Manchester City vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction after Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva goals

As remiss as it may seem to criticize a team for not relentlessly claiming wins this year after battling relegation for most of last season, the nature of competitive sport is that the goals are naturally fluid.

Exceed early expectations, and naturally, thoughts turn to what kind of fame could be attainable. Underperforming by a wide margin, and especially in English football, simply avoiding relegation can quickly become crucial.

In Newcastle United’s first 16 Premier League games this season, they lost just once, kept enough clean sheets to have the best defense in the top flight and earned a reputation for playing tough and irritating.

Eddie Howe’s side have slotted into the top four on some consistent performances, Miguel Almiron had the best season of his career – at least this side of the Atlantic – and others like Liverpool and Chelsea failed to reach the heights expected of them.

If it was the derby between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, the duel of the super-rich was decided with the help of a mancunier who cost nothing. Phil Foden’s return to form was marked by a goal that was both deflected and glorious. Bernardo Silva made it clear that Manchester City already have more resources than Newcastle United for the time being, coming off the bench and scoring within two minutes. The owners are neighbors in the Middle East but it is increasingly likely that their clubs will not meet in Europe next season.

The reigning champions made it less likely that Newcastle will be in the Champions League. After a four-month stint in the top four, her season has stalled. After just two losses all season, they have three in as many games in all competitions. And if the game plan has always made that possible, the goal shortage has become acute.

For City, meanwhile, it was at least evidence that they appear to be less dependent on Erling Haaland to find a target. The Norwegian has scored in just two of his last eight games but when he got an assist, two of City’s band of midfielders and wingers got involved instead to keep their title challenge going. They have only dropped points twice this season at the Etihad and with Newcastle on their longest unbeaten run away in the top flight in 53 years, something has had to give way. The result felt predictable, though.

“I’m very happy because it was a tough game. It was a difficult moment in the game for us.

“They take more risks and have tried to achieve that [second] Tor was very good. If you play Newcastle you know how good they are this season. They chose it because they need points. We knew they would push more and create more chances, so the second goal was important for us.

“Phil Foden is so good, he’s one of those players who can score goals and win games for you. I’m happy for him, he went through a difficult time with his injury so I’m very happy to have him with us because he showed that he can solve some of our problems.

“The team spirit is good at the moment. We’ve had difficult moments this season, but we want to compete and do our best. It won’t be easy, but we will fight for all the titles we have left.

“We will see, we can only focus on ourselves now, we cannot focus on Arsenal. We have to do our job because if we don’t do it, it doesn’t matter what Arsenal do or don’t do.”

This goal for Ederson is the 100th out for the Brazilian in the Premier League.

Bernardo Silva’s goal was Manchester City’s 1,000. Home goal in the Premier League, the sixth team to reach this milestone in the competition (160 at Maine Road, 840 at Etihad).

90+4 mins: A last-minute free-kick gives Newcastle an opportunity to score a consolation goal but Kieran Trippier’s shot lands safely in Ederson’s hands.

That’s the final kick of the game and City takes the points. They remain second but move to two points ahead of Arsenal, who take on Bournemouth at 3pm.

That defeat is only the third for Newcastle this season but it’s a major damper on their hopes of finishing in the top four this year.

90 minutes: Four minutes of stoppage time. Man City just want to keep their lead. They win four corners in a row keeping Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland in the corner.

Haaland especially loves it, he encourages fans and wraps up Newcastle defenders.

88 mins: Matt Targett has replaced Dan Burn for Newcastle. It’s a smart move by Eddie Howe as Burn was sitting on a yellow card after some heated arguments.

85 mins: Newcastle’s biggest problem is that they can’t score. They have only scored three league goals since the turn of the year.

City quickly slides the ball along the edge of the box before selecting Foden on the right. He shoots, but Nick Pope settles down to keep him away.

Nice save from the Newcastle man.