Key events
Jamie Jackson was at the Etihad tonight. Here’s his report. Thanks for reading this MBM.
Eddie Howe’s turn to chat to Sky. “It was the start we didn’t want … then Joe Willock had a good chance and we didn’t take the opportunity … it took the game away from us … the first half was really difficult, the second half the lads did really well … in both games we are really frustrated we scored only one goal … on the balance of opportunities … Trafford made some good saves … we were guilty of missing some good opportunities … it could have been very different but we have to accept the reality … when you play as we do, it’s a one-v-one game … when you’re taking it to the highest level it’s going to cost you … we were letting runners go … losing too many duels … we had to readjust and were better, but we’re disappointed we couldn’t execute our style of play … [in the second half] we had new energy and were better for it … a more simple plan … but I’m disappointed we had to do that … we were trying to attack, not in a cavalier way, that’s what it may seem like from the outside but I’d rather lose the game doing that than being passive and wasting an opportunity … it didn’t happen for us but it wasn’t for the want of trying.”
He also reports that Anthony Gordon has a hamstring problem. “I don’t think it looks too bad but it was enough for him to come off.”
Pep Guardiola, who is through to his fifth League Cup final, talks to Sky. “With Newcastle you are never in control completely … a lot of one against one exchanges … a Champions League team … an incredible intense game … 5-1 aggregate is unbelievable … at the end of March we go to Wembley again … travel to London … [Arsenal] will wait for us there, we have to travel from the north! … [Omar Marmoush’s] movement is really top … I am very pleased for him … we started really well … James [Trafford] is a top-class keeper … he will have an incredible future … he is going to play his first final … it would be good for most of [the players] … you have to live the experience … our first title in our era was the Carabao Cup nine years ago … when you win something it helps to win more … it is a pleasure to play against Arsenal … the best team right now in Europe, maybe the world … hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc [Guehi] can play the final … I don’t understand why he cannot play the final … hopefully we make a letter … you buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play for a rule I don’t understand … hopefully they can change it.”
(Guehi was not registered for his new club before the first leg of the semi-final, so he’s not eligible going forward.)
Tijjani Reijnders speaks to Sky. “We were eager to go to the final … we showed that from the first minute … an amazing performance … despite the goal against us, we controlled the game … a better performance … from that we can build … everyone was sharp from the beginning … we weren’t as sloppy as the previous games … I was surprised there was so much space between the lines … we could attack very quick … I play football because I want to win trophies … I am going to Wembley, my first time there … we want to win the cup … [the final] will be a tough match … we will be very hungry … [Arsenal] are a really balanced team … we have to analyse and see where we can gain our strength to win.”
Today’s post-match postbag is concerned with the big issues. “Richard Hirst (88 min) is a true humanitarian. The thought of missing this BAER is the stuff of nightmares. I’m outta here!” – Chris Paraskevas
Tonight’s xG, for those so inclined: Manchester City 2.07, Newcastle United 1.33. But xG isn’t the be-all and end-all, so how about the Big Chances metric? City 5, Newcastle 4. It was good fun.
Manchester City’s two-goal hero Omar Marmoush talks to Sky Sports. “We showed a very good mentality … together as a team for the very first minute … focus … we are very happy to make the final … I am very happy to score two goals [his xG was 0.9] … I wish I could get a hat-trick today … hopefully we can win the final … we are here to win trophies … win silverware … hopefully we can do it for the new players.”
Eddie Howe congratulates Pep Guardiola. Pep Guardiola commiserates with Eddie Howe. The City boss goes off to celebrate, while his Newcastle counterpart is a study in frustration and misery. The holders are out. In truth, Howe’s team were very much second best over the two-legged semi, and yet they had enough chances tonight – enough really good chances – to have made the tie more of a contest. So they’ll head back north with a few what-ifs. But City were so clinical in that first half, with Omar Marmoush thoroughly deserving of his player-of-the-match reward. It’s going to be Master versus Apprentice in the 22 March final, as Pep takes on Mikel Arteta. Technical-area shenanigans ahoy!
FULL TIME: Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle United (agg: 5-1)
Manchester City book a place against Arsenal in the 2026 League Cup final next month! A repeat of the 2018 final.
90 min +1: Elanga runs purposefully down the inside-right channel. He’s dragged back by Rodri, who goes into the book. That’s taken Rodri, who really should have picked up a second yellow at Spurs last weekend, just 20 minutes. He’s been a little off the pace since coming back. Anyway, nothing comes of the resulting free kick.
90 min: There will be two additional minutes.
89 min: Tonali lashes a shot straight at Trafford. He’s been busy this evening as well. Tonight’s scoreline tells a story, but there are others. There I am with the parallel universes again. Sorry Chris.
88 min: Cherki bombs down the inside-right channel and takes a whack from distance. Blocked. “I hope you realise that in your alternative universe of many Newcastle goals you’re condemning Chris to missing his bacon and egg roll and maybe even getting the sack,” tut-tuts Richard Hirst. “You need to be careful when playing with other people’s lives.”
