Barnes nets double as Man City miss chance to close gap on Arsenal

0:06This is the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Thanks for joining us. Newcastle hosted Manchester City at St James' Park on Saturday Night Football. This is how we saw things when the game finished.

0:25A barnstorming win for Newcastle United. A double for Harvey Barnes has led them to a rare victory over a Manchester City side they've beaten just once in the Premier League in the last 20 years before today. Barnes' double in the space of six minutes either side of an equaliser for Manchester City for Ruben Diaz when it looked as though the former champions might get back on an even keel but for them it's a fourth defeat of the season on a day when an opportunity had presented itself to Pep Guardiola's side to really put the pressure on Arsenal who play tomorrow that chance has disappeared it isn't Haaland's day it's Newcastle and Harvey Barnes day Newcastle to Manchester City one just their second win Newcastle against Manchester City in the Premier League in 36 attempts and Jamie how they needed that brilliant what a performance from them especially Harvey Barnes who had a very difficult first half with a couple of really good chances and then he took his goals so well I thought they deserved it second half I thought the midfield battle was always going to be key and they won that second half I thought Joe Linton was magnificent Gimerez Tonali they were just too powerful for that Manchester City midfield huge three points and it gives a lot of problems for Pep Guardiola right now they thought everyone was talking about him as title challengers but we all felt this would be a massive ask for them today could they find three points and they just couldn't get that answer to Newcastle power he's not happy about something is he Pep Guardiola in relation I think to the match officials Joe Linton's getting involved with something else on the full-time whistle this was a game that didn't really have a lot of bad blood it felt like during it Micah but City certainly played their part as well yeah I thought City were excellent at times especially in that first half I mean Haaland a couple of chances you take some chances it could be a different game but I think Newcastle did really well against them when they pressed not allowing to to play the way they wanted to play he's not a fellow you'd want to upset is he no my money's on joe linton to be honest uh i would definitely leave that scrap if i was here but there was a few contentious decisions though mike yeah we looked at him at half time and if you look at man city you know i talked about they're a different team now maybe a bit more possession in that second half newcastle going a little bit deeper but if you look at the game in the whole newcastle came and they deserved it because they took the chances at the right moments of the game there's a long going ongoing going in quest here what its relation to the second goal Jamie the winning goal don't upset with with something it might have been the accumulation of Joe Linton's fouls and I think maybe the front of the Manchester City players were getting a bit frustrated with that and it obviously it took a long while to figure this out but this is as passion as a debate but Gimérez was wonderful today I thought he was magnificent because he just got so much energy desire he's a warrior he wants to win he can play he can score he can defend he's the ultimate midfield player but Eddie Howe needed this as well today didn't he Micah?

3:34Yeah because the weight falls being so poor I think if you look at Newcastle players it was good getting you know Hall in the team, Nervamento in the team today looked a lot more attacking and he got Lange to come off the bench as well but Jamie mentioned that the midfield three that I thought the balance was great at times the way when they press sometimes they over pressed and got caught out but then you're looking for reaction to get back in numbers in that second half they did deploy that low block everyone fighting for each other and that man gets it's a great smile from harvey barnes as well isn't it and he's had to play second fiddle for a lot of his newcastle career and you can say the same about jacob murphy on the other side others are expected to be starting every week a langer who they paid a lot of money for uh anthony gordon who's injured right now allowing harvey barnes this opportunity but he's taking these chance Absolutely and it's always the price on the ticket when you play for a big club.

4:27New players are going to come in. Obviously, Joanne Wisser, we haven't seen yet, who's going to be a really good player for Newcastle. I think it just takes a little bit of time and sometimes you need that little bit of confidence. I thought the two full backs were great as well today. You know, Hall and Libermento hadn't played a lot of football. You could see he got cramped at the end because he put so much effort in. But it felt like that was a real Eddie Howe team performance. The Brentford one was a shadow of the team that we normally see, but today effort desire the crowd demanded it and I thought they were wonderful.

4:54That's exactly what I was about to say, the crowd. At home they were a different team and the fans demand that and they put everything into this game and overall the balance they probably deserve. Probably. Probably. But great for Harvey Barnes and who knows he could still force his way to the World Cup next summer with England or Scotland. Harvey McBarns. It could happen for him. Well, it's been quite some return for the Premier League, hasn't it? Chelsea winning, getting the job done at Burnley in the early kick-off. Bournemouth came from two down against West Ham United. Callum Wilson with two goals against his former club to make it 2-2.

