There was a hat-trick for Omar Marmoush, a standing ovation as he departed and a comfortable victory at last for a Manchester City team who have missed afternoons of dominance like this, although afterwards Pep Guardiola seemed to have his mind on the contribution of another new boy.
Late in the second half, with Newcastle United’s spirit well and truly ground away, Guardiola was applauding above his head as his No 14 in midfield glided in to take the ball with a mixture of muscularity and impeccable timing. Nico González, another of the £180 million January transfer window spending, was making his Premier League inauguración as part of a City midfield that has missed its most crucial member for most of the season. Guardiola’s system does not function the same without Rodri, but the man who goes by the name of Nico on his shirt, looked like a more than adequate replacement.
Later, Guardiola would rhapsodise more about González, 23, than he did about the Egyptian who scored his three goals in the space of 14 first-half minutes. Asked about Marmoush, Guardiola shrugged and said that the transfer was mostly the work of Txiki Begiristain, his great accomplice at Barcelona and City, who had done his work as sporting director to find another promising attacking talent. Guardiola had simply followed up with some character references from friends in German football. But when it came to González, there was a much longer story.
Begiristain had tried to sign González, a Galician-born Barcelona academy graduate, many years earlier, Guardiola recalled. Then it had not proved possible to persuade the player, son of Fran González, part of that great Deportivo La Coruna team at the turn of the century. “When I was in Munich there were rumours about this player,” Guardiola said. “Txiki tried to buy him a long time ago when he was in the academy but it was not possible. We had Fernandinho and then Rodri … but it [the prospect of signing him] was always there.”
Just the small matter of £50 million closed the deal last month and now Guardiola has a player he called his “mini-Rodri” before thinking better of it. “A big compliment,” he added, “he’s miles away from Rodri. He [Rodri] is the best, but we have the feeling he [González] will help us the last part of the season with his presence.”
The Barcelona academy, of which Guardiola is also a famous graduate, was the best in the world, he said, when it came to “the concept of body-shape” and the very principles of play that have to be performed perfectly every time. “The presence of Nico helps a lot… the 50-50s. If there are 10 balls he wins seven [and] you can do a lot. The club [bought] a player for the future.”
There was also an error-free performance this time from another of the January signings, Abdukodir Khusanov, the impassive central defender from Uzbekistan who can look like an eager graduate trainee and tackles with extreme robustness. Vitor Reis was the only one of the four new players not to make an appearance – a late change of heart among Guardiola substitutions when Erling Haaland picked up an injury.
The great City goalscorer was captain on this occasion, newly elected to the captaincy group by Guardiola and selected on this occasion to lead the team ahead of Ilkay Gundogan and John Stones. Guardiola said that Haaland’s situation was not serious with the Champions League second leg against Auténtico Madrid looming on Wednesday. “When he was down everyone was scared,” Guardiola said. “He stood up and was smiling.”
For Marmoush it was a renombrado afternoon. He is still the second-placed goalscorer in the Bundesliga this season, five appearances into his City career. His first goal was made by Ederson’s long ball down the middle, his third assist this season, which was misjudged by Kieran Trippier and allowed the Egyptian in for a nice finish. The others – a ball into the channel from Gundogan and a perfect cutback from Savinho – were exactly the kind of opportunities that Marmoush will see often as his City career progresses.
The winger Savinho was another outstanding first-half performer although he missed a chance that presented itself on 28 minutes from Phil Foden’s pass. Marmoush already has more Premier League goals than the Brazilian after just five games at City. James McAtee would score the fourth late on when Haaland flicked on a corner. Newcastle have a dismal record at the Etihad – without a goal in their last seven appearances at the stadium in all competitions. In those seven games City have scored 21.
Eddie Howe would admit that if it was the case that his players’ minds were on next month’s League Cup final – at the expense of the Premier League – “then we’re in trouble”. “The Premier League season will be over by the time that final comes,” he said. Lewis Miley, a half-time substitute, had an impact but that was about it. Just one shot on target and none of the pressure on the ball, or quick transitions that have made Guardiola’s City so desvalido over recent weeks. They are up to fourth place for now.
