Newcastle United Outclassed in Heavy Defeat as Trippier Endures Nightmare Performance
Newcastle United endured a humbling night at the Etihad Stadium, as they were completely outplayed and deservedly fell to a heavy defeat. The Magpies struggled to match their opponents from the opening whistle and never truly looked capable of mounting a challenge.
The game took an early turn against Newcastle when Omar Marmoush delivered a moment of brilliance in the 19th minute, lofting an exquisite lob over goalkeeper Martin Dubravka to give Manchester City the lead. The Egyptian forward wasn’t done there, as he added two more goals in quick succession, securing his hat-trick within a remarkable 14-minute span. His treble marked the fourth-fastest hat-trick by a City player in Premier League history, underlining his clinical finishing on the night.
With the visitors reeling, City added further misery late in the game when James McAtee capitalized on Newcastle’s defensive frailties to seal a commanding 4-0 victory. The result meant Newcastle squandered a golden opportunity to move into the Premier League’s top four, instead slipping further behind in the race for European qualification.
Trippier’s Nightmare Outing Raises Selection Doubts
Manager Eddie Howe will undoubtedly be frustrated by his team’s performance, but one player who will particularly draw his ire is Kieran Trippier. The experienced right-back, trusted to start in such an important fixture, endured one of his worst performances in a Newcastle shirt, contributing significantly to the team’s downfall.
Trippier’s struggles began early when he misjudged a long ball over the top, allowing Marmoush to break through and score City’s opener. Things went from bad to worse for the 34-year-old when the January signing once again got the better of him to double the hosts’ advantage. Unable to cope with the pace and movement of City’s attack, Trippier looked completely off the pace throughout the first half.
Recognizing the defensive issues, Howe opted to replace Trippier with Tino Livramento at halftime in an attempt to stabilize the backline. However, by then, the damage had already been done.
Dismal Statistics Highlight Trippier’s Poor Display
The numbers paint an even bleaker picture of Trippier’s outing. Shockingly, the former Atlético Madrid defender had fewer touches (27) than goalkeeper Dubravka, an indicator of how little impact he had on the game. He also lost every single duel he contested, showcasing his struggles both in the air and on the ground.
Furthermore, Trippier committed three fouls, surrendered possession three times, and failed to register a single successful tackle. His only defensive contributions were a solitary interception and a clearance—an incredibly poor return for a player of his experience and leadership. Unsurprisingly, Chronicle Live awarded him a woeful 3/10 rating, highlighting his disastrous evening at the Etihad.
Will Howe Drop Trippier for Forest Clash?
Given his torrid performance, it would not be surprising if Howe considers dropping Trippier for Newcastle’s next home fixture against Nottingham Forest. With Livramento offering a more dynamic and defensively sound option at right-back, Howe may feel that a change is necessary to tighten up his backline and avoid another defensive collapse.
Newcastle will need to regroup quickly if they are to recover from this setback and keep their top-four aspirations alive. However, if individual performances like Trippier’s continue, Howe may have some big decisions to make in the coming weeks.
Imagine having Fewer touches than goalkeeper: Howe must axe 3/10 Newcastle dud who lost 100% duels vs Man City
