Savinho Shines, Marmoush Scores Three as Man City Thrash Newcastle

Manchester City’s latest acquisition, Omar Marmoush, announced his arrival in style by netting a blistering first-half hat-trick within just 14 minutes against Newcastle United, propelling Pep Guardiola’s side to fourth in the Premier League standings. The Egyptian forward, who joined City for £59 million from Eintracht Frankfurt, ended his four-game goal drought emphatically at the Etihad Stadium.

Marmoush’s first goal came when he capitalized on Kieran Trippier’s misjudgment of a long ball from goalkeeper Ederson. He followed up with a clinical finish from Ilkay Gundogan’s perfectly weighted pass before sealing his treble with a composed strike from 10 yards. His feat ranks as the fourth-fastest hat-trick by a City player in Premier League history, trailing only Sergio Aguero’s record-setting nine-minute treble in 2015.

James McAtee added a fourth for City after a clever flick from stand-in captain Erling Haaland. Despite missing key defenders Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias, and Nathan Ake, City’s commanding performance resembled their dominant form of previous seasons—an ideal warm-up ahead of their crucial Champions League clash with Real Madrid. Guardiola will, however, be concerned about Haaland’s late-game injury, which forced him off the pitch.

While Marmoush stole the spotlight, Brazilian winger Savinho played a crucial supporting role. The 20-year-old, whose presence has contributed to Jack Grealish’s struggle for regular starts, tormented Newcastle’s defense with his direct running and incisive play. From the outset, he relentlessly pressured left-back Lewis Hall, creating space for teammates like Phil Foden and Gundogan.

Savinho’s quick footwork and movement caused havoc, leading to Marmoush’s third goal after a sharp cutback. With 16 points from their last seven matches, City are regaining momentum at a critical juncture, with title rivals Liverpool visiting the Etihad on February 23.

Newcastle’s woes at the Etihad persisted, as they suffered their 16th consecutive defeat at the venue and failed to score for the sixth straight visit. After an impressive run that saw them push for a Champions League spot and progress in the FA Cup, Eddie Howe’s side is now faltering. A third defeat in four league matches has raised concerns, especially with key fixtures against Nottingham Forest and Liverpool approaching.

Howe’s dissatisfaction was evident as he replaced Trippier and Joe Willock with Tino Livramento and Lewis Miley at halftime. Striker Alexander Isak struggled, squandering a good first-half opportunity. Meanwhile, Newcastle’s midfield, led by Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, failed to shield the defense, leaving full-backs exposed and vulnerable.

Although the Magpies still have a chance to salvage their season with an EFL Cup triumph at Wembley on March 16, their league form demands immediate attention. Howe must quickly reverse their decline to maintain their top-five aspirations amid increasing competition.

City’s emphatic victory serves as a statement of intent, setting the stage for a thrilling title race, while Newcastle must regroup to prevent their season from unraveling.