5:35Their XG today was over four, Bournemouth, the second highest of the season. Brentford beaten by Brighton. They led. Brighton came back to take it 2-1 and Brentford scored a penalty and then had one saved, Igo Thiago, late on as well. with a chance to make it 2-2. Fulham beat Sunderland. Raul Jimenez, the scorer there. What a result for Nottingham Forest at Liverpool. Winning back-to-back league games at Anfield for the first time in 60 years. 3-0 today, Liverpool's biggest home defeat in front of fans for over 10 years. Worrying times for Arna Slott and no managerial bounce for Rob Edwards today.

6:12His side were beaten by a dogged Crystal Palace who won it two goals to nil. 2-1 for Newcastle United. you can scan that QR code and you'll see all the goals and the weekend's highlights already on the Sky Sports app in the knowledge that there are three more live games for you on Sky Sports this weekend. So far, this is how things stand. Manchester City miss out on the chance to get within a point of Arsenal. They could be seven behind them if Arsenal manage to win the North London derby. It's Chelsea into second place now. Crystal Palace up to fourth, Brighton climbing as well, so too Bournemouth.

6:51And as you'll see, there's no sign of Liverpool now in the top half of the table. They have slipped to 11th, though still they're on 18 points, and there's not a huge gap in terms of points from those top four places right now. Newcastle staying 14th, but a better look now with four points between themselves and the bottom three, which are Leeds, Burnley and Wolves, still without a win on the board.

7:24Hi there, former England cricket captains Mike Atherton and Nasser Hussain here to tell you that we're taking the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast down under for the ashes. As England look to win in Australia for the first time in 15 years, We'll be out there to analyse the action and discuss all the big talking points. We'll also have daily episodes during each Test match to keep you right up to date with what's going on. That's the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, available wherever you get your podcasts. This is the Sky Sports Premier League Podcast. Let's get more analysis of the game and return to the studio.

8:03What a great result that is for Newcastle United. their most significant Premier League win of the season. His 100th in charge of Newcastle United, thanks to Harvey Barnes' double. And Manchester City beaten away from home in back-to-back games. And that feel-good factor created by the win over Liverpool disappears very, very quickly after the international break. Pep Guardiola, we saw he was unhappy at the full-time whistle. We understand he went straight into the referee's room after the game, so we'll be interested to hear what he has to say to us very shortly. This was the winning goal. We think it might have been related to that.

8:40There are three incidents that were checked here by the VAR, Jamie, so we should actually just pick over these. Well, the first one's Donnarumma, so he feels he's been fouled there. I don't think it was enough of a foul. Might have been, but there's still a lot happens after that. Then the second one is obviously his Gimarez offside. You can see this is the foul there. Harvey Barnes has definitely got his arm on him. He's not strong enough, so let's deal with that. He gets enough time to get up. They don't deal with the second ball. Well, then they give themselves a problem at the back post. Newcastle got four players there.

9:07Voldemort does really well. Now, is he offside? You can see Gimarez there, and you can see Ruben Diaz. It's so tight. He does amazing. Look at that desire to get on the end of a cross for his team. The second question is Barnes offside from that position. These are decisions that Villar had to make, which is why it was such a long stoppage. It was over four minutes. Here's the first one that you talked about. Semi-automated offside. I don't think it is. And then you can see Harvey Barnes move. But then the improvisation to bring it down and then to do a backheel skill like this is absolutely incredible.

9:36In the box when it's so tight, players round him. Look at that. He gets his foot up so high. What a goal. Absolutely magnificent, Meats. Yeah, it was brilliant. I mean, you've explained it very well, Jamie. But the defending for the goal was just not good enough. I mean, Al is isolated at the back post. Great finish from Barnes. Fully deserved it. Worked really hard. but if you look at the goal if you just if you can go back on that a little bit so obviously it's coming and the half that's the first check that he was talking about he's on the side that's not a problem as they roll it on there, Volta Marta does very well you mentioned all the bits and pieces but he should never have a free header at the back post it's Nunes, there's free at the back he gets it well, work it really well do Newcastle but it was too easy.

