The signs from the past bode well for Manchester City. For the third time, they will top the Premier League table on Christmas Day.
On the previous two, they went on to win the league: on goal difference in 2011-12 and by a massive 19 points in 2017-18. Now Sunday’s 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle has given them a three-point lead over Liverpool.
Riyad Mahrez, who was one of the scorers at St James’ Park, ignored the history lesson. “I don’t know [if it] is a good omen,” said the forward. “I don’t really believe in superstitions and these types of things. I just believe in winning games and trying to be there until the end.”
It is a mantra that has served City well during a sequence of eight straight league victories. “The numbers do not matter. We just have to win game after game,” said Mahrez.
Before those eight games, they were five points adrift of Chelsea. Now they are six ahead. More than most, City have experience of what extended winning runs can do. Last season’s winter surge of 15 successive triumphs in effect secured the title. “It is nice to know the numbers at the end, if we make a lot of wins,” the winger added.
Some other numbers ought to make for pleasant viewing for him. He has scored in his last three games and capitalised on a terrific cross from Oleksandr Zinchenko at Newcastle. “I had the feeling that I was onside because when I made the run I could see that I was level with the defender,” he said. He had initially been flagged offside, but VAR overturned the decision. His 50th City goal brought up another milestone.
Newcastle v Manchester City player ratings
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Jacob Murphy - 6: Both of Newcastle’s full-backs are out-of-position wingers but did a fine job keeping Sterling relatively quiet. Skinned by Jesus ahead of fourth goal. AFP -
Ciaran Clark - 4: First game since brainless sending off against Norwich and gifted opening goal to Dias after five minutes when, incredibly, he decided not to head away cross. Failed to close down and then turned his back on Cancelo strike for City's second. AFP -
Matt Ritchie - 6: Did fine job on Mahrez for 64 minutes … then lost Algerian who volleyed home third goal. Excellent ball down left to put Saint-Maximin away on run at start of second half. EPA -
Isaac Hayden - 6: Deserved booking minutes for foul on De Bruyne and now suspended for next game. Left on backside by Cancelo ahead of second goal. Headed corner wide when should have done better in eventful first half for midfielder. AFP -
Ryan Fraser - 5: Had shot cleared off line in first half that would have been chalked off anyway for Hayden foul. Should have earned Newcastle penalty after being brought down by Ederson but somehow not given by referee or VAR. Reuters -
Joe Willock - 4: Left for dead by one piece of Silva quality in first half and then by another from Cancelo before second goal. Hooked at half-time and struggling badly for form this season. PA -
Joelinton - 6: Drilled shot just wide of target from edge of box in 12th minute and good ball into feet of Wilson late in opening half. Brazilian is certainly playing better under Eddie Howe than he ever did under predecessor Steve Bruce – but still lacks cutting edge in terms of goals or assists. EPA -
SUBS: Allan Saint-Maximin – (On for Willock 46’) 5: Nearly found Wilson with ball into middle minutes into second half but was his usual mix of dangerous running and wasteful final balls. EPA -
Sean Longstaff – (On for Hayden 61’) 5: Sporting a dubious moustache, Geordie midfielder couldn’t change game City were already dominating. EPA -
MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 6: Beaten by Joelinton shot that flew just wide early on and lucky not to concede first-half penalty after clumsy challenge on Fraser. Not the most convincing of days dealing with crosses but one brilliant save from Wilson header. Reuters -
Ruben Dias - 8: Free header to open scoring after woeful Newcastle defending and should have had second but flicked header wide after break. Reuters -
Rodri - 7: Booked for cynical foul on Willock in first half but strolled through rest of match with little problem, sitting in front of defence and such was City’s dominance Pep Guardiola was able to give him a rest in second half. PA -
Kevin De Bruyne - 7: Lucky to get away with one after 15 minutes when lost possession in own box, handing chance to Fraser but dubious foul given. No repeat of his brilliant double against Leeds last time out but a fine, controlled passing performance from the Belgian. Reuters -
Bernardo Silva - 8: Tremendous run past two players to set-up chance for Zinchenko that Ukrainian wasted. Booked for taking down Joelinton. Superlative tracking back in last 10 minutes to take ball off toes of Wilson in City penalty area. AFP -
Riyad Mahrez - 7: Strangely subdued in first half but volleyed home emphatically after 64 minutes from excellent Zinchenko ball for his 50th City goal. EPA -
Raheem Sterling - 7: In top form at moment but very little influence in opening half. Shanked volley well wide at start of second before stinging hands of keeper with curling effort just before hour. Tapped home fourth goal from close range. EPA -
SUBS: Fernandinho – (On for Rodri 68’) 6: Match was well and truly won by the time veteran came on, although he was beaten to one header by Wilson that needed save from Ederson. AFP -
John Stones – (On for Dias 70’) 6: Nice and easy time to come on with score at 3-0. EPA -
Cole Palmer – (On for Mahrez 77’) N/A. Would have made it 5-0 but couldn’t get ball out from under feet and chance went begging. AFP
Twenty goals a season used to be the mark of a high-class striker. Mahrez now has 20 in a calendar year for City when playing as a right winger; indeed, despite not playing at times. He has not been an automatic choice this season.
A goal every other game was another target for strikers: Mahrez has started 64 times for City in the Premier League and has 32 goals. This season, he is averaging a goal every 104 minutes in the Champions League and every 162 in the Premier League, figures plenty a centre forward would be proud of. He has only played 41 per cent of City’s top-flight minutes this season, in part because Gabriel Jesus has been in such fine form after moving to the right, in part because the other forward options include Raheem Sterling, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Ferran Torres.
In a sense, however, Mahrez has become first among equals. City have 18 scorers this season, 10 with at least three, six with five or more, but his tally of 11 goals puts him four clear of anyone else.
He shrugged off his status as the top scorer. “As long as it helps the team to win things and to win games, that is the most important thing,” he said. But he has been foremost in a collective effort to compensate for the summer inability to sign Harry Kane. He has been clinical, with 11 goals from 28 shots on target, and 59 efforts, across the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.
Perhaps Joao Cancelo was his opposite. The full-back has been wonderfully creative but his first goal of the Premier League campaign belatedly came from his 39th shot. “Joao has a very good shot and when he arrives in that type of area he is very dangerous,” Mahrez said. But, in a cast of gifted players, the Algerian has proved the most dangerous in front of goal.
