Half-time: Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester City

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“Curious as to why you’re ‘pleased’ that an obvious foul wasn’t given,” asks Daniel Stones.

Because I’d not want VAR intervening in that kind of instance, because I want to watch a physical game in which players aren’t feart of challenging, and because I think that the penalty law is ridiculous – I say this on here a lot, but it makes much more sense to me for any foul, anywhere on the pitch, that denies a goalscoring opportunity, to earn a penalty. Other hand, for a near-certain goal to be given for what we just saw or similar – given how hard it is to score – makes no sense to me. I’d give a direct free-kick for any in-box infringement that doesn’t deny a scoring chance.

“I’d put the Serie A of the 90s up against the modern Premier League when it comes to an absurd hoarding of world talent,” says Kári Tulinius, “though admittedly, giving the prowess of the defenders, the games could be more chess-like than the harum-scarum of the English game. Mind you Zdenek Zeman did his best to add chaos to proceedings.”

As a child of the Football Italia and Transworld Sport era, I’d agree. The difference now, I think, is that there are more good players than then, way more and, as you imply, the overwhelming majority of them are attackers or of attacking inclination.

Half-time email: “Bit unfair to credit Guardiola for Rodri’s form,” asserts Yash Gupta. “He was already a world class player at Atletico under Simeone and was considered a long term better replacement for Busquets in Spanish national team and even at Barcelona due to mandatory reasonable release clause. Thanks to the shenanigans of Barcelona, Manchester City signed him by paying his release clause. If anything it took longer for him to show his true form in England but it is on the same level as he was displaying at Atleti.”

I disagree – I think he’s a much better player now than he was then, though you could see how good he might get.

Half-time: Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester City

Just a brilliant half of “this league” action; there’s simply nothing like it, which is why we are where we are.

45+3 min Contesting a high ball, Stones flattens Schar via extended arm. VAR says no penalty and I’m pleased, but I’d be interested – well, not interested but you know what I mean – to see the working, because my understanding of the laws says that’s a foul.

45+2 min Cheers from the crowd as, expecting time to deal with a punt for the corner, Joelinton charges him and wins a corner. This time, Ederson punches clear.

Joelinton is pulling the strings for Newcastle. Photograph: Peter Powell/EPA

Updated at 12.20 EDT

45 min There’ll be three added minutes. I daresay the SJP concourses will be lively at the break.

44 min It’s such a state of affairs, isn’t it? Everything we’ve seen so far this season – a ridiculous surfeit of exciting games – is exactly why our two clubs in this one are owned by who they’re owned by. Thus does a virtous circle become a vicious one.

42 min “It seems that this could be one of the most exciting seasons in the last 10 years or so,” emails Bogdan Kotarlic. “I know that it is said every year but this season it is a genuinely possible, a lot of good teams, there will be a real fight for every place in the table…”

I agree. There’ve never been more brilliant footballers in the world, and because there’s more money in England than elsewhere, more play in the Prem than anywhere else. So every team has talent to hurt every other team, and if all else fails, there’s always Man United for comedic distraction.

40 min City are getting absolutely worked here. Credit to Howe for devising a plan to take the game to the champions, rather than seeking to stay in it, and credit to his players for refusing to deviate from it even after conceding a shoddy opener.

GOAL! Newcastle United 2-1 Manchester City (Wilson 39)

OH MY DAYS! Again it’s Saint-Maximin breaking the game, finding Wilson 22 yards out, right of centre. His first touch is gorgeous, taking him across Dias and back inside, but the finish is even better, with the outside of his right foot before Ederson can set, sending the ball back across him! This is brilliant game of association football (yes, with caveats we mustn’t forget).

Game on! Newcastle lead! Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Updated at 12.17 EDT

38 min Newcastle are breaching City’s line over and over again, a pass from I’m not sure who putting Almiron in a race with Ederson! Almiron gets there first, nicking it away from the keeper, who does well not to bring him down and get sent off; Almiron runs out of angle, so can’t get a cross off.

37 min After a quiet start, Foden’s got himself involved these last few minutes and he swings over a decent cross that Botman touches down to himself. I’m not sure why, because he’s got Gundogan up in his phizog, and gets lucky when a ricochet from their subsequent challenge loops through to Pope.

36 min “I do concur now though,” returns Ben Burrell. “Our defence were rather crap for that equaliser.”

And for most of the 35 minutes we’ve seen so far. That’s the beauty of football – add something on one area, lose it in another. There are better centre-backs than City’s but not many as good on the ball, as there are many better keepers than Ederson, none as ludicrous on the ball.

35 min I think Haaland gets a minor flick – or perhaps not – but either way, Pope punches clear.

34 min Foden dashes onto a ball down the line, nicks it away from Schar at full speed, and absorbs the sliding hack that comes his way. This time, it is a booking, and De Bruyne will curl in a free-kick from just outside the box, left-hand side.

