This was another of those Manchester City displays that are becoming less of a curio: flat, discordant and ending in a scrappy win that would have been a blazing, rampant victory in previous seasons.
Newcastle’s visit meant a return for City to the Etihad Stadium after five away trips and the champions did what was required by taking three points as the title race enters its defining phase.
Pep Guardiola deserves credit for introducing Bernardo Silva on 65 minutes, then seeing him score City’s second goal 120 seconds later.
Silva’s strike arrived courtesy of Erling Haaland’s around-the-corner pass, following a Newcastle mix-up from a faulty Nick Pope clearance.
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