Jonjo Shelvey strike puts dent in Manchester City's Premier League title hopes

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts during the English Premier League match against Newcastle United at St James' Park. AFP

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores a goal. EPA

Manchester City's Raheem Sterling scores their first goal. Reuters

Newcastle United's Dutch defender Jetro Willems (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal. AFP

Manchester City's Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez (L) vies with Newcastle United's Dutch defender Jetro Willems. AFP

Newcastle's Allan Saint-Maximin (L) and Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (R) in action. AFP

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne made it 2-1. EPA

Newcastle United's English midfielder Jonjo Shelvey (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal. AFP

Newcastle United's Jonjo Shelvey scores their second goal. Reuters

Newcastle United's Jonjo Shelvey celebrates. Reuters

A stunning late goal from Jonjo Shelvey denied Manchester City three points as Newcastle United put another dent in Pep Guardiola's hopes of retaining the Premier League title.

With Liverpool at home to Brighton & Hove Albion later on Saturday, City will see this as two points dropped after Kevin de Bruyne's thunderbolt on 82 minutes had given Guardiola's men a 2-1 lead after Jetro Willems had cancelled out Raheem Sterling's opener.

As it stands City moved up to second ahead of Leicester City on 29 points, eight behind leaders Liverpool.

"We found a way and today we found it again but unfortunately, at the end, we conceded a goal," Guardiola said, reflecting on how his side had 24 goal attempts and 77 per cent possession but still failed to win.

"We could not score all the chances we had; they scored the two chances they had. Sometimes it happens. In good moments, be calm. In bad moments, live these kind of moments," added the Spaniard.

Sterling had fired City in front in the 22nd minute - the England forward's 15th of the season - but their lead lasted only three minutes as Willems finished off a fine Newcastle move.

Despite enjoying the vast majority of possession and territory, City lacked their usual cutting edge as Newcastle sat deep but De Bruyne's late 25-yard strike, which cannoned in off the underside of the crossbar, appeared to have sealed it.

Newcastle had other ideas though and grabbed an equaliser that will have left Guardiola fuming.

Shelvey was left unmarked on the edge of the box from a free kick when the ball was rolled into his path by substitute Christian Atsu and the former England midfielder hit a curling effort beyond the reach of goalkeeper Ederson.

"I saw they were sitting deep and I asked Atsu to cut the ball back to me, it was always drifting away from the keeper," Shelvey said.

"I know I can do that, I do it in training quite regularly but it is important to do it in a match and this secured us a point."