87 min: The resulting corner is worked back to Rodri, whose steer towards the bottom right is parried then snaffled by Ramsdale, who has been busy of late.
86 min: Cherki dribbles hard, in from the right, and lays off to Haaland, who attempts to force a shot into the bottom right. Ramsdale turns around the post once more.
85 min: Ait-Nouri slaloms down the left – whipping up a little Winter Olympics fever along the way – and is then bundled over by Murphy. Cherki tries to catch Ramsdale out with a cheeky curler towards the bottom left, but the keeper reads the intention and claims. Haaland was hovering in case of any spill.
84 min: Before the resulting corner can be taken, Lewis comes on for Gonzalez, City’s last swap of the night. Then the corner happens, to little effect.
83 min: … and as though to illustrate that further, Cherki strokes a defence-splitter down the middle for Haaland, who takes a touch to enter the box before thrashing a low shot towards the bottom right. Ramsdale does extremely well to extend and tip around the post.
82 min: A free kick for Newcastle on halfway, to the left of the centre circle. Tonali launches it long. City allow it to bounce through a crowded bot to Elanga, on the right-hand side of the six-yard box. Elanga guides the ball across the face of goal, but Wissa can’t quite connect with his lunge. Newcastle have had several big chances tonight. It’s been such a weird game in that respect.
80 min: Haaland turns into a little space on the edge of the Newcastle D. He’s entitled to have a go himself, but selflessly slips a pass to his mate Marmoush, coming in from the left. Marmoush leans back and hoicks over the bar. That hat-trick remains elusive.
78 min: Gonzalez, in the process of being elegantly spun by Tonali, takes a huge handful of his opponent’s shirt and goes into the book.
76 min: Osula comes on for Trippier, Newcastle’s last change of the evening.
75 min: … so having said that, Ramsey is robbed by Gonzalez, 30 yards out, after faffing around in the distracted style. Gonzalez feeds Marmoush, who slots into the bottom left from the edge of the box. But he’s denied his hat-trick, the whistle having gone rather generously for the initial challenge.
74 min: Now Barnes has a shot from distance blocked. Newcastle have had six shots to City’s one in this second half. It’s an impressive response, given their sorry position at the break.
72 min: Newcastle launch yet another counter, Murphy curling a pass down the left to look for Elanga, who can’t reach the ball before Khusanov hacks behind for a corner. But the flag pops up for offside again. Even so, City haven’t looked particularly secure at the back. Newcastle have had their chances, and worked some decent situations.
71 min: City make a triple change, taking off O’Reilly, Semenyo and Foden and sending on Rodri, Cherki and Haaland.
70 min: Foden tries to tee up Semenyo but over-elaborates, allowing Burn to start a counter. Barnes scampers down the left and crosses low for Elanga, who opens his body and … slices wide right. He had to score. He was onside as well. Huge miss.
68 min: Newcastle have the ball in the net again! But this one won’t count. Elanga slips Wissa clear down the right. Wissa crosses low for Barnes, who uses Nunes as a shield before curling around the defender and into the bottom right. Cute finish, but he knows Wissa was miles offside. The flag goes up.
66 min: The Toon fans are in good voice, now serenading their goalscoring hero Elanga. “Paul Cumine’s post at 55 mins is quite true this summer,” begins Matthew Guite, by way of countering the party mood. “Top players I think want to win things as they only ever get a few chances. And they want to get paid an enormous amount of money. Probably more than winning things. Unfortunately we fail on both fronts.”
64 min: Jacob Murphy drives down the left in search of another consolation, and is harshly penalised for brushing Nunes aside. He had men in the middle free, waiting for a simple cutback, too.
GOAL! Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle United (Elanga 62); agg 5-1
Elanga jinks in from the right, driving at O’Reilly, sending the defender slipping and spinning before curling wonderfully across Trafford and into the bottom left. What a goal, even if it’ll count for nix. It is Newcastle’s first goal here since 2018, mind, and that’s got to count for something. How to slake a thirst in style.
61 min: The travelling Newcastle fans make a point of vocally backing their manager Eddie Howe. To be fair, he is the first manager to win a trophy for the club since Joe Harvey, a man born in 1918. He’s earned a fair bit of slack.
59 min: City reestablish some order with a little of that famous midfield ball-hogging.
57 min: Alleyne clumsily miscontrols in his own box and goes down in a tangle with Wissa, who goes over, a light tug on the front of his shirt. Wissa wants a penalty, but isn’t getting one. City go up the other end through Marmoush, who dances his way into the Toon area from the left and cuts back for Reijnders. It should be the Dutch midfielder’s second goal of the evening, but he steers wide left under no pressure whatsoever.