32 min Saint-Maximin is just absolute box office – he doesn’t just want to be good, he wants to make other people look bad, for our entertainment. He wriggles by Rodri, who hacks him down and somehow avoids a card.

30 min “Centre-backs all over the PL are waking up screaming from the dreams of Haaland charging straight at them at full speed,” emails Mary Waltz. “I mean this in the best way possible, he is an absolute freak of nature.”

I was lucky enough to do a book with Kevin Pietersen a few years ago, and “freak of nature” is the phrase he and his mates – Kallis, Warne, Lara and the rest – use to describe each other. I’d take it.

GOAL! Newcastle United 1-1 Manchester City (Almiron 28)

Newcastle have earned that! They’ve been superb since going behind, fast, imaginative and brave. This is a ball-game.

Newcastle are level! Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA

Updated at 12.05 EDT

28 min Further brilliance from Saint-Maximin, luscious footwork foxing Walker and Ake, both of them now deputed to handle him. He shuffles, kicks, checks inside and crosses, there are two in the middle, and Almiron, though put off by the lunging Willock alongside him, thighs home on the stumble! He loves it, but the flag goes up; over to VAR…

Updated at 12.27 EDT

27 min The corner loops towards Botman at the back post, who wins the header and knocks down for Wilson! This is a massive chance, but in controlling, the ball goes behind him a little and he can’t get laces around arse-cheek with sufficient power to overly trouble Ederson.

27 min Saint-Maximin is coming into this now, lofting a cross to the back stick where Wilson heads into De Bruyne and behind. He wants a penalty but will make do with a corner.

25 min “I’m a Liverpool fan and I hate Manchester City,” but they are just light years ahead of all other teams. Every other team it’s always a question of whether they can score; with City it seems inevitable they will score. With Haaland picking up on chances they missed last season I’m taking bets they will win every single league game for a perfect season? Any takers?”

I’d be very surprised, but I can’t see any game you’d expect them not to win before it actually happens. If that makes sense, which it might not.

Updated at 11.58 EDT

24 min This is brilliant from Newcastle, attacking down the left again after Stones gives it away then Saint-Maximin jinking by him, earning a shooting lane … only to lash straight at Ederson. City look as dangerous as ever when in possession, but when I said I didn’t rate their defence earlier, this is what I meant.

22 min Newcastle are enjoying this, Almiron and Guimaraes having crosses headed clear. The wide pitch at St James’ is helping them because they’ve been brave enough to keep wingers high and wide, then send the full-backs forward in support.

21 min Ake is hurt, and though he wants longer to see what happens, with the flow of things as it is, Guardiola can’t allow him that, sending on Dias.

Dias comes on as a substitute to replace Nathan Ake. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters

Updated at 12.03 EDT

20 min Now Newcastle counter, again with speed and intensity, Saint-Maximin finding Almiron, who’se cross is just too far ahead of Wilson. Could he have slid in? Either way, City are lucky to still have their lead and clean sheet – this match is cooking.

20 min De Bruyne tries the outswinger, and it’s on target but Pope shoves away easily enough.

19 min City win a free-kick just outside the box, right of centre…

Updated at 11.51 EDT

18 min Cancelo is booked for a foul during that move.

17 min This is getting frantic! Newcastle are flooding men forward, and when Wilson touches off for Joelinton, he slides a fine ball out to Saint-Maximin, who ducks outside Walker and cuts back! Almiron must score! But the attacker with nine league goals in 93 league starts leans backs and larrups over the top. That is a colossal oversight.

Allan Saint-Maximin can’t believe that Almiron has missed it. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Updated at 12.00 EDT

15 min This is a really open game, which I guess Newcastle are allowing with their defensive line. But it’s breached yet again when De Bruyne sends Foden away down the left; again, he shoots towards the near post and Pope saves with a foot when he tries for the far corner. On the touchline, Guardiola is irate because there was no square pass for Haaland – as there wasn’t from Foden last weekend. He may be apprised of some sentiments at half-time.

13 min Better from Newcastle, Willock skirting around Walker and … beating him for pace? Do not adjust your sets, that did just happen. I know! Anyhow, he lanks down the left, then with Wilson inside squares … but yerman opts not to allow the ball across him and onto his right foot, sweeping with his left and seeing it fly wide.

11 min That really was excellent from Haaland, the world’s first lab-created soccermonster. He is going to do some ludicrous damage this season.

Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images/Reuters

Updated at 11.50 EDT

10 min Haaland holds up adroitly, then turns, gives Willock a free piggy back, and with the outside of his boot, curves De Bruyne through at inside-right! He should slightly angle his run to get closer to goal but doesn’t, so that when it’s time to pull the trigger, he’s not go much at which to aim and Pope saves with his feet at the near post.