10:28Here's the semi-automated technology in effect. So it's Ruben Diaz's bicep that is keeping Bruno Guimaraes onside according to the technology. It's obviously a very, very close affair. Very close. And then the question was, from the next check, was Harvey Barnes behind the ball? I think we've got the semi-automated technology for that as well. I think he looks like it. You can see Ruben Diaz is here. It's incredibly tight. We're talking fractions of an inch here, but brilliant. Let's just talk about the goal. It's great for Harvey Barnes, but we just need to clear this up, Jamie, as well, because people will be asking the question.

11:09It has been cleared up. It's been given as a goal. I'm told it's coming. Yeah. There we go. I mean, who wears black boots anymore? That's the evidence that Harvey Barnes is behind the ball. so let's just clear up that third bit is there a foul on the goalkeeper? No, I think he needs to be strong I think he needs to be stronger he wasn't strong enough in this particular moment obviously there's loads of bodies in there you see there, you're going to expect that as a goalkeeper you see Barnes there on him but the size of Donnarumma, I think it's too easy Harvey Barnes is the one to watch here he just comes around the back of Guardiola it's a slight nudge but is that enough no it's not he's got to be stronger it's poor goalkeeper he has to just look at that and a lot happens after that as well Dave there's a lot as Micah said you know things happen yeah of course he's going to complain but sometimes you get them sometimes you don't you've got to make sure you react after I think what what it for me the most important thing was the desire that the Newcastle players shown to make sure they get on the end of that cross Gimerez epitomized it and it was a fantastic piece of play great individual skill by Harvey Barnes.

12:19Wonderful bit of play. Yeah, he was clearly unhappy. And you saw the reaction from Pep Guardiola after the game as well. They don't like losing. The technical speech is too much anyway. So I think it's a fair one. I don't think anybody could say it might have been a slight nudge. Was it enough? I mean, even like Manchester City hat on there, you'd even say that there wasn't. No, it was not enough context. It's not a foul. But it's a big moment, isn't it, for Manchester City because they've seen Liverpool beaten earlier, Arsenal in action tomorrow. They've missed a big opportunity to get within a point of the leaders.

12:48But this was a really significant result for Newcastle United. And they have so much to thank Harvey Barnes for, who's waiting to speak to us now. Well, that was some game. Congratulations, Harvey. No, thank you. Big result for us. One we definitely needed on the back of a few poor results. And yeah, what a game to be involved in. It was a bit of a mad one. A few big chances missed. Myself to blame for that in the first half. But second half, yeah, really picked up and came out firing again. and it's a massive three points. So it was a question in the first half, certainly of chances missed, Harvey.

13:24When that's happened to you and you've been involved in that big one that's come on your left foot as well, are you thinking about that in the dressing room at half time? Is that on your mind? No, listen, it's football in a lot of ways. You've got to move on. If you dwell on them, you know, the rest of the game, it's going to affect you and it could well affect your performance. So the quicker you move on from it and get on to the next chance. You know, it showed in the second half. You quickly bounce back and there's glory at the end of it. So, yeah, I think it was forget and move on. Avi, I'm pleased you weren't listening to our analysis at half-time because we were like, he's got to finish that one, especially when you're talking about your technique.

14:05Maybe as he leans back, got to finish it better, but you certainly made up for the two goals. Just talk us through it because it's a wonderful bit of play. The first one, you have a lovely link up with Gimarez and it's a difficult finish because you're having to lean back and you finish it so well. But the initial bit of play I really love here. Talk us through it. No, well, first of all, I agree on the one in the first half. It's the one I've got to score. But yeah, these are bits that we work on in training. The little link-up play and getting ourselves them opportunities. And then I think when you get in that position, it's about just getting that composure.

14:42And I think for attackers, they're sort of things that have come natural. you can work on it but in the game it's about finding a composer. And what about this one Harvey? This is brilliant. This is great improvisation, skill in the box to be able to bring it down with the outside of your foot and a backhill finish. Yeah, it's just that little bit of improvisation like you say in the box. It comes quick and you've just got to find a way to get it down and find the net whatever way you can. And then you've got that horrible two-minute wait when we're seeing what's happening offside or not. but a lot of relief and a weird foot shape there again.