55 min: Turns out Reijnders was after a penalty for Botman easing him off the ball back then. Nope. Anyway, about that aforementioned parallel universe, here’s Paul Cumine: “Newcastle would have signed a combo of the following: Sesko, Ekitike, Delap, Cunha, Kudus, Pedro, Mbeumo, Guehi and Trafford. The fact they failed speaks volumes on the perception of the club by top-tier professionals.”
53 min: … and now Reijnders powers his way down the inside-left channel but can’t quite get the better of Botman, who is stuck to his side and shepherds the ball back to Ramsdale. Newcastle have been searching for a consolation; City don’t appear to have declared yet, either. It doesn’t feel like the scoring is over.
52 min: Marmoush dribbles down the right but what comes next is neither shot nor cross, and rolls harmlessly through the Newcastle box.
51 min: Elanga is sent scampering down the right. He’s got Barnes free in the middle, but takes too many touches before eventually crossing and Alleyene gets back to block. Nothing comes of the resulting corner. Newcastle, for all they’ve been blown out of the water on the scoreboard, will leave this stadium tonight with quite a few what-ifs.
49 min: Alleyne embarks on a Beckenbaueresque stride from the back to the Newcastle box. He lays off to Marmoush, who thinks about a curler towards the top right, but decides against it. The move fizzles out.
47 min: Newcastle have now had four very presentable chances to score. Somewhere, in a parallel universe, etc.
45 min 28 sec: Khusanov’s sloppy pass across his own back line allows Wissa to tear free down the inside-left channel. The defender races back to cause Wissa enough nibble-from-behind concern to screw his lobbed effort wide left.
City get the second half started. Newcastle have made three half-time changes, sending on Wissa, Murphy and Elanga for Woltemade, Willock and Hall. The hosts meanwhile have switched out Eke for Alleyne.
Half-time postbag. “I like the strategy of playing completely without a midfield in this game: it’s really opened things up nicely (for an early breakfast this morning)” – Chris Paraskevas
“At this point it’s not even about Howe anymore, but simply ‘why?’” – Peter Oh
“What more has to happen for Howe to be fired?” – Jeff Sax
“Tell me Ma, me Ma / I will be home for tea / Not going to Wemberlee / Tell me Ma, me Ma” – John, Ithaca, NY
“As a Sunderland fan I’m reminded of Oscar Wilde’s comment about Little Nell in the Old Curiosity Shop” – Steve Goldsmith
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HALF TIME: Manchester City 3-0 Newcastle United (agg: 5-0)
City are going to Wembley unless something positively psychedelic happens in the next hour. They’re now 40-3 up in the last 11-and-a-half matches here against Newcastle.
45 min +3: From the resulting corner, Trippier crosses from the right. The ball hits Nunes on his forearm, which the defender was holding up, though not far from his body. Another one to file under Seen Them Given, but the fact Nunes was also turning his back means VAR isn’t interested. No lifeline for Newcastle.
45 min +2: Tonali dribbles down the right touchline and is upended by Ait-Nouri. Everyone lines up on the edge of the City box to wait for Trippier’s free kick. In it comes. Botman meets it with a header towards the top right. Trafford paws it away for a corner. That’s his third big save of the evening. For all City’s dominance, this could easily be 3-3 on the night.
45 min: There will be an additional four first-half minutes. Bad news for Newcastle, who are already dreaming of hearing the full-time whistle.
44 min: Gordon is able to wander off without a significant limp, but a limp nonetheless. He’s replaced by Barnes, who scored both goals in Newcastle’s 2-1 Premier League win last November.
42 min: Gonzalez takes a whack from distance. Ramsdale covers. Newcastle launch a counter, but Gordon goes down. He feels his hamstring and shakes his head. Foden comes over to check on his England colleague, and Gordon sighs the bad news. As if this half hasn’t been painful enough for the holders.
40 min: Newcastle enjoy, if that’s the correct word, some sterile possession at the back. Just to stop the ship from listing.
38 min: … as do Newcastle, but this corner comes to nothing. “It’s not all bad news, Scott,” begins Chris Paraskevas of work-breakfast-social fame. “There’s a world class BAER (Bacon and Egg Roll) on offer at this morning’s work catch-up. This particular BAER is expensively assembled and priced, but unlike this current Newcastle squad, it will not fold under pressure and I know I’ll enjoy consuming it.”
37 min: Hall ships possession cheaply, and Semenyo is able to release Reijnders into the box on the right. For a second it looks as though Reijnders has run the ball out for a goal kick, but he whips a shot towards the near post in time. The ball clanks Ramsdale in the chest, and out for a corner. That could easily have pinged into the goal. Ramsdale needs a minute to catch his breath.
35 min: Semenyo dribbles into the Newcastle box from the right and spins. Burn clips him from behind. No penalty, for some reason. You’ve seen them given for so much less. Had there not been five goals in this tie, that might have gone down as a moment of controversy.
34 min: I mean, Newcastle kind of had to go for it. No point dying wondering. But there’s nothing to wonder about now. Eddie Howe pulls Woltemade over to the touchline to offer some beneficial tactical advice.
