Newcastle hurt Manchester City's title challenge
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Manchester City's chances of retaining the Premier League title were hit after surrendering an early lead to lose 2-1 at relegation-threatened Newcastle on Tuesday.
Matt Ritchie's 80th-minute penalty completed a remarkable turnaround by Newcastle, which fell behind to a goal from Sergio Aguero inside 25 seconds. It was the quickest goal scored in the league this season.
Salomon Rondon canceled out Aguero's goal with a 66th-minute equalizer.
City's loss kept Liverpool four points clear of the champions ahead of its home game against Leicester on Wednesday. City has 14 games to make up what could be a seven-point deficit.
A fourth league loss of the season looked unlikely for City when David Silva slipped as he attempted to reach Raheem Sterling's cross but still managed to head the ball across the area to Aguero, who hooked home the loose ball from eight meters out.
Newcastle might have been level with 13 minutes gone when Ayoze Perez dispossessed full back Danilo and raced in on goal, only to drag his shot across goalkeeper Ederson and just wide.
It took a goal-line clearance by Fabian Schar to deny Leroy Sane a second goal for City after Kevin De Bruyne, Fernandinho, Silva and Danilo combined on the stroke of halftime, but Newcastle made it to the break without further damage.
The visitors resumed where they had left off with Sane drilling a 49th-minute cross just ahead of Sterling's run, while Martin Dubravka pulled off a fine reaction save to deny Silva after De Bruyne had picked him out with a sublime pass.
De Bruyne made way for Bernardo Silva with 25 minutes remaining minutes after surviving appeals for a second yellow card following a challenge on Ritchie. De Bruyne had been booked in the first half for taking a free kick too quickly.
He had barely reached the bench by the time Newcastle equalized, Rondon reacting quickest after Isaac Hayden helped the ball into the penalty area to volley past Ederson.
And it got worse for City when Fernandinho, turning after receiving a pass, fouled Sean Longstaff inside the penalty area and Ritchie stepped up to smash the resulting penalty past Ederson.
City has now lost after taking the lead against Crystal Palace, Leicester and Newcastle this season.
PA
PREVIEW
What time does it start?
Newcastle vs Man City kicks off at 8pm.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport from 7.30pm. Highlights will be shown on Match of the Day at 10.20pm on Wednesday on BBC One.
It’s a big game for…
Danilo: Brazilian left-back Danilo has struggled for fitness and game time at Manchester City since his arrival in 2017 but he has started to find his feet since then and is currently enjoying a run in the side in the absence of Benjamin Mendy and Fabian Delph. His talent has been questioned on several occasions so now is the time for him to prove himself in the blue half of Manchester.
Best stat…
71: Newcastle still hold the edge over Man City in the head-to-head stakes, having won 71 of their 178 meetings in all competitions to City’s 68.
Remember when…
Five goals. 20 minutes. Sergio Aguero. You know the rest…
Player to watch…
Gabriel Jesus: The Brazilian striker has ten goals in his last six starts and is hitting some of his best form at Man City. Manager Pep Guardiola has not ruled out the option of a Jesus-Aguero partnership up top and this may allow Jesus to hit even bigger heights at the club.
Past three-meetings…
Man City 2 (Sterling, Walker) Newcastle 1 (Yedlin), Premier League, September 2018
Man City 3 (Aguero 3) Newcastle 1 (Murphy), Premier League, January 2018
Newcastle 0 Man City 1 (Sterling), Premier League, December 2017
Form guide…
Newcastle: LDLWWL
Man City: WWWWWW
Odds…
Newcastle to win: 17/1
Man City to win: 1/5
Draw: 13/2
(Odds provided by Betfair)
A full midweek slate of Premier League action, then, to close January as it began with a flurry of football.
Six games this evening - four beginning in just half an hour, and then two more kicking-off at 8pm.
This man's back in the Arsenal team, and he's got the captain's armband...
There is of course plenty more footballing intrigue both on and off the field during the rest of the week, with transfer deadline day looming.
Arsenal could be one club with business yet to come, most notably their pursuit of Barcelona's Denis Suarez.
A loan move to London is back on:
It is an outgoing rather than a potential incoming dominating chatter around Old Trafford.
Marouane Fellaini's ill-fated stint in Manchester could soon come to an end, and he may be following national teammate Mousa Dembele to China...
It has been two days of twists, turns and tumult in the North West, with Rafa Benitez stirring the pot yesterday with some choice words about his future (or lack thereof) with the club.
Perhaps the timing of positive news on the transfer-front is a little too convenient, then. Newcastle host Manchester City this evening:
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