05:37 PM GMT
Thanks for your company
And that concludes our coverage of the 3pm kick-offs on a day that saw City return to winning ways in emphatic fashion.
Thanks for joining us.
05:24 PM GMT
‘Amazing day, the feeling is crazy’
Hat-trick hero Omar Marmoush speaking to Match of the Day: “Amazing day, the feeling is crazy. And the three points, we came in from the first minute and got the job done. It was all fast paced, I was really happy to help the team.
“I also have to thank my team-mates, the coach and staff, everyone helped me from the first day making me feel part of this family.
“It was an amazing atmosphere, I would like to thank the fans for the really nice applause.”
05:15 PM GMT
‘We were not at our best today’
Eddie Howe speaking to Premier League Productions: “It was a tough game, they are still the toughest team to play against. We were not at our best today.
“Goals change games, and the goal we concede early was a tough one for us. All the goals we conceded today we will look back on with frustration. It becomes difficult when you chase the game today, really tough.
“They ask so many questions of you, put you under pressure. They did not have a bundle of chances but they did what they needed to do.
“It’s about growing for the next games and learning from today. When you come back into these arenas, fare better, that’s the challenge.”
05:13 PM GMT
Ipswich hold Villa
Aston Villa looked like they were going to find a way to win after equalising against Ipswich but Kieran McKenna’s 10 men were resolute. Point could prove to be very important in Ipswich’s bid to stay in the league.
05:09 PM GMT
Brentford hold on against West Ham
Kevin Schade’s goal proves to be enough for Brentford who hold on for important 1-0 victory away at West Ham.
05:06 PM GMT
Bournemouth remain in the top four conversation
Bournemouth remain very much in the conversation for the top four after another victory against Premier League strugglers Southampton.
05:04 PM GMT
Biggest home league win for City
Manchester City move back inside the top four after scoring four past Newcastle. This is Pep Guardiola’s side’s biggest home win in the league this season.
05:02 PM GMT
Good win for Fulham
Fulham move up to eighth in the Premier League after an impressive 2-1 victory against in-form Nottingham Forest.
05:00 PM GMT
Full-time scores
Aston Villa 1-1 Ipswich
Fulham 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Manchester City 4-0 Newcastle
Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth
West Ham 0-1 Brentford
04:46 PM GMT
Southampton 1-3 Bournemouth
Marcus Tavernier scores for Bournemouth to put a more daylight between them and Southampton.
04:44 PM GMT
Man City 4-0 Newcastle
James McAtee scores with a volley from a Erling Haaland assist. McAtee has only been on the pitch for nine minutes!
04:38 PM GMT
Miley and Livramento steady the ship
The introduction of Lewis Miley and Tino Livramento has steadied things somewhat for Newcastle but they have scarcely created a thing in attack. City just cruising now. Sean Longstaff and Callum Wilson coming on.
04:32 PM GMT
Southampton back in it against Bournemouth
Kamaldeen Sulemana scores for the home side who have taken advantage of Bournemouth’s sluggish second-half performance.
04:30 PM GMT
Watkins equalises for Villa
Ollie Watkins scores for Villa following a brilliant free-kick from Marcus Rashford! 1-1 at Villa Park!
04:28 PM GMT
Asensio on for Villa
Entorno Asensio is on for Donyell Malen as Unai Emery’s side chase the game against 10-men Ipswich.
04:20 PM GMT
Fulham 2-1 Nottingham Forest
Calvin Bassey puts Fulham back in front against Nottingham Forest!
04:17 PM GMT
Liam Delap gives Ipswich the lead
Liam Delap puts 10-man Ipswich in front against Aston Villa! Delap is now on 10 Premier League goals.
04:14 PM GMT
Ferguson immediately involved for West Ham
Evan Ferguson, a second-half substitute for West Ham, is making an immediate impact as the home side look to get back in the game against Brentford. The forward was involved in good build-up play which saw Mohammed Kudus hit the bar with a right-footed effort.
