Preview
Manchester City will be hoping to put pressure on Arsenal as they return from international break to face Newcastle United, who are looking to get back on track after their Premier League hiatus.
City are four points behind the leaders ahead of Saturday’s clash at St James’ Park. However, with most of the North London Derby with Tottenham taking place on Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s men have the chance to cut the gap to one point.
The visitors have an excellent record against Newcastle, having achieved 12 Premier League Aut Adress Newcastle, their combined victories on the road against one opponent in this competition (and 12 ve everton).
However, they have won one of their last four games on Tyneside in all competitions, drawing two more in the league and suffering in the EFL Cup.
Their previous victory in January 2024 required a 90th-minute winner from Oscar Bobb and, following recent away results, Newcastle will be keen to upset the odds in what will hopefully be one of the upcoming encounters.
City’s biggest asset is undoubtedly the form of Erling Haaland, who already has 19 goals in all competitions for the club this season and most recently won the campaign with 16 goals.
A goal this time will see Haaland reach 100 Premier League goals in due course, although Newcastle have traditionally proved a surprisingly tough opponent for the Talisman City. Haaland has scored just once against Newcastle in his career.
While Newcastle are in excellent shape to progress to the Champions League Knockout Rounds and reach the EFL Cup final as they look to defend their title in the Premier League, they are just two points above third.
But Liverpool and Arsenal are the only teams in the Premier League to win at St James’ Park this season, needing the winners of the previous stoppage, and they hope to return home while doing a much improved job.
He told BBC Newcastle this week: “We want a big response at the moment, which we will need because we have game after game; we cannot allow any kind of movement at bad times.
“[Getting a result against City] it would be a good start to this season. But we know we are against, for me, the best team in the Premier League, consistently for the last five years, maybe ten years. They’ve been very good, so there’s no bigger game for me than Manchester City, test-wise. “
“I hope it brings out the best in us. We will prepare for the game. We had a long time to show our last performance and hopefully we see a response.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: “It is a very difficult game. They are regular buyers in this division. They have changed a lot over the years, but it is any side of PEP GuardIola. It is important to return home. It is important to return home.
“I think we rise to the challenge. We have to go into every game with a new perspective, but the Brenford game is in our situation and we have to respond. We need to respond.”
Newcastle v Manchester City team news
There is hope Anthony Gordon will be available after a hip injury kept him out of Newcastle’s loss to Brentford and England’s final World Cup warm-up.
Nick Pape passed the Concussion protocols, although the game comes soon that Tin-time long-term Tin Livramento and Yoane Wissa (both bee). Both are close behind, however.
Joelinton (Shin) should be fit to play following a hamstring injury in the first half against Brenford, but recent poor performance has seen him lose his place in the old backfield. Is OSOLA still suffering from an ankle problem?
City’s injury problems are few, although midfielder Mateo Kovacic (ankle) is also set to miss out.
Rodri’s fitness continues to be monitored by Guardiola and it remains to be seen whether he will be available for the trip to St James’ Park.
Newcastle v Manchester City predicted line-up
Newcastle: The Pope; Trippier, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Ramsey; Murphy, Woltemade, Barnes.
Manchester City: Donnarumma; Songs, dias, gvardiol, oreilly; Bernardo, Gonzalez; Cherki, Foden, DOKU; Haaland
