(Premier League 2023/2024): Highlights Man City - Newcastle

It's been 90 days since the Blues were last here at the Etihad Stadium and it's fair to say that quite a bit has happened since that eventful day when City lifted the Premier League title. They now face a Newcastle United side who arrive here with high expectations, a genuine early season test and one that has become that little bit more challenging coming so soon after their glorious venture to the Greek capital less than 72 hours ago. The City fans already very much engaged in this contest, ball in the possession of Akanji, Akanji pops it out to Walker, is he onside? Well the flag has stayed down, Walker plays it infield to Foden, Foden in a position, plays it back to Akanji, Akanji's going to shoot, it's over the bar, well it was a good idea with Akanji on his left foot Rodri gets away, plays it infield to Foden, back it goes to Rodri, Rodri inside towards Alvarez, it's clear, City with it back with Akanji, Akanji straight to Grealish, Grealish wide on the left, inside to Alvarez, Alvarez leaves it for Rodri, Rodri outside to Akanji, Akanji in the left wing position, on it goes to Kovacic, back it goes to Rodri, Rodri angled ball towards Walker, Walker helps it, oh he didn't, didn't quite get the touch he was after and it ends in the possession of Pope, but that was good, it's brilliant, brilliant play, patient, kept moving the ball, kept stretching them and then it's the trigger and the great ball from Rodri, ball is in the possession of Dienz, Dienz with no real pressure on it, lays it across to Gavardia, Gavardia plays it infield to Rodri, still inside the City half, on it goes to Kovacic, Kovacic takes possession of the ball, wide it goes to Walker, Walker though has to go back to Kovacic, Kovacic into the gap, good ball, Foden takes it on the edge of the area, Alvarez shooting position, 1-0 City, brilliant finish, Julian Alvarez, superb, it was a marvellous spin into his possession and Julian Alvarez bumped it, full-blooded, a little piece of it from Pope but he couldn't stop it, City 1-0 Newcastle. It's a great bit of play and I've just spoke two minutes ago about that little pocket that Foden is just beginning to find and I'm not sure who's responsible for him, then the pass has got to be right, the first touch has got to be right and the movement, then this is brilliant, this is fantastic against a keeper who's six foot four to find that far corner is a fabulous finish. He only lost three times away from home last season Anfield was one of the places they lost, Villa Park was another, so too is the Etihad Stadium as Anderson looks long and tries to send it through to Alvarez, actually it's a good ball, Alvarez will get to it, he's over on the left wing position, he takes it under control and on it goes to Foden and Newcastle are a little bit out of shape here and Haaland hits it wide, first chance of the match for Haaland and he slipped it beyond the goalkeeper but beyond the far post. It's a great ball, Medicine, great legs to keep it in play and then you've got the two on two, once they double up and they find this ball right there, there's trouble and then it's really good movement, he knows he has to get his shot off early, I think Pope's beat if it's on target. Walker up against Barnes, goes inside to Kovacic, Kovacic to Rodri, good play from Foden, on to Haaland, Haaland, great tackle, I think it came off Haaland last for a goal kick it did, that's a good sliding challenge by Schär, if he'd have got that wrong it's a penalty kick all day long, he didn't. Guardiola just inside the Newcastle half but only just, takes his time, plays it backwards, Diaz in the centre circle, back it goes to Guardiola, Guardiola to Rodri, Rodri helps it on to Foden, Foden to Grealish, Grealish to Foden, Foden in the middle, keeps on running, on it goes to Haaland, Haaland puts it wide, half the ground were wondering if it might creep inside the post, the other half knew it wasn't, goal kick. Well I'm going to say that name again aren't I, it's Phil Foden, around the corner, great touch from Grealish but Phil Foden has been magnificent tonight and Haaland for his look at the keep, Pope is completely beat and it's just drifted wide again, Kovacic for the right ball, finds it, Diaz, Diaz, on the half to Diaz, Diaz into the gap for Foden, Foden on the half turn, he's got away from Bruno Guimaraes, he keeps on going Foden, on it goes to Haaland, Haaland looking for half a yard, good save by Pope with the right boot, Scherr's going, Scherr into Trippi, Trippi lays it in field, Rodri tries to win it back and doesn't do and Almiron's chasing it and back comes Ikanji and back comes Guardiola and inside it goes to Bruno Guimaraes, oh dear, oh dear, oh dear, well the less said about that the better, he's a gifted player Bruno Guimaraes but I don't know what he was trying to do but it kind of came off the end of his left toe, Kovacic, Diaz starts forward, Rodri under a bit of pressure oh he's giving it away, Wilson, there's a real chance for Newcastle, Guardiola got a piece of it City have regrouped but Newcastle have plenty forward, shooting opportunity from Barnes, Edison makes the save, well it is uncharacteristic but Rodri was caught out there and Barnes had a shot from long range and Edison made the save, Guardiola absolutely brilliant, he's in all sorts of trouble here, brilliant defending, I can't tell you how good that is because they were in all sorts of trouble, that was a rather tired piece of play from City and they've given it away for a throw unnecessarily, Consent City are waltzing a little bit, Rodri though finds a pass to Haaland and City are coming forward Haaland now, still going Haaland, on to Foden, Foden in the box, right across the face of the goal and out for a goal kick, it took a deflection corner, yeah I think Pope's got a toe on it, good play Haaland again, hands haunched down on his knee, you know, massive ass this and a massive performance the ball is thrown back by Trippier, on it goes to Bruno Guimaraes, Bruno Guimaraes under a bit of pressure from Kovacic, Trippier facing his own goal, back it goes to the halfway line, Bottman now in the centre circle, looking wide, plays it wide, on it goes towards Barnes, City trying to repel and the whistle goes and City have found a way past one of the heavyweights of the Premier League, they finished in the top four deservedly last season Newcastle and in the end the Julian Alvarez strike into the corner of the net is the match winning moment, the final score City's first home game of the new season, City 1 Newcastle 0