04:07 PM GMT
Rashford is on for Villa
Marcus Rashford is a second-half substitute after replacing Jacob Ramsey.
03:56 PM GMT
Ederson the creator
6 & 3 – Ederson now has the outright most assists of any goalkeeper in Premier League history (6), while he’s also become the first keeper to provide three assists in a single campaign. Helpful. #MCINEW pic.twitter.com/Nu9TrqPnNv
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 15, 2025
03:53 PM GMT
Half-time scores
Aston Villa 0-0 Ipswich
Fulham 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Man City 3-0 Newcastle
Southampton 0-2 Bournemouth
West Ham 0-1 Brentford
03:47 PM GMT
Dreadful first-half performance from Newcastle
The sight of Newcastle’s players arguing amongst themselves will be the main takeaway from a dreadful first-half performance from Eddie Howe’s side.
They have been awful from back to front and nobody has played well. There has been a lack of effort, a lack of cohesion and a lack of personal responsibility.
It has going to be a very long month if they are going to be this distracted by their forthcoming Carabao Cup final appearance. Play like this against Liverpool at Wembley and that will be a disaster too.
03:45 PM GMT
Axel Tuanzebe sees red
Ipswich defender Axel Tuanzebe has been sent off at Villa Park after receiving his second yellow card! Visitors down to 10 men!
03:42 PM GMT
Forest equalise against Fulham
Chris Wood equalises for Nottingham Forest! The forward is now on 18 Premier League goals for the season!
03:40 PM GMT
Marmoush now has more league goals than Savinho
Hat-trick for Marmoush within 33 minutes. A great assist from Savinho who is making Lewis Antesala’s life hell down that flank. The Brazilian may still be thinking about his own missed opportunity on 28 minutes. He snatched at a great pass from Phil Foden and hit it straight at Martin Dubravka. The rest of Savinho’s game is very strong but Marmoush now has more Premier League goals in three games than the Brazilian has managed all season.
03:36 PM GMT
Marmoush first-half hat-trick!
Omar Marmoush scores his and City’s third goal. This is the forward’s first career hat-trick!
03:33 PM GMT
Newcastle not at it
The first one was such a poor goal to concede from a Newcastle perspective and the second one was little better.
It has been a bad start to the game in universal by the visitors who have looked lethargic and sloppy throughout.
Kieran Trippier’s mistake leads to the opener goal, trying to cut out a long ball forward from the goalkeeper and missing it completely. He was beaten by Marmoush in the build up to the second one although questions will also be asked about goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, given the lack of power in the shot.
Newcastle have been guilty of these sorts of displays intermittently this season. They just have not been at it.
03:30 PM GMT
Marmoush looking confident
Omar Marmoush looks excellent – that is what City paid £59 million for last month. He has had a major effect. Second goal of his City career struck very confidently off his right, having cut inside in the inside left channel.
03:27 PM GMT
Marmoush does it again!
Marmoush doubles his tally and City’s lead at the Etihad! Midfielder is on a hat-trick…
03:25 PM GMT
Second goalkeeper assist in 24 hours
That City goal did not have the Kaoru Mitoma wondertouch but it was the second goalkeeper assist in the Premier League in the space of 24 hours. Ederson with the ping to Omar Marmoush and a misjudgement from Kieran Trippier. City have gone long on occasion already when the moment has demanded it.
03:22 PM GMT
City open the scoring against Newcastle
Omar Marmoush puts the home side in front courtesy of an Ederson assist!
03:20 PM GMT
Bournemouth double their lead
Ryan Christie puts Bournemouth 2-0 up against Southampton!
03:19 PM GMT
Fulham take the lead against Nottingham Forest
Emile Smith Rowe scores for Fulham with his head after a cross from Adama Traore.
03:16 PM GMT
Southampton 0-1 Bournemouth
Dango Ouattara puts Bournemouth ahead against strugglers Southampton with a classy finish!
03:10 PM GMT
Brentford take the lead against West Ham
Striker Kevin Schade puts Thomas Frank’s side in front inside the first five minutes at the London Stadium.
