Defending champions Manchester City demonstrated their continuing imperious form as they effortlessly crushed relegation-threatened Newcastle to confirm their position at the top of the table at Christmas.<\/p>\n
Eddie Howe’s side began the proceedings by unfortunately shooting themselves in the foot barely five minutes after kick-off when Ciaran Clark, instead of opting to make a simple header to clear the ball, gave Ruben Dias the opportunity to nod the loose ball into the net.<\/p>\n
Newcastle did whatever they could and only managed to rally briefly at best as a relentless City put the hosts mercilessly to the sword shortly before the half-hour, when Joao Cancelo smashed a right-footed shot past Martin Dubravka from the edge of the area.\u00a0 City continued to maintain their vice-like grip in the second half, with Riyad Mahrez and Raheem Sterling getting on the scoresheet to ensure an eighth consecutive league win.<\/p>\n
It was City’s 34th league victory of 2021, establishing a new record for the most top-flight wins by a team in a calendar year.<\/p>\n
They finished the weekend three points clear of second-placed Liverpool.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"