Jonjo Shelvey's stunner two minutes from time earned Newcastle a deserved point against a lacklustre Manchester City in a 2-2 draw at St James' Park.
Kevin de Bruyne looked to have won the game for the champions with a wonder goal himself with eight minutes remaining, but was left stunned with the rest of his team mates, as the former Liverpool midfielder put another nail in City's Premier League title coffin.
The final 10 minutes followed the same pattern of the rest of the game, with City dominating without breaking through a hard working, organised United defence. Then once they did unlock Newcastle, they were pegged back immediately.
In the first period, Raheem Sterling scored his 15th league goal of the season, as he fired in low on the penalty spot after benefiting from some pinball in the host's box.
However Jetro Willems levelled just three minutes later, cutting in from the left wing to receive a flicked ball from Almiron to curl pass Ederson for his second of the season - his first coming against Liverpool.
If Liverpool beat Brighton on Saturday, they will extend their lead over Manchester City to 11 points, while Newcastle move on to 16 points.
Highlights
City, who started the day nine points behind Liverpool, dominated possession throughout but could not turn the pressure into enough goals to atone for their defensive fragility in front of a crowd of 49,937 at St James' Park.
City full-backs Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy played as auxiliary midfielders when they were in possession as the Magpies retreated to form a black-and-white wall.
But they were unable to prise their way through and it was the Magpies who mounted the first attack of note when Shelvey picked out Allan Saint-Maximin down the left and he cut inside to scuff a seventh-minute shot straight at goalkeeper Ederson.
Fernandinho headed over from a De Bruyne corner, but the home side responded with Shelvey curling a 20th-minute free-kick just wide after Saint-Maximin had been fouled by De Bruyne.
However, it was City who took the lead two minutes later when David Silva back-heeled the ball into the path of Sterling after it had ricocheted back to him from Isaac Hayden's challenge and the England forward blasted home from close range.
Newcastle were level within three minutes when Willems - whose only other Newcastle goal came against Liverpool - played a one-two with Miguel Almiron before thumping a low right-foot drive past Ederson. It was the Paraguay international's first assist since his £21million arrival in January.
Dubravka needed two attempts to claim Sterling's rising 33rd-minute strike and was relieved to see De Bruyne's stoppage-time effort deflected into his waiting arms as the Magpies made it to the break on level terms.
Federico Fernandez's barnstorming run from his own penalty area sparked a rare Newcastle counter-attack which saw Shelvey send a 54th-minute free-kick just wide after Fernandinho had barged Joelinton to the ground 30 yards out.
Javier Manquillo had to produce a last-ditch tackle to deny Gabriel Jesus after De Bruyne and Sterling had picked a path through in the 65th minute, and Dubravka had to turn away a dangerous De Bruyne cross seconds later.
The Slovakia international pulled off a fine 68th-minute double save to deny Jesus and De Bruyne and saw substitute Bernardo Silva drag a left-foot shot wide four minutes later with the pressure mounting.
However, he was powerless to resist when De Bruyne pounced after Mendy's cross had been half-cleared, chesting the ball down before firing home off the underside of the crossbar.
But there was to be a further twist when, with three minutes remaining, substitute Christian Atsu played a free-kick square to Shelvey, who sent a sumptuous curling effort beyond Ederson's despairing dive to snatch a point.
OPTA stats
- Newcastle are unbeaten in each of their last four home league games against reigning top-flight champions (W2 D2), for the first time since a run of five ending in February 2003.
- Manchester City have found the net in each of their last 22 Premier League games vs Newcastle – their joint-longest such run in the competition (also 22 vs Fulham in March 2019).
- No Premier League player has scored more goals in all competitions this season than Man City’s Raheem Sterling (15 goals, level with Raul Jimenez).
- On his 24th appearance in the Premier League, Newcastle’s Miguel Almiron has registered his first assist in the competition, with what was his 23rd chance created for a teammate.
- Man City’s Kevin De Bruyne has had a hand in six goals in six Premier League appearances against Newcastle, scoring two and assisting four.
- Of players with at least 15 Premier League goals, only David Ginola (66.7%) and Laurent Robert (65.2%) have scored a higher ratio from outside the box than Newcastle’s Jonjo Shelvey (64.7% - 11/17).