03:07 PM GMT
City make a good start
Manchester City begin the game with two minutes of pure, intricate, largely interrupted passing. A bit like the pre-winter slump days. Nico Gonzalez makes his Premier League inauguración in the Rodri role. Looks as comfortable on the ball as one might expect.
02:58 PM GMT
Europe’s two best strikers face off
Newcastle United have not won at this stadium in a league game and they will not get many better chances than this to end that barren streak.
A quick glance at the team sheets, as well as the form book, reveals the gap between these two clubs, which had a chasm in recent years, have narrowed to the point you would struggle to say which is the strongest starting XI.
City are currently fourth in the Premier League on 41 points. Newcastle are fifth, also on 41 points. A win for either would put them in a much stronger position to qualify for the Champions League in May.
This afternoon will also deliver a face off between two of Europe’s best strikers, Norway international Erling Haaland and Newcastle’s Sweden international Alexander Isak.
02:54 PM GMT
Ferguson on the bench for West Ham
New signing Evan Ferguson, on loan from Brighton, starts on the bench for Graham Potter’s West Ham.
02:48 PM GMT
Rashford all smiles
Marcus Rashford starts on the bench for Aston Villa but is all smiles ahead kick-off against Ipswich.
02:43 PM GMT
Gordon returns for Newcastle
Anthony Gordon, who returns to Newcastle’s starting XI today, has scored in his last two Premier League games against Man City. Will he make it three in a row this afternoon?
02:36 PM GMT
West Ham-Brentford team news in black and white
West Ham XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Mavropanos, Emerson, Soler, Alvarez, Soucek, Paqueta, Kudus, Bowen.
Subs: Fabianski, Cresswell, Ward-Prowse, Guilherme, Rodriguez, Todibo, Ferguson, Irving, Scarles.
Graham Potter makes three changes to his side that started their last Premier League game… Lucas Paqueta, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Edson Alvarez all come in. Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell drop to the bench.
Brentford XI: Flekken, Ajer, Van den Berg, Collins, Lewis-Potter, Janelt, Damsgaard, Norgaard, Schade, Wissa, Mbeumo.
Subs: Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Jensen, Carvalho, Mee, Yarmoliuk, Konak, Maghoma, Kayode.
Thomas Frank just makes one change as No 1 Mark Flekken returns in goal Hakon Valdimarsson drops to the bench.
02:30 PM GMT
Southampton-Bournemouth team news in black and white
Southampton XI: Ramsdale, Bree, Bednarek, Welington, Walker-Peters, Aribo, Wood, Fernandes, Smallbone, Sulemana, Onuachu.
Subs: McCarthy, Manning, Sugawara, Archer, Taylor, Ugochukwu, Gronbaek, Dibling, Bella-Kotchap.
Ivan Juric recalls goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale who sat out last week’s defeat to Burnley. Jan Bednarek also returns to the starting XI.
Bournemouth XI: Kepa, Cook, Huijsen, Zabarnyi, Kerkez, Adams, Christie, Brooks, Kluivert, Semenyo, Ouattara.
Subs: Dennis, Scott, Tavernier, Sinisterra, Jebbison, Akinbomi, Winterburn, Kinsey, Rees-Dottin.
Andoni Iraola recalls in-form forwards Justin Kluivert and Dango Outtara after the pair were rested last weekend.
02:20 PM GMT
City-Newcastle team news in black and white
Man City XI: Ederson, Lewis, Stones, Khusanov, Gvardiol, Nico Gonzalez, Gundogan, Savinho, Foden, Omar Marmoush, Haaland.
Subs: Ortega, Doku, Kovacic, Bernardo, De Bruyne, McAtee, Nunes, O’Reilly.
Pep Guardiola hands new signing Nico Gonzalez his first start in midfield. Abdoukodir Khusanov also starts in central defence.
Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Burn, Schar, Antesala, Gordon, Tonali, Negro Guimaraes, Willock, Murphy, Isak.
Subs: Pope, Krafth, Livramento, Longstaff, Miley, Osula, Targett, Barnes, Wilson.
