Torres Hat-Tricks as Record-Breaking Man City Beat Newcastle
MANCHESTER (Dispatches) - Ferran Torres has scored his first Manchester City hat-trick as the Premier League champions beat Newcastle United 4-3 to claim an English record 12th consecutive away league win.
With Pep Guardiola’s City having already bagged the title and Newcastle safe, there was nothing riding on the fixture but it served up some rich entertainment with Spaniard Torres especially enjoying himself at St James’ Park.
"Incredible numbers and goals in his first season in the Premier League,” Guardiola said of the 21-year-old signed from Valencia for 20 million pounds ($28.20 million) last August.
"He is so young and clinical. He is a guy brought as a winger but maybe we have to think as a striker.”
Twice City had to come from a goal down as they extended the gap at the top of the table to 13 points.
Guardiola rested first-choice goalkeeper Ederson and handed 35-year-old former England player Scott Carson his first appearance for the club.
Carson’s first action was to pick the ball out of the back of his net after Emil Krafth found space to head home Jonjo Shelvey’s cross in the 25th minute.
Joao Cancelo’s deflected drive levelled it up in the 39th minute and Torres put City ahead with a superbly improvised flick to direct Ilkay Guendogan’s cross into the net.
With Pep Guardiola’s City having already bagged the title and Newcastle safe, there was nothing riding on the fixture but it served up some rich entertainment with Spaniard Torres especially enjoying himself at St James’ Park.
"Incredible numbers and goals in his first season in the Premier League,” Guardiola said of the 21-year-old signed from Valencia for 20 million pounds ($28.20 million) last August.
"He is so young and clinical. He is a guy brought as a winger but maybe we have to think as a striker.”
Twice City had to come from a goal down as they extended the gap at the top of the table to 13 points.
Guardiola rested first-choice goalkeeper Ederson and handed 35-year-old former England player Scott Carson his first appearance for the club.
Carson’s first action was to pick the ball out of the back of his net after Emil Krafth found space to head home Jonjo Shelvey’s cross in the 25th minute.
Joao Cancelo’s deflected drive levelled it up in the 39th minute and Torres put City ahead with a superbly improvised flick to direct Ilkay Guendogan’s cross into the net.