- Eight of Newcastle’s 13 Premier League goals this season have been scored by defenders – the biggest such ratio in the competition (62%).
- Manchester City’s David Silva has been directly involved in more Premier League goals versus Newcastle than against any other side in the competition (11 - 5 goals, 6 assists).
How it happened
Relive our live blog of the game..
Newcastle 2-2 Manchester City
Newcastle: Willems, 25; Shelvey 88
City: Sterling, 22; De Bruyne 82
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Full-time: Newcastle 2-2 Manchester City
A very deserved point for Newcastle, who were so organised and disciplined. They worked so hard defensively and scored two excellent goals.
However City know they were poor today, they lacked pace, urgency and ideas in the final third and it cost them dearly
If Liverpool beat Brighton today then they will be 11 clear of City after 14 matches
Newcastle go to 16 points
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
Shelvey beauty
🚀 We have another stunner!
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) November 30, 2019
Anything De Bruyne can do, Shelvey can do better!pic.twitter.com/EJ3SHsGHK2
92: Dubravka great save
De Bruyne crosses to the back post and Sterling is there. He volleys from close range across goal - Dubravka somehow gets down so quickly and stops the ball almost dead on the line - wonderful save
90: Injury time...
There will be four minutes of injury time, which we are into now. Is there a winner in it?
Newcastle certainly deserve at least a point
87: GOAL: Newcastle 2-2 Manchester City
SHELVEY
Oh, we have another stunner!
From the free-kick City were expecting a cross to be whipped in from the right of the box.
Instead it is squared to Shelvey 25 out and he side foots it into the far left corner. It is a thing of beauty
Anything De Bruyne can do, Shelvey can do better!
86: Fernandinho lucky boy
Fernandinho is late and clumsy as a Newcastle attacker drives into the box.
It should be a yellow card, which would be his second and he should be off - but ref bottles it
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
Just enjoy this - unless you support Newcastle of course
🤩 WOW, WOW, WOW
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) November 30, 2019
City needed something magical and De Bruyne has just got out his wand!
Incredible goal, heartbreak for Newcastlepic.twitter.com/GBrbt8u543
82: GOAL: Newcastle 1-2 Manchester City
DE BRUYNE
WOW, WOW, WOW
That is stunning from De Bruyne. Newcastle clear a cross to the edge of their box. De Bruyne collects on his chest on the left edge and hammers a volley at goal, it smashes the underside of the bar and in!
City needed something magical and De Bruyne has just got out his wand! Incredible goal, heartbreak for Newcastle
I said he'd be the man to open this up for City and it is one of the goals of the season so far
80: Newcastle sub
Saint-Maximin tries to race in on goal against Walker and falls to the ground in the area. No pen clearly, but the winger has hurt himself when falling. Doesn't look serious but he is subbed off for Atsu
78: De Bruyne getting closer
De Bruyne twice in the last few minutes has found time and space on the right edge of the box to dummy to shot on his right and cut back in on his left.
Both shots have been deflected for corners.
He is doing his best to make something happen for his team and looks the most likely to assist or score for City
75: Newcastle defending for their lives
Newcastle have worked so hard today. Bodies on the line, blocking anything Man City fire towards goal. They are organised and tackling well but can they keep it going?
73: Yellow card
Manquillo goes into the book for time wasting - already! He took too long to take an attacking throw in for the hosts
72: Bernardo Silva wide
Bernardo Silva big miss. He's just come on and maybe a bit cold, but he still should have scored. After some pinball on the edge of the area, he is played in, unmarked, 16 out, in centre of the goal and pulls his shot poorly wide - should have done so much better
70: Lots of subs
Newcastle: Gayle replaces Joelinton
City: Bernardo Silva and Foden have come on for Mahrez and David Silva.
