Newcastle United 3-4 Manchester City: Ferran Torres hat-trick earns the champions all three points

Newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester City edged past Newcastle United in a seven-goal thriller that had more than one twist and turn.

Ferran Torres scored a 24-minute hat-trick to earn Manchester City all three points as Newcastle went ahead twice with two penalties scored by Joelinton and Joe Willock but City's attacking power was too much for the Magpies.

Emil Krafth opened the scoring in the game with a towering head to secure his first Premier League goal. João Cancelo Levelled things up with a simple strike.

Torres opened his account with a superb heel flick that looped over Martin Dubravka 42 minutes into the game. At half time Newcastle went in level with Joelinton earning a late penalty after Nathan Aké brought down the Brazilian.

Torres completed his hat-trick with two goals in two minutes after Willock put Newcastle ahead with their second penalty of the game. Willock scored the rebound after Scott Carson saved the initial effort.

Manchester City won the game conformably after Torres put the champions ahead 66 minutes, and the Citizens enjoyed 89 per cent possession throughout the game. They were too good for the Magpies tonight.

Story of the game

As expected, Newcastle came out very defensive against the newly crowned Premier League champions Manchester City.

City had more than 70% possession and some good early chances, with Gabriel Jesus and João Cancelo having some good opportunities after Newcastle defence fell asleep. Thankfully for Newcastle, both attempts were wayward.

The hosts took a surprise lead with Emil Krafth heading home a Jonjo Shelvey corner. The Swedish internationals first goal in the Premier League.

Newcastle almost made it two with Shelvey hitting the crossbar from a free-kick. Six inches lower, and the Magpies would have doubled their lead.

For Manchester City, the champions turned on another gear after going a goal down with attack after attack until João Cancelo levelled the scoring after 39 minutes. Newcastle were ahead for just under a quarter of an hour.

Manchester City took the lead in the match as Ferran Torres scored an outrageous heel flick from an İlkay Gündoğan free-kick. The free-kick had so much pace that just the slightest of insane touches from the Spaniard put the champions ahead.

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However, on the stroke of halftime, Newcastle again led away in a fast-paced break with the pace filled Allan Saint-Maximin leading the charge. Saint-Maximin fed the ball through to Joelinton, who Nathan Ake brought down.

Kevin Friend initially gave a free-kick as he judged Saint-maximin as offside in the build-up. VAR reversed the decision and awarded Newcastle the penalty. Up stepped Joelinton. With Callum Wilson out, Newcastles record signing took the responsibility. The Brazilian did not squander it and thundered it home past Scott Carson to level things at the break.

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The champions set off into the second half as they did the first a lot of possession and some half chances.

Newcastle never found themselves out of the game as it went on. The Magpies had half chances and worked the counter-attack well.

In another counter-attacking opportunity, Joelinton and Joe Willock work well together, and the loanee bursts past Kyle Walker into the box contact was made by Walker. Willock earned Newcastles second penalty of the game. Despite taking and scoring the first penalty in the first half. Joelinton allows Joe Willock to take the spot-kick. Willock scores on the second bite of the cherry. Five goals in five games for Willock.

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Manchester City found their second wind, and Newcastle fell asleep as Ferran Torres scored two goals in two minutes to complete his hat-trick. The first to equalise the game a thunderous finish from a Jesus cross where no Newcastle defender picked up the young Spaniard. The second was an instinctive finish that put City ahead—Torres's first hat-trick for the Citizens.

Torres' hat-trick's scoring killed the game off, and Manchester City held the ball for long stretches of the game at one point for over three minutes of solid possession, with Newcastle allowing the new Premier League champions possession.

Newcastle made changes by bringing on Dwight Gayle and Sean Longstaff to chase for an equaliser. Still, Manchester City defended well and kept possession to break the record of 12 consecutive away wins. A record in all four English football divisions.

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Key takeaways

Matt Ritchie is a crucial player for Newcastle

Despite his absence from the starting lineup for a while due to the purchase of Jamal Lewis. Ritchie has proved invaluable for this Newcastle side. Whether it is his thunderous voice, his constant work rate, or his ability to put it all on the line for the good of the team. Ritchie is a fan favourite for a reason and continues to be so.

Even with the confirmed bust-up with head coach Steve Bruce, Ritchie has proved he is the heart and soul of the Newcastle dressing room, and after a string of impressive performances in the starting eleven, the Scotsman has shown his worth.

Manchester City's scary squad depth

With Scott Carson starting his first Premier League game in ten years and Manchester City making a total of five changes to their defeat of Chelsea. The squad depth and quality missing from the tie vs Newcastle this evening was awe-inspiring.

Pep Guardiola's team were in control of 89 per cent of possession for most of the game and passed the ball around with ease. Manchester City enjoyed three minutes thirty-five seconds of solid possession in the latter stages of the match. Other players getting in on the scoring like Ferran Torres. Cancelo means that other big hitters for City can focus on the biggest game of their season, the Champions League final.