15:20Well, we showed you that first one again, Harvey. I think we can slow it down for you. It just struck us that it was slightly unusual, but it just shows the quality that you've got here. Talk us through this. Yeah, I guess as it's coming across, it's not fully out of my feet almost. It's hard to say in the game. Everything's happening that quickly. it's a I think that's just sort of a natural get get whatever way you can to get the best finish and yeah it's always nice and it finds a bottom corner there so Harvey I see the interview can we expect it the world cup for Scotland

16:04the line's gone was this a come and get me plea to Steve Clarke then Harvey come on No, listen, that isn't obviously on my mind at the minute. There's a long way to go until the summer and sort of the club form for us hasn't been there. So as you can imagine, the team and my only focus has been, well, it was about the game tonight and the next period of games that we've got coming up. So yeah, I can't say that there was any thought in that. It was just getting the job done tonight, which we did. I think someone said it was the Gaffers' first win against Man City. I think it was my first couple of goals.

16:42So it's a good night all round. So it's not a no then?

16:49Harvey McBarns, that's got a ring to it. That's got a McBarns, Harvey McBarns, I like it. I mean, we were actually debating, Harvey, whether you would actually know the words to Flower of Scotland. I don't know if you can confirm or deny that. I can't say I do, no. Not you anyway. No, don't worry about that. But just going back to your club form, because that is absolutely the bread and butter. And I think you said it right at the start, Harvey, but it hasn't been a great start to the Premier League for Newcastle United this season. So how much did the team need this one tonight? No, I think it's massive.

17:23You look at the last couple of results. I mean, obviously, this is a home game and it's a great result and our waveform has been the problem this year, really. But it has been on our mind, of course. The Champions League games have gone really well for us, which is amazing. and we want to do well in that. But the week-to-week games in the Premier League has been the problem. And you look at the league table, it probably looks a bit better after the result today. But before this, we were nowhere near where we wanted to be. So today's a great start and a great step in the right direction. It's just about kicking on now.

17:55The fixture list is so busy for us coming up now around the festive period. So it's just about getting that momentum, confidence and really kicking on. Well, congratulations tonight. A really important victory, as you say, and two fantastic goals for you as well, Harvey. Well done and enjoy Marseille as well. Thank you. Well done, Harvey. He was waiting for another one there, wasn't he? He was! His guard was up. What is coming next? Did he get mad at a match? Storing two, I'd assume so. I will delay my response while I hope someone tells me the answer to that question. Okay. No one's going to.

18:33So, I'm not sure. Do you think he deserved it? I thought the two goals were brilliant. I thought Bruno Gimaris today was out of this world. We've seen some midfield performances. I remember doing a game a couple of weeks ago. Kai Sado in midfield was exceptional against Tottenham. But he's of a type where, you know, you can see defensively he puts out fires. He's always involved in the defensive aspect of the game. But what I love about the Newcastle midfield is they have... A lot of midfield players get labelled now. He's a six, he's an eight and he's a ten. When I watch Newcastle play, I look at Tonali.

19:06He's a 10, an 8 and a 6. And it's the same with Joe Linton. It's the same with Gimerez. They have great energy. When they lose the ball, they go and get it as quickly as they can. Even if that means at times, as Micah said perfectly earlier on, they'll maybe run into space or vacate areas. They rely on their dynamism, their ability to win the ball back and great skill. But for whatever reason, that doesn't feel like it's been functioning, particularly away from home for Newcastle this season. I wouldn't look at that so much. I would never really look at them. I would look more probably going forward and chances created and scoring enough goals.

19:35I've never had a problem with a midfield. I think that functions so well. And in Guimaraes, I think he is one of the top midfield players in world football because he can do absolutely everything. And he wants to win so badly. Now, that result, hopefully, for Newcastle and their fans will kickstart them because when you look at the bottom half of the table, they shouldn't be in that position, Michael, should they? Yeah, correct. Just to go back to Jamie's point, Dave, when you've got a midfield and you're all on the same line, if you all go together, it only takes one pass to miss you all out, which is basic stuff.