68: Big City chances
First De Bruyne gets in at a tight angle on the right and Dubravka sticks out a right leg to deflect the ball away as the City man aimed for the far post
Then a one-two gets Jesus in one-on-one and six yards out he hits it straight at the keeper. Dubravka stood up well and made himself big, but the striker should have done better. The rebound falls to De Bruyne, but is blocked by the keeper for a corner. That comes to nothing
66: Newcastle can't get the ball
Newcastle are tiring I think and it is showing in the fact they just cannot hold on to the ball. It just keeps coming back in waves of City attacks
The hosts are working so hard to close players down, but need to be better when they have the ball
64: Sterling and Jesus mix up
More nice triangles and quick passing from City rips Newcastle apart, however Sterling and Jesus run into the same space on the penalty spot and get in each other's way, meaning Jesus is off balance and his shot is weak and straight at the keeper along the floor.
62: In play tip
Sterling to score a brace at 3/1 with Sky Bet looks a good one to me.
He is finding space down the left and when floating into the middle he is getting into good areas. City have just not got a clean ball to him yet. One goal so far and two shots on target, he's been City's best attacking player so far
58: Almiron over
Almiron does so well to barge Mendy off the ball, but then losses his head and fires wildly over the bar from 20 out
57: City getting space down the wings
City are starting to get a lot of joy down the wings. They are especially finding space and overlaps on the left wing.
A sign Newcastle are starting to tire mentally in their demanding defensive duties now.
Sterling and Mahrez starting to lick their lips
55: De Bruyne over the bar
De Bruyne cuts in from the left wing and fires a shot well over the bar from the left edge of the area with his right boot. He's trying to add some pace to City's attacks at least
54: Shelvey shoots
It has to be something very special to score from 40 yards out and it is anything but from Shelvey. Low and well wide - wasteful, a cross would have been better
52: Yellow card
Fernandinho takes down Joelinton as they battle for a 50/50 ball on a Newcastle counter and goes into the book.
Free kick in centre field, 40 yards out
50: Saint-Maximin teasing
Teasing, twisting, turning run from Saint-Maximin down the left torments Walker, but he crosses blindly with no aim and it is cleared easily.
Plenty of promise, but no end product - the story of Saint-Maximin so far in England
Second half kicks off
Locked at 1-1, will we see more urgency from the champions in the second half.
No changes for either side at the break
Sky Bet Price Boosts
At half time Sky Bet have Price Boosted
- Raheem Sterling to score a brace to 9/4
- Gabriel Jesus to score the 3rd goal is 10/3
- Correct Score - Manchester City 3-1 is 9/2
Stats
Possession: Newcastle 34% v 66% Man City
Shots off target: Newcastle 1 v 2 Man City
Shots on target: Newcastle 2 v 3 Man City
Dangerous attacks: Newcastle 18 v 62 Man City
Half time: Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City
Sterling's 15 goal of the Premier League season gave City the lead, but it sparked Newcastle into a rare moment of attacking life that paid off with Willem's second of the campaign.
Poor first half, with City lacking the pace and urgency to breakdown a hard working and organised Newcastle side.
45: Two minutes of injury time
Two minutes of injury time and City will not want it going quickly because Pep is fuming on the sidelines and ready to give it to his side at the break
43: Where is everyone?
Great interception and pass on halfway by Shelvey to Joelinton. Quick pass to Almiron down the left, beating the offside trap and the City defence is flatfooted and struggling to get back.
Almiron looks up and sees absolutely no Newcastle player in the box, all running in quick sand 30 yards out. So he crosses in aimlessly, mainly to prove a point, and City clear easily
38: Pace dropped again
After two goals in three minutes the pace of the game has dropped again and it becomes City's attack against United's defence again, with City slowly passing from side to side, mainly on halfway.
34: Sterling shoots
Sterling goes for goal again, but straight at Dubravka.
That's two shots so far and I tipped him up at 21/10 to have four plus in this match - halfway there
GOAL HIGHLIGHT
Newcastle's equaliser
Big boys fear Willems
— Sporting Life Football (@SportingLifeFC) November 30, 2019
The defender has two goals this season - coming against Liverpool and now Manchester City, both great finishes too
He's also now Newcastle's joint top goal scorer with.... 2⃣pic.twitter.com/n1HQFRB6AR
29: Big boys fear Willems
He loves a goal against the top teams. He's now scored two this season - the first against Liverpool and now today against Manchester City - bot top quality finishes.
