MAN CITY 5, NEWCASTLE UTD 0
Manchester City set yet another record in their comprehensive home victory against Newcastle United.
They became the first time in the Premier League era to have five players to hit double figures in the goalscoring charts in the same season when Riyad Mahrez scored their second goal.
Indeed, City became the first team since Everton in 1984-85 to have five players score more than 10 goals.
After Sunday’s surprise loss at Southampton, there was no mistake this time in a one-sided contest in which City enjoyed 74 per cent possession and had 23 goal attempts to Newcastle’s six.
Embed from Getty ImagesCity manager Pep Guardiola was happy: “We played really good all the games, but unfortunately dropped points.
“In general, the way we are playing and the performances are really good. It is good to score five goals again.”
Newcastle manager Steve Bruce described his display as “painful” to watch saying his side needed to be stronger mentally.
He said: “We are disappointed, but you have to admit they were far too good for us.
“We gifted them some of their goals and we cannot do without six or seven of our better players. This was one too many for us.”
Guardiola made five changes to the side that suffered a ninth Premier League loss of the season at Southampton on Sunday.
Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi, Phil Foden and Rodri all returned to the starting line-up.
The players losing out were Eric Garcia, Aymeric Laporte, Fernandinho, Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling.
Mid-table Newcastle made six alterations to the side that started their last game, a 2-2 draw against West Ham.
City made a bright start with Mahrez forcing an early save from Martin Dubravka.
They dominated territory wise and it looked only a matter of time before they made the breakthrough which came in the 10th minute.
Jesus ended a run of nine games without a goal with his 19th of the season.
David Silva squared a pass for the Brazilian to side-foot a shot low into the bottom corner.
City’s second goal in the 21st minute was a carbon copy of the opener as Newcastle were again opened up down the left.
David Silva, Foden and De Bruyne linked with the latter cutting the ball back for Mahrez to sweep home a low shot, his 10th goal of the campaign and an 18th league assist for De Bruyne.
City had chances to add to their tally in the remainder of the half when Joao Cancelo forced a save from Dubravka whole Foden ought to have hit the target after playing a return pass with Jesus to put himself clean through.
City made two changes at the break as Kyle Walker and Ilkay Gundogan replaced Cancelo and Rodri
Foden didn’t have his shooting boots on as he dragged another shot wide while David Silva saw an effort deflected over.
City increased their lead in the 57th minute courtesy of an own goal from the unlucky Federico Fernandez.
Jesus burst through on goal after playing a return pass with Foden and, as he was about to shoot, Matt Ritchie intervened only to see the ball ricochet off Fernandez and past Dubravka.
City made two further changes on the hour as Sterling and Bernardo Silva replaced Jesus and Foden.
Midway through the half, David Silva made it 4-0 with an exquisite free kick over the defensive wall, his fifth goal of his farewell campaign with City.
David Silva was denied a second goal by s fabulous save by Dubravka to turn over his goalbound shot from a De Bruyne cutback.
City’s last change with 15 minutes left saw Tommy Doyle handed a Premier League debut as the grandson of club legends Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe replaced Mahrez.
Sterling rolled in a fifth goal, his 24th of the season, in stoppage time with a simple finish after man-of-the-match David Silva had done the spadework to create the opening with the 92nd Premier League assist of his career.