Pep Guardiola had Omar Marmoush in the tightest of bear hugs and seemed strangely unwilling to release the smiling Egyptian.
It was the 73rd minute and two goals from the newly withdrawn Marmoush, the second a real show stopper, and another from Savinho had enabled Manchester City to come from behind and potentially shatter Newcastle’s entire season.
As Guardiola’s team secured a fifth-round FA Cup passage that continues their advance on four fronts, Eddie Howe’s campaign could hinge on his players overcoming Barcelona in their impending Champions League tie.
This was Newcastle’s fifth meeting with City this season and, despite a deceptively powerful start, it contained plenty of clues as to not only why Guardiola’s team have won four of their encounters but why Howe’s team are a modest 12th in the Premier League.
City’s flight from the north-west did not land in Newcastle until early on Saturday afternoon and Erling Haaland was not on it. With Wednesday’s Champions League visit to Real Madrid beckoning, Guardiola made 10 changes from the side that began the Premier League draw against Nottingham Forest three days ago and said Haaland was being “rested”. Matheus Nunes was the sole survivor from the Forest game but, after initially being teased and tormented by Harvey Barnes, probably wished he had been left at home too.
