Omar Marmoush inspired Manchester City to their 4-0 win over Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday with a ruthless first-half hat-trick.
The hosts would have been forgiven for casting one eye to their crucial Champions League trip to Real Madrid on Wednesday, but they exhibited their immense quality and professionalism during an emphatic first half at the Etihad Stadium - attributes that haven't always been prevalent on the blue half of Manchester this season.
Marmoush was the recipient of the home crowd's adoration as he produced a clinical 14-minute hat-trick to stun the lethargic visitors. Having lobbed Martin Dubravka following Ederson's defence-splitting through ball, the Egyptian proceeded to rifle two powerful drives beyond the Newcastle stopper to put City in an incredibly commanding position at the break.
City have become renowned for their late implosions this season but there would be no such self-destruction against the Magpies, with the hosts even adding to their advantage in the closing stages. Substitute James McAtee converted from Erling Haaland's flick-on from a corner to add some gloss to an already impressive scoreline.
It wasn't an entirely rosy conclusion for the hosts, though. Haaland left the pitch in the dying embers after tweaking his knee, leaving Guardiola to sweat over his fitness ahead of Wednesday's European tie at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Victory for the Cityzens moves them above Chelsea in the Premier League table and into fourth after the Blues were beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday night.
Man City player ratings (4-2-3-1)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: Ederson | 8.4/10 |
RB: Rico Lewis | 7.3/10 |
CB: Abdukodir Khusanov | 7.4/10 |
CB: John Stones | 7.4/10 |
LB: Josko Gvardiol | 7.5/10 |
DM: Nico Gonzalez | 7.5/10 |
DM: Ilkay Gundogan | 8.0/10 |
RW: Savinho | 7.9/10 |
AM: Phil Foden | 7.3/10 |
LW: Omar Marmoush | 9.6/10 |
ST: Erling Haaland | 7.5/10 |
SUB: James McAtee (76' for Foden) | 7.3/10 |
SUB: Jeremy Doku (76' for Marmoush) | 6.1/10 |
SUB: Mateo Kovacic (87' for Gundogan) | N/A |
SUB: Nico O'Reilly (87' for Gvardiol) | N/A |
SUB: Matheus Nunes (87' for Haaland) | N/A |
Subs not used: Stefan Ortega (GK), Vitor Reis, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva.
Newcastle player ratings (4-3-3)
Player | Rating |
|---|---|
GK: Martin Dubravka | 5.3/10 |
RB: Kieran Trippier | 5.4/10 |
CB: Fabian Schar | 5.1/10 |
CB: Dan Burn | 5.1/10 |
LB: Lewis Hall | 5.7/10 |
CM: Bruno Guimaraes | 6.7/10 |
CM: Sandro Tonali | 6.2/10 |
CM: Joe Willock | 6.1/10 |
RW: Jacob Murphy | 5.7/10 |
ST: Alexander Isak | 6.1/10 |
LW: Anthony Gordon | 6.1/10 |
SUB: Tino Livramento (46' for Trippier) | 6.8/10 |
SUB: Lewis Miley (46' for Willock) | 6.7/10 |
SUB: Callum Wilson (72' for Gordon) | 5.9/10 |
SUB: Sean Longstaff (72' for Guimaraes) | 6.1/10 |
SUB: Emil Krafth (90' for Isak) | N/A |
Subs not used: Nick Pope (GK), Matt Targett, Harvey Barnes, William Osula.
Player of the match - Omar Marmoush (Man City)
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