Manchester City bounced back from their first loss of the season with a dominant win over Newcastle.
City, whose attempts to go unbeaten for the entire season were ended by Liverpool last week, have Sergio Aguero to thank for victory, as he plundered a hat-trick.
Aguero got the slightest of touches on Kevin De Bruyne's cross to open the scoring during the first-half, before doubling his personal tally shortly into the second. But Newcastle, who had under 20 per cent possession, ensured they remained in the game when Jacob Murphy dinked the ball over Ederson.
But Aguero secured his hat-trick and the victory when he converted after Leroy Sane's mazy run from the halfway line.
1. City pass a significant test of character
After losing their 22-game unbeaten run in the Premier League in last weekend's thrilling 4-3 defeat at Liverpool, the focus was on how Manchester City would respond in the wake of that setback, with Manchester United's 1-0 win at Burnley having cut their lead to nine points before they kicked off against Newcastle.
Pep Guardiola's side could not have picked more obliging opponents to face following their first domestic defeat of the season than Newcastle, who only came alive in the latter stages of the game after Jacob Murphy gave them a glimmer of hope with a goal out of nothing.
But this was a big test successfully navigated by City, who restored their 12-point lead with 14 games left.
2. Newcastle's negative tactics killed the game
After Newcastle were beaten 1-0 at home by City on December 27, Gary Neville, in his role as a pundit for Sky, branded their defensive approach “embarrassing”.
It was a similar story here, with Rafa Benitez's side utterly compliant, allowing City to dominate possession, failing to press, close down or put Guardiola's side under any pressure. On the rare occasions the visitors made it out of their own half, they lost the ball cheaply, making for a turgid encounter with a predictable outcome, one which has kept the Toon firmly mired in a battle for survival.
Even Jacob Murohy's goal, with 23 minutes left, couldn't mask what was an insipid display from Benitez's side.
3. Zinchenko fills the void at left-back for City
When £52milliin summer signing Benjamin Mendy was ruled out long-term with knee ligament damage in September, after just five games for City, Fabian Delph stepped in to fill the void at left-back and has done a fine job.
With Delph out injured, Oleksandr Zinchenko was handed his first Premier League start at left-back and excelled, although with Newcastle offering little in the way of attacking threat until Murphy's goal - for which Zinchenko was out of position – the 21-year-old Ukrainian was afforded the freedom to push forward and express his attacking instincts.
4. Hat-trick hero Aguero just can't stop scoring against Newcastle
Sergio Aguero took his goal tally for the season to 23 and make it 14 goals in 12 Premier League appearances against Newcastle, as well as providing two assists.
Aguero has scored more goals against Newcastle than any other Premier League side and continued that fine record here, putting City ahead with a glancing header in the first-half, converting a penalty won by Raheem Sterling just after the hour and completing his hat-trick seven minutes from time.
With Gabriel Jesus sidelined by injury and City having walked away from a deal to sign Alexis Sanchez, Aguero remains their main man up front.
5. Sane excels once again for City
Leroy Sane may still have a lot to learn, according to his City boss Guardiola, but the 22-year-old provided further proof here that he has the talent to become one of the world's finest players, creating the goal for Aguero's hat-trick with a piece of individual brilliance.
Sane twice turned Newcastle sub DeAndre Yedlin and was more forgiving when it came to Mohamed Diame, twisting past him just once before crossing for Aguero to drill the ball in for his hat-trick goal. Sane is a special talent and is getting better and better with every game.