Micah Richards raves about Lewis Hall moment in Man City vs Newcastle that left him in awe, it wasn’t his goal
Micah Richards was left stunned by one piece of superb defending by Lewis Hall in Newcastle United’s defeat to Man City on Saturday.
The Magpies were beaten 2-1 by the Premier League title-chasers, but produced a far better showing at the Etihad Stadium than they have in recent years.
Hall‘s first-half equaliser was his team’s first at the stadium since 2018, although the wait for a first Premier League win there goes on.
Nico O’Reilly got the two goals for the home side, with both players expected to be in and around the England squad for the World Cup.
Hall is considered by many as Thomas Tuchel’s best option at left-back, and the 21-year-old is showing why this season.
Micah Richards stunned by Lewis Hall
More and more with each passing season, Hall has looked like a coup for Newcastle.
The Magpies signed the England international from Chelsea in 2024 in a deal worth around £28million, after he had spent a season on loan at St James’ Park.
The Blues were aware of his potential, but could not resist a sizeable fee for a player who was keen to leave.
Hall is a boyhood Newcastle fan, and jumped at the chance to make his stay in Eddie Howe’s squad permanent.
| Lewis Hall | Vs Manchester City |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Tackles | 4 |
| Clearances | 3 |
| Recoveries | 8 |
| Duels won | 7/17 |
Injuries have disrupted his progress, but this season the young defender has been on fire. Against Man City, he was undoubtedly Newcastle’s best player, and gave them a fighting chance when his shot took a deflection and found the net.
Howe’s side would not be level for long, but Hall continued to compete as his team pushed the home side all the way to the final whistle.
Speaking to The Rest Is Football on Monday, Richards said: “I was watching Lewis Hall as well, oh my. He’s top. It’s his decision-making when he’s defending and all that.
“There was a moment in the game when I was watching, and I think someone came deep – it might’ve been [Erling] Haaland or [Omar] Marmoush – and you know sometimes when defenders commit.
“He half-committed to show him one way, so he then could change his body to show him one way if he got beat and I was like: ‘That is defending right there’. He gets it! I love him.”
- Read more: ‘This is what Thomas Bramall should have done after Dan Burn’s disallowed goal vs Man City’
Gary Lineker shares love of Hall
It appears that only injuries will stand in the way of Hall’s journey to the World Cup with England this year.
The defender is in seriously impressive form, and lacks a significant amount of competition for the position.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has struggled for minutes at Arsenal, and Luke Shaw has spent much of the season playing as a centre-back.
O’Reilly appears the best placed to compete with Hall, but the Man City man appears in midfield regularly too.
Sharing Richards’ praise of the Newcastle defender, Gary Lineker said: “Oh he’s good you know. He was great in the game again, what a player.”