The Premier League’s most in-form side were halted by a hat-trick of brilliant goals from Justin Kluivert as sloppy Newcastle fell to a 4-1 loss against Bournemouth at St James’ Park.
Eddie Howe’s side had won each of their last nine games in all competitions and were searching for a history-making 10th but were unfortunate to meet a Bournemouth team in an equally buoyant mood.
The Cherries, firmly in the hunt for a European place, have temporarily leapfrogged Manchester City in the Premier League table and are level on 37 points with Chelsea following an all-action display that stunned Newcastle into submission.
Only Mohamed Salah (11) has scored more Premier League goals away from home this season than Kluivert (9)
Kluivert’s first-half double – only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored more goals away from home this season – put Bournemouth in a commanding position, sweeping home Antoine Semenyo’s low cross in the seventh minute before Dango Ouattara fed the Dutchman for his second just before half-time.
Sandwiched between was a Bruno Guimaraes header that flew through a crowd of players and squirmed beyond Kepa but the Magpies were disappointingly second best on another agonising afternoon for Howe against his former club.
Newcastle missed the chance to move into third in the Premier League table
Things went from bad to worse in the second period, as Newcastle failed to recover any composure and star man Alexander Isak looked as isolated as he has all season – his eight-game scoring run reaching an abrupt end.
Kluivert sealed a wonderful hat-trick in second-half stoppage time, while a stunner from Milos Kerkez ensured Andoni Iraola’s ever-improving Cherries cantered to a crushing victory.
