Tim Krul
Former Newcastle goalkeeper on Football Daily

If you look at that Newcastle squad now there's a real fight for places and a competition there.

I think that's what Eddie Howe wants. He doesn't want anybody sitting there expecting to play every week and I think you’ve got a good mix with that leadership group.

Andy, if I wasn't so concerned about the odd looks I'd get in the office, I would be stood up and applauding.

Remarkable header. Incredible save. Outside the box thinking. Tick, tick, tick. Just a fantastic shout.

If you haven't seen it, folks, I highly recommend searching it out.

Newcastle have only won four league games on their travels in 2025 and they have looked especially blunt of late.

Howe's side have scored a quarter as many goals (two) away as they have at home in the league (eight), and bottom of the table Wolves are the only side to have netted fewer (one) on the road.

Jacob Murphy's opener against West Ham was a rare example of this side being ruthless away from home in the league – just 26 seconds after Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen had struck the post.

Though Newcastle have had more possession away (56%) than at home (47.1%), according to Opta, Howe's team have had 30 fewer touches in the opposition box (110) and they have only had half as many shots on target (13) on their travels, which highlights the difficulties they have faced breaking teams down.

Newcastle could at least fall back on their solidity as a base to build from earlier in the campaign following shutouts against Aston Villa, Leeds United and Bournemouth in their opening three away games of the season.

But the visitors have since leaked five goals in just two matches versus Brighton and West Ham.

That defensive effort starts with the press from the front, but Newcastle have won possession back on eight fewer occasions (16) away than at home (24), while much-lauded midfield trio Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Guimaraes have been repeatedly bypassed on the road in recent weeks.

Burn has spoken of the need to "be a bit more ugly", referencing how his side were "well-known a few years ago for something-housery".

Tim Krul
Former Newcastle goalkeeper on Football Daily

Newcastle want to challenge in every single competition - quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, three wins on the bounce in the Champions League.

Domestically they have to improve, they know that but I think they'll be right up there towards the end of the season.

No doubt it was a brilliant header. He arrived at such pace that he was a slightly blurred on the photograph...

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

If ever a four-day period summed up Newcastle United's curious season.

On Sunday, Eddie Howe's team suffered a bruising 3-1 defeat against struggling West Ham at London Stadium.

It was a result that left travel-sick Newcastle languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

To think this side went on to leapfrog Real Madrid into sixth place in the Champions League standings following a 2-0 win against Athletic Club at St James' Park a few days later.

It was their fifth consecutive home victory, but that was not cause for celebration for Howe.

Sunday's trip to Brentford was not far from his mind as Newcastle look to finally address their away-day woes after failing to win on the road in the league since April.

"It's hugely frustrating because I think we have a style of play and a method of play that works, that's really effective," the Newcastle head coach said.

"For whatever reason we have not been winning the games away from home that we should have.

"Now we're sort of caught in that trap where it's becoming a topic of conversation and we're probably becoming more aware of it."

Tim Krul
Former Newcastle goalkeeper on Football Daily

That's the key - the reaction and how you deal with setbacks like clearly the weekend [3-1 defeat at West Ham]. Everybody realises that was not good enough.

To be able then to play a Champions League game like they did against Bilbao tonight, a massive win.

I think the Champions League fixtures have really given them that confidence.

The home form clearly at St James' has been immense. I think Eddie Howe is more eager than anyone to get that away form up to that kind of level as well because if you matched the home and away form now I think they will be one of those teams to finish in the top eight. They clearly have to improve the away form.

Ciaran Kelly
BBC Sport reporter at St James' Park

Image source, Getty Images

You could detect the irritation in Dan Burn's voice when he said "everybody knows we will turn up" after Newcastle did anything but at London Stadium last time out.

But the England defender led by example against Athletic Club as his side responded to their poor showing at the weekend.

Though Burn is not known for scoring many goals, the 33-year-old popped up with one of the most important in Newcastle's recent history when he opened the scoring in the EFL Cup final last March.

And this header brought back memories of that set-piece goal as he again linked up with Keiran Trippier, who has set up five of Burn's nine goals for the club.

It was a move straight from the training ground.

Burn initially took up a position outside the box alongside Athletic forward Robert Navarro before making a late run towards the back post just as Trippier took the set-piece.

The 6ft 7in defender managed to avoid being picked up, after Joelinton and Malick Thiaw blocked off Athletic players Daniel Vivian and Jesus Areso, and directed a superb header in off the upright.

No wonder the watching Alan Shearer was on his feet to applaud that one in the directors' box. It was a bullet header Newcastle's record goalscorer would have been proud of.

While we're on the subject of headers, it probably makes sense to move onto the side that sparked this fun trip down memory lane...

Steven Gerrard's header in Istanbul was good but think it's the situation and what it led to that puts it up there, Brendan, because I reckon Dida probably should have done better.

I remembered the Luis Garcia one you mentioned being a beauty, though, and having just gone back to have a look and refresh my memory, I can confirm it absolutely was.

Probably not his most memorable Champions League moment, mind. Looks well over the line to me, Jose...

Image source, Getty Images

Tim Krul
Former Newcastle goalkeeper on Football Daily

Erling Haaland is obviously a top, top talent.

We were all asking who is going to contribute to support Haaland?

I think we have seen a flavour of the strength in depth.

I think the amount of amazing players on the bench who can make an impact, you could see that.

Shamoon Hafez
Football news reporter at Etihad Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Phil Foden endured a slow start to the campaign after an ankle injury, featuring in only 15 minutes of action before the September international break.

Despite a fear of being on the sidelines again, he scored in the 3-0 derby win over Manchester United and provided a delightful pass for Erling Haaland's goal in a Champions League victory over a Napoli side featuring De Bruyne on his return to the Etihad.

Foden then played a starring role in the Carabao Cup third round success at League One Huddersfield, but it was the dazzling display against Dortmund that has put him back in the spotlight.

His prowess from outside the area with his double was evident again, having now scored 11 goals from such positions since the start of the 2023-24 campaign - more than any other Premier League player during that period.

"I would say he is already there [back to his best form]," boss Guardiola told TNT Sports. "He does not need to get closer. He is already there. It is true we have missed goals and he got two incredible goals.

"How many times have we seen that from Phil, right? The generosity with the effort but also with the quality in the final third. We missed it a lot. I'm happy three more players scored goals - and not just Erling."

Former Everton and England midfielder Leon Osman told MOTD: Uefa Champions League: "Dortmund allowed City to pass into the pocket of space in front of their defence all night, and Foden was the player who profited the most from it.

"In the first half, City rotated the player getting on the end of that pass quite well, and it was either Foden or [Tijjani] Reijnders getting forward and coming into those spaces, like Foden did for their first goal, or Haaland coming deep.

"It's how City want to play, because you know where they want to get on the ball... and Dortmund let them do it. That could have been because City have got two wingers so high up, Dortmund were keeping five defenders back to deal with them and Haaland, and leaving space for Foden and Reijnders to arrive into.

"It was the same with Foden's second goal. Again that was down to him finding space in the pocket again, just outside the area. None of the Dortmund players went in to challenge him."

Michael Brown
Former Man City midfielder on Football Daily

Overall, it was really good to see Phil Foden. Yes he overshadowed Erling Haaland and it’s nice for somebody else!

I was asked before the game ‘who else can contribute?’ and ‘does he need more from other players?’. Well Cherki came on and did his job and Foden with that double was certainly something of a positive.