but Donnarumma holds firm and parries the shot.
Good game so far, scoreless into the 27th minute.
Man City penalty shout
Phil Foden is near goal and Fabian Schar’s lunge to block the shot misses the ball and catches the man on the ankle, studs-up.
However, VAR does not see any issue with the play. It did come after Foden had gotten his shot away.
Donnarumma!
This time the keeper cleans up someone else’s mess, as a pretty Newcastle cross is turned toward the far post by Nick Woltemade.
The red-hot Newcastle frontman sees his header saved by the paw of Donnarumma.
0-0, 14'.
Early chance!
Gigio Donnarumma plays City intro trouble and Harvey Barnes has a first-minute shot from inside the 18.
He goes to the far post and Donnarumma expected that, cleaning up his own mess.
Newcastle United lineup
Pope, Hall, Schar, Thiaw, Livramento, Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Murphy, Barnes, Woltemade
Manchester City lineup
Donnarumma, O’Reilly, Gvardiola, Dias, Nunes, Gonzalez, Silva, Foden, Cherki, Doku, Haaland
Newcastle vs Man City preview
City surged into the international break on a high, beating visitors Bournemouth, Borussia Dortmund, and Liverpool by a combined score of 10-2 between the Premier League and UEFA Champions League.
Those matches were all at home, though, and City’s minor struggles this season have almost all happened away from the Etihad Stadium: a draw with Monaco, another with Arsenal, and losses to Brighton and Aston Villa were all suffered as visitors.
Newcastle have been terrific in the UEFA Champions League but increasingly poor in the Premier League, albeit mostly away from St. James’ Park. Eddie Howe’s Magpies are 3W-2L at home in the Premier League and the losses were slim defeats to Arsenal and Liverpool. Their winless away campaign in the league, 3D-3L, leaves them 14th — just two points above the bottom three.
This match also means a match-up of two of the world’s hottest strikers. Erling Haaland and Nick Woltemade have made all the difference to their teams positive results this season, and now have fired their nations into the World Cup.
Newcastle United team news, focus
OUT: Dan Burn (suspension), Yoane Wissa (knee), William Osula (ankle), Harrison Ashby (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Anthony Gordon (hip), Nick Pope (concussion), Tino Livramento (knee).
Manchester City team news, focus
OUT: Mateo Kovacic (ankle), Rodri (hamstring - MORE)
Newcastle vs Manchester City prediction
The Magpies seem to show up for big games at home, but City are buzzing right now and Newcastle’s injuries are deeper than you’d like against a juggernaut like Haaland and his band of attackers. Newcastle 1-2 Manchester City.
