Newcastle United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
After needing 120 minutes and penalties to edge past AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, Eddie Howe made seven changes to his starting XI.
Only Sven Botman, Malick Thiaw, Jacob Ramsey and Yoane Wissa kept their places as Nick Pope, Lewis Miley, Lewis Hall, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy came in Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Trippier, Tino Livramento, Sandro Tonali, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes and Nick Woltemade.
Man City broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when Jeremy Doku’s cross was flicked forward by Bernardo Silva and finished off by Antoine Semenyo. It came moments after the Magpies were twice denied by the woodwork as James Trafford tipped Yoane Wissa’s header onto the crossbar before Bruno Guimaraes hit the post.
Semenyo thought he had doubled Man City’s lead on the hour-mark but after a lengthy VAR check, Erling Haaland was penalised for being offside in the build-up. But the visitors did get a second and it came in stoppage time when Rayan Cherki fired his shot low past Nick Pope.
It leaves Newcastle with a mountain to climb heading into the second-leg at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, February 4.
Here are our Newcastle United player ratings:
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9. Jacob Murphy - 6
Under instruction to get the ball in the box at the first opportunity. Was a threat in the game before being forced off through injury in first-half stoppage time. | Getty Images
10. Anthony Gordon - 6
Had the beating of Matheus Nunes and put in one fantastic cross for Yoane Wissa but didn’t see enough of the ball. The closest he came to scoring was in his own net. | AFP via Getty Images
11. Yoane Wissa - 4
Got into some threatening positions but lacked the final execution. Missed a great chance to give Newcastle the lead just five minutes in. James Trafford then tipped his header onto the crossbar. Looked shattered. | Getty Images
12. Harvey Barnes (on for Murphy, 45) - 5
Couldn’t stop Jeremy Doku’s low cross that led to Man City’s opener. Unstoppable last week but barely touched the ball until he crossed for Nick Woltemade. | Getty Images