Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle United Player Ratings: Marmoush Brace Sends City to the Carabao Cup Final

Manchester City produced a ruthless first-half display at the Etihad Stadium to book a 3–1 victory over Newcastle United in this high-stakes Carabao Cup semi-final. The tie was effectively decided before the interval, with one of the best clubs in the world, Man City, racing into a commanding three-goal lead inside 32 minutes, leaving the visitors with far too much to do.

The opening period was all about City’s intensity and precision. They pressed relentlessly, moved the ball with pace, and carved Newcastle open time and again.

Omar Marmoush was at the heart of it all, striking twice with finishes that underlined his sharpness in front of goal, while Tijjani Reijnders capped off a slick counter-attack to make it three and complete a devastating half-hour spell.

Newcastle improved after the break and showed more fight, helped by the introduction of fresh legs. Their persistence was rewarded when Anthony Elanga pulled one back, offering a brief hope. However, Pep Guardiola's men managed the game comfortably from there, controlling possession and seeing out the result with little alarm.

It was a match defined by City’s early dominance, a first-half onslaught that ultimately decided the semi-final.

Let’s take a look at Sportsdunia’s Manchester City vs Newcastle United player ratings from the Carabao Cup clash.

Key Takeaways

• Manchester City’s relentless intensity saw them score three times inside 32 minutes, effectively killing the semi-final before halftime.
• Omar Marmoush’s brace, combined with Reijnders’ well-taken goal, highlighted City’s sharpness and attacking depth.
• Despite Newcastle’s improved second half and Elanga’s goal, City stayed composed, controlled possession, and closed out the win with ease.

Manchester City Player Ratings vs Newcastle United

Here's a look at the Manchester City Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

James Trafford - 6.5: He wasn't tested much in the first half but was alert when needed. Made a couple of important saves in the second period as Newcastle pushed. Couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. His distribution was decent enough, and he commanded his area well. A relatively comfortable evening for the City keeper.

Defenders

Nathan Aké - 7.0: The captain looked composed and solid during his 45 minutes on the pitch. He was strong in the tackle and read the game well, making a few key clearances. His passing from the back was as crisp as ever. It was a surprise to see him substituted at halftime, presumably to rest him for future games.

Matheus Nunes - 6.0: A mixed bag from Nunes. He showed some good touches and drew a couple of fouls but also picked up a booking for a clumsy challenge. He looked a bit uncomfortable at times and lost possession more than he would have liked. It wasn't his best performance, but he worked hard for the team.

Nico O'Reilly - 6.5: A very tidy game on the ball, boasting an incredible pass accuracy. What stood out to us was his calmness under pressure. He kept circulating the ball and helped City maintain control. However, he'll be kicking himself for missing a big chance. Defensively, he was solid but rarely stretched.

Abdukodir Khusanov - 5.5: From our perspective, he was the shakiest member of the backline. An error from him led directly to a Newcastle shot, which was a heart-in-mouth moment. He made a few clearances but looked a bit nervy. He needs to iron out those mistakes at this level.

Midfielders

Tijjani Reijnders - 8.5: What a performance. He was the engine and the artist in City's midfield. He scored a goal, created four chances, and his passing was immaculate. He drove forward with purpose and was a key part of City’s attacking onslaught. A truly complete midfield display that tormented Newcastle.

Nico González - 7.5: An absolute workhorse in the middle of the park. We noticed him winning duel after duel, breaking up play and protecting his defence. He won a staggering 10 duels and was a constant nuisance. He also got a yellow card for his troubles but that just showed his commitment. A very impressive, battling performance.

Rayan Aït-Nouri - 7.5: His pass completion rate of 98% tells you everything you need to know. He was incredibly secure in possession, linking play beautifully on the left side. He also chipped in with three interceptions and won the majority of his duels. A very clever and effective performance from him.

Antoine Semenyo - 7.0: A lively and energetic display. He created a couple of key chances, including a big one, and was always looking to get involved. His work rate was commendable, and he caused problems for the Newcastle backline with his direct running. Subbed off with the game won.

Phil Foden - 5.5: We were honestly a bit disappointed with Foden. It was a strangely subdued performance from a player of his calibre. He lost the ball far too often and struggled to create anything of note. It just felt like the game passed him by, which is rare. Not his night at all.

