Erling Haaland helped Manchester City go down to a 3-1 draw to save a thrilling 3-3 draw at Newcastle on Sunday.
Despite Ilkay Gundogan’s opening opener for City, Newcastle had the champions on the ropes as goals from Miguel Almiron, Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier rocked St James’ Park.
But Haaland spurred the revival when he scored his third goal since joining Borussia Dortmund before extending City’s unbeaten start to the season in an equalizer with Bernardo Silva.
Pep Guardiola’s men moved to second place, two points behind Arsenal, but missed their chance to take a seven-point advantage over Liverpool ahead of their trip to Manchester United on Monday.
Newcastle have not split the Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund’s cash to the extent expected in the transfer window, with Nick Pope, Matt Targett and Sven Boutman signed only by the Magpies.
But he has shown he has now become a force to be reckoned with even for the Premier League elite by pushing City to the limit.
Newcastle took four points in their first two games without conceding a goal.
That record was erased within five minutes as City quickly took control.
Silva was recalled to Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up for the first time in the Premier League this season, with midfielders linked with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
The Portuguese international took immediate effect as his cross was controlled and eliminated by Gundogan.
Pope then had to make good strides with his feet from Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden to keep his side in the game.
But Newcastle’s intensity and energy soon dominated the city with the speed of Alain Saint-Maximin, causing havoc.
Wilson should have done better than a shot shot into Ederson’s arms before Almiron exploded on a brilliant opportunity from Saint-Maximin’s cross when a corner broke his way.
Newcastle’s pressure eventually got its reward in 28 minutes and it was a sweet moment for Almiron, who was mocked by Jack Grealish during City’s title ceremony at the end of last season.
The Paraguayan end was unorthodox as Saint-Maximin’s cross descended from his thigh leaving Ederson without a chance.
Saint-Maximin was again the producer as Newcastle switched the game just before half-time as Wilson lay on his pass and overtook Ederson.
Haaland was kept calm before the break but exploded to life with the tiniest glimpse of an opportunity in the second half and came within inches of an equalizer as his fiercely low shot was converted onto the post by Pope.
Moments later, City were destined for their first Premier League defeat since February, when Trippier swung a brilliant free-kick into the top corner after John Stones resorted to slicing down Saint-Maximin on the edge of the box.
Haaland’s hunting instincts were on full display as he opened the comeback by firing into the ceiling of the net when Rodri dropped a set-piece back into the goal.
The Norwegian then showed the other side of his game as his lightning speed burst through the ball on De Bruyne and Pope was forced to fly over the line.
De Bruyne’s next defence-split pass led to the equalizer as Silva produced a composed finish to level 3-3.
The play didn’t end there, even though the scoring did, as Trippier had a straight red card for a late lunge on De Bruyne that was reduced to a yellow after a VAR review.
But City failed to convert their momentum into a winner in the final leg as they blinked for the first time in their title defense.
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