Man City eases to 2-0 win over Newcastle in Premier League

Manchester City secured a routine 2-0 win over Newcastle thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres to climb to fifth place in Premier League. Gundogan tucked home a cutback from Raheem Sterling to score in consecutive home games in league and put City ahead in 14th minute.

Torres, a winger, was playing as lone striker in absence of Gabriel Jesus who has contracted coronavirus and scored for second time in league this season to make it 2-0.

He showed a striker's instinct to hold back as Federico Fernandez blocked a cross from right and ball arrived at feet of Torres, who stroked in a finish from eight meters in 55th.

Bernardo Silva struck post as City threatened more goals in pouring rain at Etihad Stadium, despite again struggling to show free-flowing football of previous years under Pep Guardiola.

That might be because Guardiola is playing a more defensive system this season and it's producing more clean sheets. This was City's fifth shutout in its last six league games.

City is five points behind first-place Liverpool, having played same number of games. Liverpool plays West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.