Ferran Torres plundered a hat-trick as Premier League champions Manchester City came from behind twice to edge a seven-goal thriller 4-3 at Newcastle.
The Spain winger was part of another heavily rotated lineup named by Pep Guardiola that also included third-choice goalkeeper Scott Carson, an on-loan 35-year-old who was making his first start in the top flight in 10 years.
With the title wrapped up on Tuesday with three matches to spare, City looked like they would have some fun in the final week of the campaign and Torres certainly enjoyed himself at St James' Park to ensure a 12th-straight away win in the English Premier League.
He is finishing his first season at the club in impressive fashion, taking his tally to five goals in his last four league games by scoring twice in three minutes from the 64th as City fought back from 3-2 behind on Friday.
City moved 13 points clear of second-placed Manchester United, who handed their neighbours the title by losing to Leicester in midweek.
Newcastle, who beat relegation, went ahead through Emil Krafth's header via a corner in the 25th minute before Joao Cancelo equalised off a deflected shot that spun into the far corner from the edge of the area in the 39th minute.
Torres produced an impressive flicked volley in mid-air three minutes later as City moved ahead 2-1, only for Joelinton to get fouled in the area by Nathan Ake and dust himself down to convert the penalty past Carson in first-half stoppage time.
Newcastle were awarded another penalty when Joe Willock was tripped by Kyle Walker and the fouled player again took the spot kick.
This time, Carson made the save, but the ball rebounded out and Willock converted into an empty net in the 62nd.
Walker teed up Torres to equalise, and the winger was then on hand to volley the winning goal high into the net when Cancelo's shot came back off the post.
Torres said it had been an incredible week.
"We qualified for the Champions League final then we won the Premier League and obviously today I scored the hat-trick so I'm very, very happy," he told Sky Sports.
"I try to improve day-by-day and also try to learn from my team-mates, from the manager.
"I scored a hat-trick with the Spanish national team against Germany. I try to keep ready, keep improving and get ready for the Champions League final."
City's class of 2020-21 had been tied on 11 away straight victories with Chelsea (2008) and the City team from 2017, also managed by Guardiola.
Newcastle coach Steve Bruce said they had given it a good go.
"We gave Man City a fright tonight but we weren't quite good enough.
"Although I can't remember the goalkeeper making save after save, just the sloppiness of a couple of goals is the disappointing thing of the whole evening for me."
Australian Associated Press