He is now Newcastle's joint top scorer with 2
25: Newcastle 1-1 Manchester City
WILLEMS
Almiron can't score, but he can assist. He gets a bit of space in the left edge of the box, cleverly squares the ball to Willems, who nudges the ball more centrally and curls the ball into the far corner passed Ederson. Where was the City defence? He has so much space, excellent finish though
24: Yellow Card
First of the day goes to City's Gundogan as he stops a break away
21: GOAL: Newcastle 0-1 Manchester City
STERLING
Lovely and lucky for City. One-two between Sterling and Sliva to get the England man into the box. His control is poor but the ball hits a defender, hits Sterling again and goes back to Silva, the pattern repeats itself, with the ball coming back to Silva, who back heels it to Sterling and he curls it in from 8 yards out - simple finish
19: Newcastle free kick
Saint-Maximin is clipped back to goal by De Bruyne, for a free kick 20 out on the left of the box.
Shelvey strikes, but curls wide and didn't have the height or power to worry Ederson, who drives across to just keep warm more than anything else
17: City spark
Lovely triangles and running off the ball allows De Bruyne to slip a pass into the box to Jesus, he back heels it into the path of Mahrez in the six yard box and the Newcastle defence just gets there first to concede a corner.
The first is headed out to Mahrez, whose's shot is blocked for another corner.
The second sees Fernandinho put a powerful header over the bar from 12 out
14: First corner
It goes to the visitors from a blocked De Bruyne cross.
De Bruyne aims for Stones on the penalty spot, but he over runs the ball and has to twist his neck backwards to get anything on it, meaning his contact puts the ball well wide
10: Manquillo can't cross
Two good pieces of play from Newcastle gets Manquillo in space down the right, but both times his crosses are wasteful and woeful.
The first goes along the floor about 30 feet away from the on rushing Joelinton.
The second, minutes later, is about 15 feet higher than Joelinton, when in an excellent position to head at goal
07: Newcastle shoot...
Having said that, typically it is Newcastle that have the first shot of the game.
Saint-Maximin gets released down the left, jumps over one tackler, cuts inside and shoots tamely from the left edge of the box. It was slow enough to allow Ederson to throw his cap on it.
Saint-Maximin clearly the key man on the counter for the home side this afternoon
06: Training ground stuff
It's like a training ground exercise early on - attack v defence. Newcastle have every player back in their own half behind the ball and Man City having all the ball, trying to find a way through.
Not sure Newcastle have the defensive quality to last this way for 90 mins.
03: Dull start
Nothing of note to tell you yet. City dominating possession but not created anything yet.
Whenever Newcastle win it back they are lumping it up field and losing possession straight away to allow City to come forward again
00: Kick-off
Newcastle in the tradition home kit of the black and white strips. City in their blue and white home kit
1226: Last min tip
I like the look of Manchester City to win and BTTS at 6/4. It seems a game where Newcastle will score, especially when Man City are in their worst defensive run for a decade.
Sterling to score at 11/10 I also like
1225: City still scoring for fun
Manchester City have found the net in each of their last 21 Premier League games against Newcastle (54 goals in total), winning 18 (D2 L1). Only against Fulham (22) have they had a longer scoring streak in the competition
1215: Team news reminder
Newcastle: Dubravka, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Joelinton, Saint-Maximin, Hayden, Willems, Fernandez, Manquillo, Almiron
Subs: Darlow, Schar, Gayle, Krafth, Atsu, Shaun Longstaff, Matthew Longstaff
Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Stones, Fernandinho, Mendy, Gundogan, Silva (C), Mahrez, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus
Subs: Bravo, Angelino, Rodrigo, Bernardo, Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden
1205: Sporting Life ACCA
We don't boast often about our successes, but I'm going to make an exception here. The Sporting Life ACCA has come in for the last two weeks, so here we go for the hat-trick
We are putting our faith in Hull, Forest, Stoke and Wigan to deliver that three in a row
Head here to back Hull, Nottingham Forest, Stoke and Wigan all to win enhanced to 33/1 with Sky Bet
1202: Jesus loves a start
Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus has scored seven goals in his last eight Premier League starts, including three in four so far this term.
