Manchester City took full advantage of Liverpool’s slip-up as they breezed to a 5-0 win at home to Newcastle.
The Reds’ draw at home to Tottenham gave Pep Guardiola’s men the chance to go three points clear at the top of the Premier League, and they grabbed it with both hands.
Raheem Sterling headed City in front before Aymeric Laporte doubled their advantage as he took advantage of Martin Dubravka spilling a volley.
The start of the second half was pure dominance from the home side with Newcastle failing to complete a pass in the opening ten minutes of the restart.
Newcastle eventually got on the ball but any hope of a comeback was diminished on the hour as Rodri headed home a corner from the left.
Phil Foden and Sterling rounded the victory off for City, who are now in the box seat in the title race with three matches of the league season remaining.
A brutal Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid could’ve made it a tense clash at the Etihad Stadium but City played like they’d put the defeat firmly behind them. However, it was the visitors who had the first big chance of the game but Chris Wood could only head straight at Ederson.
Joao Cancelo should’ve scored as he blazed a half volley from close range over but the Portuguese full-back brilliantly laid the ball on a plate for Sterling, who nodded City in front on 18 minutes.
Newcastle have undergone a revival under Howe but they’ve lost their last two league matches
Newcastle had the ball in the net as Wood put it past Ederson, however, Jamaal Lascelles’ earlier header from the corner struck Bruno Guimaraes, who was stood in an offside position.
The champions were firmly on top after that and their lead was doubled when Laporte struck from close range after Dubravka couldn’t hold onto Ilkay Gundogan’s volley from the edge of the box.
The start of the second half was exhibition football from City as they passed it around Eddie Howe’s men for a ten minutes that would’ve felt like an eternity for the travelling Toon Army.
However, City’s third goal came via a set piece as Kevin De Bruyne’s corner from the left was met by Rodri, who nipped in ahead of the Newcastle defenders to head past Dubravka.
It was all over after that but there was still time for City to net twice in the closing stages, Foden caressing the ball into the corner of the net in the 90th minute before Sterling bagged his second of the afternoon with an accomplished finish.