After Manchester City lost 1-2 to Newcastle in an away game, "TA" commented on the game. They said that this defeat caused Manchester City to miss the opportunity to catch up with Arsenal.
At St. James' Park, Manchester City failed to seize the opportunity to put pressure on Arsenal and eventually lost 1-2 to Newcastle United. The defeat dropped Guardiola's side to third place, one point behind Chelsea, and if Arsenal can beat Tottenham, City could be seven points behind Arsenal.
What it means for Manchester City's championship situation
Manchester City has only lost one of the past eight Premier League games, and Guardiola seems to have found a lineup that can continue the winning streak. But the defeat was a major blow to their title hopes at a critical moment in the season. Arsenal will move seven points ahead of Manchester City if they beat Tottenham on Sunday. Guardiola showed obvious dissatisfaction after the first goal and even banged his chair on the coaching bench.
Has Barnes become Newcastle's big-game player?
Anthony Gordon almost came on, but it was Barnes who replaced him who proved himself to be the hero at critical moments. Although he wasted a great opportunity in the first half, he broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute and scored another goal five minutes later to help Newcastle regain the lead. These two goals brought new confidence to Newcastle.
Did Donnarumma make a mistake?
Donnarumma made many key saves early in the game, but his weakness in handling crosses ultimately led to Manchester City's defeat. He almost allowed Newcastle to score when he misplaced a pass in the opening 20 seconds, but then made several important saves. Nonetheless, Barnes' long-range effort and a defensive error from a corner gave Newcastle the win.
What is the impact of the return of Liveramento and Hall?
Newcastle coach Eddie Howe promised changes, and restoring the two full-backs to the starting position has brought significant results. The return of Hall and Liveramento has had a positive impact on both ends of the floor. Hall was outstanding on the left, while Livramento was equally good on the right, both playing important roles in attack and defence.