Newcastle v Manchester City ratings: Joelinton and Saint-Maximin 8, a perfect 10 for hat-trick hero Torres

Champions City claim English record 12th straight Premier League away win

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 6, Was often commanding, but couldn’t react quick enough after Joao Cancelo’s shot got a deflection and had no chance of stopping Ferran Torres’ goals. Did well to start the move that resulted in Newcastle’s second penalty. Reuters

Jacob Murphy - 7, Was resolute in his defending throughout the game but was unlucky to see Cancelo’s shot go in after deflecting off him. Despite this, it was clear to see how much Murphy’s resilience frustrated Cancelo at times. AP

Emil Krafth - 7, Often looked strong defensively and scored the game’s opening goal with a brilliant header. PA

Federico Fernandez - 6, Did well to get a block on Gabriel Jesus’ header, but could have got closer to Torres for the Spaniard’s second of the game. Getty

Paul Dummett - 6, Put in a lot of good defensive work but played Torres onside for the Spaniard’s goal. Got his head onto plenty of City’s crosses. Getty

Matt Ritchie - 7, Was strong in his defensive play and put some brilliant balls into the away side’s box. Booked for dragging Jesus down after the Brazilian had got past him. Getty

Joe Willock - 8, Showed plenty of energy throughout the game and posed a threat when he made a foray forward, winning Newcastle’s second penalty of the game. Saw his initial effort from the spot saved but scored the rebound. Getty

Jonjo Shelvey - 7, Put in a superb cross for the opener and was unlucky to see his free kick stay out after hitting the crossbar. Booked for a cynical foul on Torres. Getty

Miguel Almiron - 7, Put in so much work defensively and produced a great ball to Allan Saint-Maximin in the build-up to winning the first penalty. Some of his decision making in the final third could have been better. Reuters

Allan Saint-Maximin - 8, Caused a real threat with his runs behind, one of which led to the corner that resulted in the opener, before he got behind the defence and passed to Joelinton for the penalty. Helped out defensively at times. Getty

Joelinton - 8, His shot forced the block that forced the corner Newcastle scored from, before the Brazilian won and emphatically scored Newcastle’s first penalty. EPA

SUBS: Sean Longstaff (Ritchie 84’) – N/R, Struggled to have any impact on the game, and his eagerness to do so was seen when he fouled Rodrigo. Reuters

Jamal Lewis (Joelinton 84’) – N/R, Showed discipline and held the shape of Newcastle’s backline well. Reuters

Dwight Gayle (Fernandez 88’) – N/R, Struggled to get a touch of the ball, let alone make anything happen. EPA

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Scott Carson - 6, Making his long-awaited debut, Carson had no chance of saving any of Newcastle’s goals. Was unlucky to see Willock score after saving his penalty effort. AP

Kyle Walker - 5, Made a good block to deny Joelinton but conceded a penalty with a silly foul on Willock. Had moments where he wasn’t concentrating enough. PA

Eric Garcia - 6, Passed the ball with purpose and did well after an awkward pass from Nathan Ake almost put him in trouble. Had to save his centre-back partner a few times. Reuters

Nathan Ake - 4, Seemed to lose his concentration at times, was beaten in the air by Frafth, then conceded the penalty with a poor challenge on Joelinton, having played Saint-Maximin onside. Reuters

Joao Cancelo - 7, Could have done more to prevent Krafth’s goal, but his deflected shot resulted in the equaliser, while his effort coming off the post led to Torres’ third of the game. Booked after fouling Murphy, then kicking the ball away. EPA

Bernardo Silva - 7, Was always available to receive the ball and got into some nice spaces, while the Portuguese midfielder showed plenty of intelligence in his play. AFP

Rodrigo - 7, Was often quickest to the ball and was calm to set up Cancelo’s goal. Moved the ball around brilliantly at times. Booked for a foul on Willock. Getty

Ilkay Gundogan - 7, Wasn’t quite at his best for periods of the first half, but put in a very well hit ball for Torres’ goal and saw plenty of the ball. AP

Ferran Torres - 10, The technique for his first goal was simply sublime, and the Spaniard then showed superb reactions and a clinical instinct to score both of the goals that completed a marvellous hat-trick and earned all three points for City. AP

Gabriel Jesus - 7, Did well to drop in and move the ball at times, but didn’t get many chances for himself. Drove in a great ball for Torres’ second of the game. AFP

Raheem Sterling - 6, Got into some good positions but didn’t show enough quality to capitalise on them in the first half. Moved the ball around nicely in the second period. Getty

SUB Benjamin Mendy (Cancelo 74’) – N/R, Showed plenty of attacking intent immediately after coming on, but his balls into the box varied in quality.

Ferran Torres scored his first Manchester City hat-trick as the Premier League champions beat Newcastle United 4-3 to claim an English record 12th consecutive away league win.

With Pep Guardiola's City having already bagged the title and Newcastle safe, there was nothing riding on the result but it served up some rich entertainment with Spaniard Torres especially enjoying himself at St James' Park.

"Incredible numbers and goals in his first season in the Premier League," Guardiola said of the 21-year-old signed from Valencia for $28.20 million last August.

"He is so young and clinical. He is a guy brought as a winger but maybe we have to think as a striker."

Twice City had to come from a goal down as they extended the gap at the top of the table to 13 points.

Guardiola rested first-choice goalkeeper Ederson and handed 35-year-old former England player Scott Carson his first appearance for the club.

Carson's first action was to pick the ball out of the back of his net after Emil Krafth found space to head home Jonjo Shelvey's cross in the 25th minute.

Joao Cancelo's deflected drive levelled it up in the 39th minute and Torres put City ahead with a superbly improvised flick to direct Ilkay Guendogan's cross into the net.

But Newcastle were level in first-half stoppage time when Joelinton thumped a penalty past Carson after a complex VAR decision. Joelinton was clearly taken down by Nathan Ake in the box but VAR was required to decide whether Allan Saint-Maximin had been offside in the build-up.

It was proving a busy night for Carson and he faced another penalty just past the hour when Kyle Walker barged over Joe Willock in the area.

Carson saved Willock's effort but the Arsenal loanee turned in the rebound.

But City were in no mood to offer any gifts and were level again within two minutes as Torres converted a cross by Raheem Sterling on the stretch.

Two minutes later he completed his hat-trick when he showed great balance to volley home a rebound after Cancelo struck the woodwork with a fierce drive from outside the area.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.