Phil Foden’s dazzling run sets up Manchester City’s win over Newcastle

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. From here there was a melee caused by Dan Burn leaving a foot in on Jack Grealish and a closing phase of scant quality, which was the tale of the afternoon.

August’s reverse fixture had been a 3-3 thriller and Ilkay Gündogan signalled this one might be the same when heading marginally over after a minute, the end of a free-flowing City sequence that featured Kevin De Bruyne and Grealish, whose cross found Gündogan.

Newcastle’s reply was prompt: Kieran Trippier’s corner dropped on to the head of Jamaal Lascelles, he headed into a crowded goalmouth and City cleared. An errant pass from the hosts had the lurking Callum Wilson hoping to pounce, Rodri mopping up in time.

Eddie Howe stated he wanted Newcastle to show early intent and they tried. Bruno Guimarães, who was Newcastle’s star turn in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final defeat, spun the ball in behind Kyle Walker to Anthony Gordon along the left. The winger, making a full debut for the visitors, went to shoot and kicked his own foot to the home support’s glee.

Phil Foden showed the Merseysider how it is done. Operating