Forwards

Omar Marmoush - 9.0: Simply sensational. This was the highest-rated player on the pitch by a mile. Two goals, a constant threat, and just unplayable. His first goal was a smart finish, and his second was a fantastic header. He terrorized the Newcastle defence with his pace and movement. A Man of the Match performance without a doubt.

Substitutes

Max Alleyne - 6.5: Slotted in for Aké at halftime and didn't put a foot wrong. Looked comfortable and helped see the game out.

Erling Haaland - N/A: Came on for Semenyo but had little time to make a significant impact.

Rayan Cherki - N/A: Replaced Foden and showed a few neat touches but the game was already decided.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 8.0: His game plan for the first half was executed to perfection. His team blew Newcastle away and killed the contest early. The decision to rotate and make early substitutions was smart management. He'll be delighted with the performance and the result.

Newcastle United Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Let's delve into the Newcastle United Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Aaron Ramsdale - 6.0: It's tough for a keeper when your defence is collapsing in front of you. He conceded three but also made three saves to prevent the scoreline from being even worse. He couldn't be faulted for the goals, really. A difficult and very busy evening for him.

Defenders

Sven Botman - 5.0: A night he will want to forget. From our perspective, he really struggled against City's fluid attack. He looked off the pace and was caught out of position multiple times. He also missed a big chance at the other end. A very poor performance by his standards.

Malick Thiaw - 6.0: He had a busy and chaotic game. He gave away a few fouls and was part of a defence that was torn apart, but he did manage to get an assist for Newcastle's goal. He also made a few crucial blocks. It was a mixed bag, showing some fight amidst the chaos.

Dan Burn - 5.5: Battled hard but ultimately lost the war. He won a lot of duels and made several tackles and clearances, but he was also beaten too easily on occasion. The sheer volume of his defensive actions shows how much pressure Newcastle were under. He never gave up; you have to give him that.

Midfielders

Kieran Trippier - 6.0: As captain, he tried to lead by example and created a couple of chances. He put in a shift, but his midfield was completely overrun in the first half. He lost the ball more than he would have liked. A frustrating evening where he fought a losing battle.

Lewis Hall - 5.0: It was a very tough first 45 minutes for the young midfielder. He was constantly under pressure and struggled to get into the game. He won a few fouls but couldn't impose himself. It was no surprise to see him hooked at halftime.

Sandro Tonali - 5.5: We expected more from a player of his quality. He was neat on the ball but lacked any real penetration. He was a passenger for large parts of the first half as City's midfield buzzed around him. He needs to have a bigger influence in these big games.

Jacob Ramsey - 5.5: Similar to Tonali, Ramsey was largely anonymous. He worked hard off the ball but had little impact when in possession. He lost most of his duels and failed to create anything for his attackers. A quiet and ineffective outing.

Forwards

Anthony Gordon - 6.0: His evening was cut short by an unfortunate injury just before halftime. Before that, he had a big chance that was saved. He looked like Newcastle's most likely spark, so losing him was a big blow. It's hard to rate him fully given the circumstances.

Nick Woltemade - 5.0: He was completely isolated and had very few touches. He struggled to get involved at all and was substituted at halftime. It was a thankless task for him up front, but he offered very little resistance.

Joe Willock - 5.0: Another player who was a ghost in the first half. He created one chance but was otherwise completely ineffective. The game just passed him by, and he was rightly taken off at the break. A very disappointing showing.

Substitutes

Anthony Elanga - 7.5: Came on at halftime and completely changed the dynamic for Newcastle. He was direct, pacy, and scored a well-taken goal. He gave Newcastle a glimmer of hope and was their best player by a distance.

Jacob Murphy - 6.5: Added some much-needed energy and purpose to Newcastle's play after coming on.

Harvey Barnes - 6.0: Replaced the injured Gordon and had one shot blocked but couldn't quite find a way through.

Yoane Wissa - 6.0: Looked lively but will be disappointed to have missed a good chance.

William Osula - N/A: Came on late with little time to make an impression.

Manager

E. Howe - 5.0: He got his tactics completely wrong in the first half. His team was passive, disorganized, and completely blown away. Credit to him for the halftime changes which made Newcastle more competitive, but it was far too little, too late. A learning experience for the manager.

Man of the Match

Omar Marmoush was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Sven Botman had a very difficult game in defence for Newcastle United.