Manchester City faced another setback in their bid to retain the Premier League title following a 1-1 draw with Newcastle at St James’ Park.
The absence of key midfielder Rodri, who is out for the season due to a serious knee injury sustained against Arsenal, left Pep Guardiola’s team lacking their usual poise and creativity. After taking the lead with a goal from Josko Gvardiol ten minutes before half time, City struggled to build on their advantage.
Newcastle equalized with a penalty from Anthony Gordon, awarded after he was fouled by Ederson as he raced past the City defense. Both teams failed to find a winner in the closing stages, with Nick Pope making a crucial save from Bernardo Silva. The draw favored Newcastle more than City, allowing Liverpool the chance to take the top spot with a win against Wolves later.
Manchester City entered their “post-Rodri” era with immediate challenges. Since his injury, they have dropped four points and slipped from a perfect start in league play. Historically, City has often triumphed over Newcastle, but this match marked only their second draw under Eddie Howe against Guardiola.
Guardiola, speaking after the match, acknowledged the difficulty of playing against Newcastle’s organized defense and praised their performance. He noted that despite having chances to win, City had to settle for a point.
Newcastle will next face AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup midweek before traveling to Everton, while City prepares for a Champions League fixture against Slovan Bratislava before hosting Fulham in the league.
The result leaves City at the top of the table for now, leading Liverpool and Aston Villa by two points, while Newcastle climbs to fifth place, just three points behind City.