Manchester City recovered from its surreal midweek Champions League elimination to Real Madrid by beating Newcastle 5-0 at the Etihad on Sunday. The win gives City a three-point lead over Liverpool, and goal difference of +68 to Liverpool's +64, with only three matches remaining in the Premier League.
There's still an away trip to eighth-place Wolves (May 11), a visit to seventh-place West Ham in London (May 15) and a final home match against 11th-place Aston Villa (May 22), but questions over City letting its advantage slip after Liverpool drew with Tottenham yesterday were quickly answered.
Guardiola's six-year reign — a period that's landed the club eight major trophies — has been defined by a team that's created landmarks to its desire for sustained dominance, like the 100-point champions of 2017-18 and the 15-match winning streak the team used to capture last season's title.
Sunday was another standout demonstration.
İlkay Gündoğan was the architect of City's opener in the 19th minute and Raheem Sterling provided the finish.
Raheem Sterling opens the scoring for Manchester City!
Also check out that ball to Cancelo by Gundogan.: @USA_Network & @Telemundo #MCINEW | #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/jUkCV5ggsn
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 8, 2022
Aymeric Laporte bundled home City's second before halftime to send Newcastle mentally to the beach.
Aymeric Laporte capitalizes on Dubravka's error and gives Manchester City a 2-0 lead!
City have a 3 point lead over Liverpool, AND now have a better Goal Differential.: @USA_Network & @Telemundo #MCINEW | #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/n54n7v2jNU
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 8, 2022
Rodri made it 3-0 just after the hour.
Rodri gets open off the corner and heads it in the near post. Manchester City now have a 3-0 lead.
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 8, 2022
Phil Foden went ballistic at the death, first scoring in the 90th minute...
⚽ ¡UNA NUEVA GOLEADA PARA EL @ManCity!
@PhilFoden se adelantó a este tiro-centro, desvió al arco y llegó la cuarta anotación contra @NUFCSíguelo por @Telemundo y aquí ➡️ https://t.co/08nJbYx3Qr#LigaPremierTD pic.twitter.com/C8rATunVp9
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) May 8, 2022
And then providing a sublime backheel in stoppage time for Jack Grealish to share with Sterling.
Sterling gets his brace to complete this emphatic victory for Manchester City. #MCINEW | #MyPLMorning pic.twitter.com/o8us4XO4Rk
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) May 8, 2022
Remember that only Liverpool (41) and City (33) had claimed more PL points in 2022 than Newcastle (32), but City collected 72% of possession, completed 91% of 702 passes and attempted 21 shots today. From a Liverpool perspective, you can draw zero hope from this City performance.
️ "Everyone in this country supports Liverpool, the media and everyone... Our destiny is in our hands, this is important."
Pep Guardiola's response to @ManCity's emphatic 5-0 win over Newcastle.@CarrieBrownTV #beINPL #MCINEW #MCFC pic.twitter.com/w6nHihdzR0
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) May 8, 2022
Manchester City Remaining Fixtures
Wolves vs. Man City (A) | Wed, May 11
West Ham vs. Man City (A) | Sun, May 15
Man City vs. Aston Villa (H) | Sun, May 22
Liverpool Remaining Fixtures
Aston Villa vs. Liverpool (A) | Tue, May 10
Southampton vs. Liverpool (A) | Tue, May 17
Liverpool vs. Wolves (H) | Sun, May 22
