Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has credited Newcastle United’s staunch defence and goalkeeper Nick Pope’s outstanding performance after watching his team struggle to a 1-1 draw on Saturday. The Premier League clash, held at Newcastle’s St James’ Park, saw City dropping points for the second straight game, a result that highlighted the challenges of facing a well-organised and resolute Newcastle side.
Manchester City had to navigate the match without their key midfielder Rodri, who has been sidelined for the rest of the season due to a severe knee injury sustained in their recent 2-2 draw against Arsenal. The absence of Rodri, who has been an ever-present force and is unbeaten in his previous 52 Premier League appearances dating back to February 2023, was deeply felt by the reigning champions.
The match started with hope for City as Josko Gvardiol opened the scoring, giving the visitors the lead. However, Newcastle’s determination came through in the second half when Anthony Gordon equalised with a well-taken penalty. The draw allowed City to stay two points clear at the top of the table, although this slim lead risked being overturned by the time the weekend’s fixtures concluded, with contenders Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal all in action.
Despite the setback, Guardiola focused on the positives and lauded Newcastle’s defensive capabilities. “It is always difficult here with their physicality and they defend so deep. We had chances but [Nick] Pope [the goalkeeper] was brilliant so we take the point,” Guardiola stated. He also acknowledged the team’s shortcomings in capitalising on opportunities to extend their lead, noting, “We made bad decisions [with the chances] to make it 2-0.”
Guardiola’s tactical response to Rodri’s absence included deploying teenager Rico Lewis alongside UEFA Champions League-winning midfielder Mateo Kovacic in central midfield. However, City visibly missed the control and calmness that Rodri usually brings to the team’s play both on and off the ball.
For Newcastle, this draw was another testament to their strong start to the season under manager Eddie Howe. Newcastle have lost only one of their six Premier League matches so far, with performances beginning to reflect the promise shown last season.
. Howe expressed satisfaction with his side’s resilient display, saying, “That was a good display, that was us playing our way, brave. It was two teams going right at each other for probably 70 minutes. Last 20 minutes they were stronger than us and we had to defend really well to maintain the point.”
Manchester City’s frustration was compounded by the fact that their title rivals Arsenal managed to clinch a dramatic victory over Leicester City just hours later. Arsenal, who had drawn level on points with City, secured a 4-2 win with late goals during stoppage time. A deflected shot from Leandro Trossard that bounced off Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi for an own goal, followed by Kai Havertz’s goal moments later, sealed the crucial three points for Mikel Arteta’s men.
Meanwhile, Chelsea also made headlines with a significant win against Brighton. In a standout performance, Cole Palmer scored four goals within the first 20 minutes, setting a Premier League record and propelling Chelsea to third place. Despite trailing early to a Georginio Rutter header, the Blues regrouped quickly to overturn their deficit and secure a 4-2 victory.
The weekend’s matches underscore the competitive nature of the Premier League this season, with key battles at both ends of the table. Manchester City’s draw illustrates the tough journey ahead for Guardiola’s squad, particularly in maintaining their lead without pivotal players. Arsenal, Chelsea, and other top teams continue to press on, promising an exciting and unpredictable season.
This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management reserves the sole right to alter, delete, or remove (without notice) the content for any reason whatsoever.