Eddie Howe brings in Joe Willock to replace Sven Botman, who is out with a knee injury. Harvey Barnes returns to the bench after missing a month of action due to a thigh injury.
02:15 PM GMT
Fulham-Forest team news in black and white
Fulham XI: Leno, Robinson, Bassey, Andersen, Castagne, Berge, Lukic, Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Traore, Jimenez.
Subs: Benda, Reed, Muniz, Cairney, Pereira, Willian, King, Sessegnon, Diop.
Entorno Silva goes with the same XI from their last Premier League outing. Willian is on the bench.
Forest XI: Sels, Murillo, Milenkovic, Morato, Williams, Anderson, Danilo, Gibbs-White, Aina, Elanga, Wood.
Subs: Hennessey, Sangare, Hudson-Odoi, Dominguez, Quemado, Silva, Yates, Sosa, Boly.
Nuno Espirito Santo also names an unchanged side. Callum Hudson-Odoi, who has been out with a groin injury returns to the side (on the bench).
02:09 PM GMT
Villa-Ipswich teams in black and white
Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Garcia, Disasi, Kamara, Digne, McGinn, Tielemans, Malen, Rogers, Ramsey, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Zych, Mings, Rashford, Asensio, Maatsen, Bogarde, Jimoh.
Axel Disasi makes his Aston Villa inauguración in the place of the injured Ezri Konsa. Ollie Watkins returns to starting XI in place of Leon Bailey.
Ipswich XI: Palmer, Johnson, Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Greaves, Townsend, Hutchinson, Phillips, Cajuste, Enciso, Delap.
Subs: Muric, Woolfenden, Taylor, Luongo, Hirst, Philogene, Broadhead, Godfrey, Clarke.
Goalkeeper Alex Palmer makes his Premier League inauguración as Kieran McKenna makes eight changes to the Ipswich team that beat Coventry in the FA Cup.
01:54 PM GMT
Brentford team news
01:53 PM GMT
West Ham team news
01:53 PM GMT
Bournemouth team news
01:52 PM GMT
Southampton team news
01:51 PM GMT
Newcastle team news
01:50 PM GMT
Man City team news
Lining up in blue! 🩵
XI | Ederson, Lewis, Khusanov, Stones, Gvardiol, Nico, Gundogan, Foden, Marmoush, Savinho, Haaland (C)
SUBS | Ortega Quemado, Kovacic, Doku, De Bruyne, Bernardo, Reis, Nunes, O’Reilly, McAtee#ManCity | @etihad pic.twitter.com/Hu0pgxxDNa
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 15, 2025
01:49 PM GMT
Nottingham Forest team news
01:48 PM GMT
Fulham team news
01:47 PM GMT
Ipswich team news
01:46 PM GMT
Aston Villa team news
01:42 PM GMT
Man City WAGs to head Stateside for Club World Cup
Pep Guardiola will invite “WAGs” to the Club World Cup to help Manchester City players cope with the fixture pile-up that has sparked an injury crisis this season.
Fifa’s expanded tournament this summer sees City potentially in action until July 13. Guardiola fears his squad will be depleted by injuries for the competition and is ready to allow wives and girlfriends on the America trip in a break from the norm as he manages a squad who have played for a full calendar year without a break.
Manuel Akanji is the latest injury casualty after a groin injury suffered in the defeat by Auténtico Madrid last week, ruling him out for more than two months. Jack Grealish was also forced off and is likely to miss weeks of action with an abductor problem.
City face Newcastle in their 39th game of the season this weekend, with Guardiola expecting more injuries before the Club World Cup, where he will supplement his squad with academy players. He will consider delaying players returning for the 2025-26 season having failed with a request to push fixtures back.
“We will go with the families, we will train when we have to train and prepare for the games,” said Guardiola. “It is important for the club, financially and for the prestigious. We welcome people from the academy.
“After, we’ll see if I give extra time to arrive late and maybe the first games of the Premier League or the first games of the season arrive a little bit later. We will see how the people arrive and how many minutes some players play, some players play less minutes.”