20:08But what Jamie was talking about, when they all go and they get the ball, it really works and it looks amazing. And then it's the reaction to get back. That's what I'm more impressed with. And when they've been going forward at times as a three, or whoever might play in that midfield role, the back's been exposed. Because if you see, they got exposed today in the first half. Haaland had a couple of chances. Docky was getting too many time in the middle of the pitch and playing them balls. So the next step is for when they go, the defence has all got to go. And I think they did it really well quite a couple of times.

20:41But as a team, they did it really well. Let's just bring this in as well, Jamie, because Harvey Barnes made the point. They are juggling competitions right now with the Champions League, in which they've performed really well so far. And of course, the Carabao Cup as the defending champions. they've got the quarterfinal against Fulham in the middle of December and there's one giant game that is leaping out here on December the 14th as well, which some Newcastle fans... Are you doing that game? I am actually. But they're looking at that game and that's the only one of all that that really counts.

21:14But the away form has got to improve, Jamie, hasn't it? Yeah, absolutely. And it'll look at that and it'll point... We have to perform like that away from home. Now, Everton away won't be easy. They've got good players that can certainly hurt you at home. Top them, he won't be too worried. And Burnley, obviously, two home games. But juggling the squad, Johan Wisser looks like he's going to be really close to playing again. Anthony Gordon, and it gives you a few more players. Alanga needs to find a little bit of form. Hopefully he will. But you could get Wisser back fit and then he disappears to play in the accommodations in this period.

21:44But they still really, with the players they've got, they should be able to handle it. And you can see today in the wide areas, they look really good. I thought they had lots of good crosses into the box. Could have had two or three goals, certainly. first half. Jacob Murphy's delivery at times was fantastic as well, Michael, wasn't it? Yeah, lots of good games, but everything changes now because if Newcastle would have lost today, we'd look at those games and go, look at everything, it looks so difficult. But all of a sudden, now you're going, right, Eddie will be thinking to himself, I can't wait to get involved in these.

22:09You'd be licking your lips, Michael, won't you?

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22:58Here's Gimurais, Barnes, Gimurais moves onto it, Barnes! He's done it again, he's put Newcastle ahead again, but this time, can they hold onto it? It's Jeremy Dock who's got it back across and Harlan climbs, thought here to Ryan Shirky, and the strike is in from Ruben Dias! Clipped across by Murphy towards Volta Marder who gets up, and it's off the woodwork and turned it in anyway! Harvey Barnes at the double!

23:45Great result for Newcastle United in what was a really good game of football 2-1. City winning the shot count by 17-9. Newcastle United edging it on the expected goal, but high tallies for both sides. And 10 big chances according to Opta across the 90 minutes. That is the second most we've seen in a game this season. Newcastle pretty happy to let City have the ball 69%, which is way up on what they've had recently in matches. Manchester City, Newcastle, which is 31. But they got the all-important victory. How damaging is that for City, do you think, Micah? I think a draw would have been OK. I think it's just the momentum, you know, with Liverpool, obviously, dropping points.

24:30Arsenal playing tomorrow as well. You're thinking, come here, get a draw. But the fact that you lost with the chances they were created for someone like a Harlan who normally takes them chances. People look at this result and think, OK, especially on the stats as well, and, you know, XG and that, but Man City had some really good chances that they normally take. I think the one criticism for Man City is defensively, it's all over the place. So they've got the front sorted out now. They know exactly what they're going to do. And Haaland's backed up when they press. They get the ball, did really well against Liverpool.

25:01But then the defence is out of sync when you've got midfielders going up and down. At the back, especially at the set piece there, The set-piece is moments won the game today. And when you have a set-piece like that, you've got to organise and all the things that you used to do so well before, they're not doing at the moment. A lot of that is the credit of Newcastle United tonight and their manager Eddie Howe is waiting to speak to us. Congratulations, Eddie. I believe your 100th win in charge of Newcastle as well. So even more special and your first victory, I understand, over Pep Guardiola. So it's all happened for you there.

25:37What pleased you most about this tonight? Yeah, it's been a long wait against Pep. He's an incredible manager. So, you know, we're just delighted to win today. I think the heart and endeavour and attitude of the group today, compare that to our performance against Brentford, where we look tired and a bit flat. That was a big upturn in terms of our normal way that we play. So very, very pleased. It should give us a massive lift. And what is a tough Premier League season this year, The quality of teams is so strong, but that should give us a big lift for the games to come. They seem very unhappy, Eddie, at full time.