Thus he is 7/10 to score any time today and 13/5 to score first
1200: City's defensive problems
I know it is not new news that Man City aren't as defensively tight this season as previous campaigns, but the stats are really interesting, so I want to share them with you....
City are averaging a shot on target faced every 24 minutes in the Premier League this season, their worst ratio in the competition since 2010-11 (also one every 24 minutes).
Last season, they faced a shot on target every 41 minutes on average.
They've also have conceded the first goal in each of their last three Premier League games.
1155: Soccer Saturday Price Boost
Ahead of this afternoon’s games Sky Bet have Price Boosted:
- Chelsea, Tottenham & Burnley all to win to 9/2
- Chelsea & Tottenham both to win and Burnley to draw with Crystal Palace to 6/1
- Chelsea, Tottenham & Crystal Palace all to win to 13/2
1150: Mahrez 49 not out
Okay, it is not as sexy as 50 not out, but it's fact. Riyad Mahrez has scored 49 Premier League goals and will be hungry to make it 50 today.
He could become ninth African and first Algerian player to reach 50 in the competition, and 110th overall,
1145: Saint-Maximin to score?
In our Premier League preview our top-flight expert George Pitts has tipped....
Seven of Newcastle's last nine Premier League goals have come from defenders and they need someone to step up in the final third. The main candidate that looks capable of contributing is summer signing Allan Saint-Maximin.
The 22-year-old is yet to open his account since joining from Nice in a reported £16.5m deal. The winger looks lively and appears to be a starter in Bruce's side now. He has had 10 shots in his last four Premier League appearances, has great, fast feet and an impressive turn of pace.
Against a Man City defence that has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last six in all competitions, and with Newcastle improving at St James' Park by going five unbeaten, Saint-Maximin looks great value to get on the score sheet anytime at 15/2.
1130: Team news
The team news is in....
Newcastle
One enforced change for the home side with Manquillo starting at the back with DeAndre Yedlin out injured.
Dubravka, Clark, Dummett, Shelvey, Joelinton, Saint-Maximin, Hayden, Willems, Fernandez, Manquillo, Almiron
Subs: Darlow, Schar, Gayle, Krafth, Atsu, Shaun Longstaff, Matthew Longstaff
Manchester City
No Sergio Aguero due to injury and there are five changes for the visitors in a 4-3-3 formation
Ederson, Walker, Stones, Fernandinho, Mendy, Gundogan, Silva (C), Mahrez, De Bruyne, Sterling, Jesus
Subs: Bravo, Angelino, Rodrigo, Bernardo, Cancelo, Otamendi, Foden
Sterling to shine?
I love this stat...
When playing in the same side with Sergio Aguero Raheem Sterling averages less than one shot per game.
When Aguero is out of the side, especially when replaced by Gabriel Jesus, Sterling averages four shots per match.
What Pep's said...
City boss Pep Guardiola: "I know we cannot lose games but I'm not thinking about winning the Premier League right now.
"We have to get close to Leicester first of all and then, after that, Liverpool. The target, when you play every three days, is the next one."
What Bruce has said...
Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce: "Very quietly, we've done okay at Liverpool, we did okay at Chelsea, we've beaten Manchester United and we've beaten Tottenham, so we are capable.
"That's the Premier League. The one thing we are going to have to be is at our best. We're going to have to play to our maximum and hope that that's good enough."
Will Almiron ever score?
There are potentially a nice few stories in this match. One of which could be Miguel Almiron scoring his first goal of the season.
The Newcastle man has had 22 shots without scoring, more than any other player in the Premier League.
On TV, underdogs, against the champions, it feels like the type of game were he could finally break his duck and the odds are good for it.
Almiron is 7/1 to score anytime, and 22/1 to score first.
Remember, City have conceded the first goal in their last three matches
Welcome
Good morning, how you all doing? Welcome to our live blog for Manchester City's trip to Newcastle United.
The Magpies are looking for back-to-back wins over the Champions for the first time since 2003, but have to stop a City side that's scored in every one of their last 17 Premier League away games.
Follow all the action with our text commentary, goal flashes, video replays, stats and in-play odds and betting advice.
