Manchester City walked into St James' Park hoping to shake off the rhythm-killing international break and close the gap on league leaders Arsenal. Instead, they found themselves locked in a tense back-and-forth that set the tone for a frustrating night. City spent long stretches moving the ball with their usual patience, but something felt slightly off, as if the gears were clicking a fraction too slow. Newcastle, playing in front of a buzzing home crowd, sensed vulnerability. They pushed forward whenever they could, testing City's back line and forcing rushed decisions. By halftime, both teams had created openings without finding the finishing touch, and the goal that would change the match still felt like it was lurking around the corner. Manchester City forward Jeremy Doku shows how he scores beautiful goals When the second half kicked into gear, that corner came quickly. Harvey Barnes put Newcastle in front just past the hour, only for Rúben Dias to level the match minutes later. City barely had time to settle before Barnes struck again, restoring Newcastle's lead and tightening the pressure on Guardiola's side. Tight game, chances, entertaining game. At the end they scored two goals. We had one. It was a really good performance in general. We had chances. Second half unfortunately we could not finish. Pep Guardiola via NBC Sports Fan reaction turns toward Phil Foden After the final whistle, the conversation shifted rapidly online. Many City supporters zeroed in on Phil Foden, claiming his decisions and lack of sharpness hurt the team in key moments. Some fans even argued that Pep Guardiola should consider dropping him in upcoming fixtures, adding fuel to an already heated discussion about City's midfield balance. https://twitter.com/USER_ID/status/1992346373249962355 Guardiola, speaking to NBC Sports, chose a more measured tone. He praised the team's effort, calling the match intense and full of chances, while admitting City fell short in decisive duels. The manager also acknowledged Newcastle's strong pressing, saying his players struggled to capitalize on their best stretches of play. https://twitter.com/USER_ID/status/1992315473669816346 Rúben Dias offered similar reflections. He highlighted the number of chances City created but pointed out the obvious problem: Newcastle scored from theirs, and City did not. He also mentioned the challenge of playing away right after an international break, something experienced Premier League sides know all too well. https://twitter.com/USER_ID/status/1992295135774695623 Looking at the table, the defeat carries real weight. Arsenal remain four points ahead and still hold a game in hand. For City, every missed opportunity adds pressure, especially with Bayer Leverkusen coming up in the Champions League followed by a tricky Premier League meeting with Leeds. It was difficult in all ways for both teams. It was a very intense game. I feel like we had loads of chances and in the end we didn't score. We have to do better. And they scored on their two chances. We have to be better. You come in away Newcastle. Everyone knows how strong they are at home. It's also the first game after an international break. It's always difficult Rúben Dias via NBC Sports If the reaction from fans is any indication, the spotlight on Phil Foden will be intense in the coming weeks. Whether it motivates him or complicates Guardiola's plans is a storyline worth watching.