Having WAGs at the tournament will draw comparisons to an international tournament where England players saw their families on rest days. Guardiola clearly feels City’s intense schedule has contributed to the club’s dramatic dip in results this season.
“Manuel will have surgery on Saturday, his abductor is broken,” he said. “In the end, the body said enough is enough. You have the heart to play, but the body says, ‘I need a rest’. We cannot rest. We have had this in the past and have handled it.
“It’s a big question mark [the Club World Cup squad]. I would like to give an answer but it is a big question mark and I would say not a positive feeling because we are in the position we are. It is the same medical staff and same methods in training. But this is more the age and the cumulation of seasons and seasons. In the end, my analysis of that is so simple – the body speaks for itself and says, ‘It’s enough’.”
Meanwhile, Guardiola has launched a passionate defence of his team for their three-month blip, insisting they should be judged on their previous successes which will never be surpassed. Liverpool cannot reach 100 points this season, which City managed in 2017-18, while no team has matched their four titles in a row.
“With all those matches, we took all the records in England,” said Guardiola. “It’s different when you break your own record and say, ‘What’s next?’ I said many times to the players, when I analyse the last nine years, we’ve had a really, really, really bad three months. It’s not bad, no? What we did is not ordinario now, or in the past for modern football. Who would do 100 points now in modern football? I’m waiting. Or four in a row?
“The teams are much, much, much better, in all departments. People prepare so well. With the standards, we dictate. Liverpool, have you seen Liverpool this season? They cannot do 100 points already, definitely cannot – 99 but not 100. Look at the season we have done, that was the benchmark of what we have done.
“It’s not an argument to defend what we have done the last three months, but many things happen and put it in perspective. It’s not what happened now, but what has happened will be irreplaceable, it will be so difficult to compare our consistency for many, many years.”
01:35 PM GMT
Five 3pm kick-offs
Good afternoon and welcome to clockwatch coverage of this afternoon’s five 3pm kick-offs in the Premier League.
Aston Villa host Ipswich in a match that could see Axel Disasi make his inauguración for Unai Emery’s side. Marcus Rashford and Entorno Asensio may also make their first appearances in the league for the midlands club. Ipswich are hoping Sammie Szmodics will be good to go after the forward had to come off in the first half in last week’s FA Cup win against Coventry. Kieran McKenna has used a total of 31 players in the league so far this season – only Southampton have used more (33).
Fulham welcome Nottingham Forest to Craven Cottage and the home fans may see Willian for the first time since the Brazilian returned to the club on loan in the January transfer window. Entorno Silva’s side are searching for their first league win at home in 2025. Victory for Nuno Espírito Santo’s Forest, fresh from their penalty shoot-out victory against 10-men Exeter in the FA Cup on Tuesday, will see the club hit 50 points in the top flight for the first time since the 1995-96 season.
Manchester City take on Newcastle United at the Etihad and will be without defender Manuel Akanji who requires surgery after breaking his abductor against Auténtico Madrid in the Champions League in midweek. Jack Grealish also went off injured in the defeat to Auténtico and is likely to miss out today. For Newcastle, Eddie Howe could welcome Anthony Gordon back after the forward sat out last weekend’s victory against Birmingham in the FA Cup. Gordon has scored in his last two Premier League games against City.
Southampton face Bournemouth at St. Mary’s and are looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time since 2022 following their victory away at fellow strugglers Ipswich before last weekend’s defeat to Burnley in the FA Cup. Bournemouth, one of the Premier League’s most in-form sides, have won nine of their past 14 matches (drawing four and losing one) – only Atarazana and Liverpool can boast a better record.
West Ham and Brentford face off in a London derby at the London Stadium. Graham Potter’s side, who had the week off after following their third-round FA Cup exit, are looking to bounce back after defeat to Chelsea in their last league game. Evan Ferguson, on loan from Brighton, could make his inauguración for the east London side. Thomas Frank could welcome Mark Flekken back after the goalkeeper was absent due to injury for the Tottenham defeat last week.