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Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle: Within touching distance

By J.C. Gonzalez

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Ferran Torres (R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 26, 2020. (Photo by Clive Brunskill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CLIVE BRUNSKILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Ferran Torres (R) celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on December 26, 2020. (Photo by Clive Brunskill / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CLIVE BRUNSKILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Manchester City comfortably beat Newcastle 2-0 at home to move within one point of the Premier League’s top four.

To be nearly halfway through a Premier League season in the Pep Guardiola era and not see Manchester City in the top four of the league is a shocking sight no one expected heading into this season. However, that may change very soon, as City have now pulled within one point of the Champions League places with a good result against Newcastle at home on Boxing Day.

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The Citizens created a host of chances, and managed to find the back of the net through İlkay Gündoğan and Ferran Torres to seal a much-deserved three points. With two massive games up next against potential top four rivals in Everton and Chelsea, this was a big win for City against an inferior opponent, something they have not successfully done all season.

Liverpool still maintain a five-point advantage over City at the top of the table and look clear favorites, but today’s win was another step on the road to getting this team back where it belongs: in the mix for the title. Torres looked comfortable in the center-forward role today in the absence of Gabriel Jesus while Sergio Agüero was only able to make a cameo appearance off the bench.

Next. Manchester City defeat Arsenal 4-1 in a ruthless display. dark

Given how poorly the team started the season, at least some improvement back toward the mean was sure to happen at some point. The question now is whether that trend continues in the crucial fixtures that come next, or if City continue to get stuck in the mud of the top six and fail to truly separate.