Manchester City v Newcastle player ratings: Foden 9, Gvardiol 8; Trippier 7, Tonali 5

Premier League champions claim a 1-0 win at Etihad Stadium thanks to Alvarez's first-half goal

MANCHESTER CITY PLAYER RATINGS: Ederson - 6. Another quiet game in goal for Ederson, who had to make just the one save for the second consecutive game. Getty

Kyle Walker - 7. Lost his balance when he was played in behind the Newcastle backline by Grealish in the first half. Yet his clever positioning caused problems for Burn in the first half. Getty

Ruben Dias - 7. On for his first game of the season, Dias wasn’t ruffled by Newcastle’s tricky attackers. He made a well-timed challenge to stop Gordon’s run into the home side’s penalty area. Getty

Josko Gvardiol - 8. Excellent work to force Wilson wide when the striker pounced on an erratic pass from Rodri in the 68th minute. Looked very assured alongside Dias at the heart of the Manchester City defence. AFP

Manuel Akanji - 7. Hit an effort high and wide when he tried to test Pope from range in the first half. Did well to cut out Gordon’s dangerous cross in the 17th minute. Getty

Mateo Kovacic - 6. An effective performance from the Croatian in the City midfield. Kept things simple. Getty

Rodri - 7. Solid at the base of City’s midfield, although his erratic backpass almost gave the away side a chance to draw level in the 68th minute. Getty

Jack Grealish - 5. An unproductive performance against Trippier on the left side of City's attack. The winger repeatedly saw his efforts blocked by his England teammate, and he had to make-do with winning cheap fouls. Getty

Phil Foden - 9. Playing in the Kevin De Bruyne role, Foden was at the heart of everything positive Pep Guardiola’s side did in the final third. Deservedly grabbed the assist for the winning goal. Getty

Julian Alvarez - 8. Was having a quiet game until he popped up to score the winner with a well-struck effort into the top corner. Combined well with Haaland and Foden in attack. Getty

Erling Haaland - 5. A rare frustrating night for the usually prolific Norwegian. Failed to sort out his feet when Foden set him up with a brilliant pass in the 12th minute. Got very close to making it two in the 41st minute, but his effort trickled just wide of the far post. Getty

NEWCASTLE PLAYER RATINGS: Nick Pope - 6. Got a hand to Alvarez’s opener, but it wasn’t enough to stop the effort from flying into the net. Made a good save with a leg to deny Haaland in the 65th minute. Getty

Kieran Trippier - 7. Brilliant block to stop Grealish from testing Pope early in the game. Played several dangerous crosses from which his teammates failed to take advantage. PA

Sven Botman - 6. Made a good interception to stop Haaland from running through on goal in the 13th minute. Provided a good block to deflect Haaland’s shot away from goal in the second half. AFP

Fabian Schar - 7 Combined well with Botman to deal with the threat of Haaland. Tremendous last-ditch interception to stop Haaland from testing Pope on the hour mark. Reuters

Dan Burn - 5. A testing game for the tall Englishman as he struggled to deal with the threat of Foden and Walker on the right side of the Citizen’s attack. Getty

Joelinton - 6. Another typical Joelinton performance that involved a lot of hard work, but the Brazilian had very little impact in the final third. Forced off with an injury early in the second half. Getty

Sandro Tonali - 5. A below-par performance from Tonali at the base of Newcastle’s midfield. The new signing from AC Milan struggled with the home side’s high press. Getty

Bruno Guimaraes - 5. Slightly overhit a pass when he tried to play Tonali behind City's backline. Completely fluffed his lines when he had a chance to test Ederson in the 65th minute. Getty

Anthony Gordon - 6. Teased the City backline with a sweeping low cross that had to be deflected wide by Akanji in the 17th minute. Failed to bring the ball under his control when Trippier’s cross found him at the back post on the stroke of half-time. Getty

Miguel Almiron - 4. A frustrating performance from the Paraguayan whose final pass left a lot to be desired on the day. Clever dummy to set up Joelinton with a chance in the 20th minute. EPA

Alexander Isak - 6. Cut an isolated figure up top for most of his match due to a lack of support from his teammates. Tried to drop deep to facilitate play but was mostly crowded out by City defenders. Reuters

SUBS: Harvey Barnes (Gordon, 55) - 6. Came on and added something different to Newcastle's largely subdued attack. Had the away side’s first shot on target with a weak effort in the 69th minute. Getty

Sean Longstaff (Joelinton, 55) - 5. Brought on in place of the injured Joelinton, the Englishman struggled to get going. Failed to make an impact in the final third. EPA

Callum Wilson (Isak, 66) - 5. Failed to beat Gvardiol when he had the chance to run through on goal in the 68th minute. Getty

Elliot Anderson. (Tonali, 66) - 6. Overhit a cross when he had the chance to pick out a black and white shirt in the penalty area. Tracked back well to deflect a Foden effort wide in the 88th minute. Getty

Tino Livramento (Almiron, 86) - N/A. Came on too late to make an impact. Getty

A superb strike from Julian Alvarez gave Manchester City a 1-0 win over Newcastle United in their first home game of the new Premier League season, capping off an evening of celebration of last season's treble at the Etihad Stadium.

With the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup trophies all on display on the pitch before kickoff, City comprehensively outplayed Eddie Howe's Newcastle, whose own title aspirations suffered an early-season setback.

Pep Guardiola picked Phil Foden to take the place of the injured Kevin De Bruyne, and the 23-year-old England international responded with a man-of-the-match performance as he shouldered the burden of creating chances for the champions.

After an opening half-hour in which the home side dominated possession, Alvarez broke the deadlock in the 31st minute when Foden picked him out on the edge of the box, and the Argentine whipped a powerful shot across Nick Pope and into the net.

Newcastle upped the tempo in the second half but it was City who had the better chances, though striker Erling Haaland seemed out of sorts as he failed to score despite several opportunities created for him by Foden.

The visitors finally managed to start exerting some pressure in the last 15 minutes, but despite some better attacking play they still struggled to create shots on goal.

Substitute Callum Wilson wasted a glorious counter-attack when he picked Rodri's pocket in midfield but he could not fashion an angle for a run on goal, and when the shot eventually came for Harvey Barnes, it did little to trouble Ederson.

City almost grabbed a second when Foden flashed a late shot across goal as his side held on for back to back league wins to start their season and stretching their record to 17 home victories in all competitions.

Check out the photo gallery above for the player ratings from Etihad Stadium. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.