Manchester City, the reigning Premier League champions, brushed aside struggling Newcastle United at St James’ Park for their eighth consecutive Premier League victory.
When Newcastle defender Ciaran Clark failed to attack Joao Cancelo’s hooked cross in the fifth minute, Ruben Dias was left with a simple assignment to put City ahead.
Cancelo received the ball 35 yards out, beat two Newcastle players, and unleashed a powerful strike into the top corner from outside the penalty area to increase City’s lead in the 27th minute.
In the 63rd minute, Riyad Mahrez scored his 50th Premier League goal for the club, volleying in Oleksandr Zinchenko’s cross for City’s third goal.
After a wonderful run down the left wing from Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling tapped in from close range four minutes from time to make it even worse for the hosts.
This victory ensures City will be top of the Premier League at Christmas for only the third time – and on both previous occasions in 2011-12 and 2017-18 they went on to be champions.
Newcastle remains 19th in the table, three points behind 17th-placed Watford and with only goal difference keeping them above bottom club Norwich City.
